<-urrent season's growth wiil strike freely in sand or light 'soil if 

 protected from the weather. 



PISTACHIO NUT. 



HISTORY AND USKS. 



The Xut bearing this name is the product of a deciduous tree 

 known botanically as Pistacia c-erct, which belongs to the natural 

 order Anacardiacete, or the Cashew Nut family. It is indigenous to 

 Syria and Persia, but has from an early period been largely grown in 

 France, Italy, Spain, and other countries of Southern Europe. The 

 Nuts, which are freely produced, are enclosed in a reddish pulp, and 

 contain greenish oily Almond-like kernels, which are sweet and 

 agreeably flavoured. These Nuts are extensively used in Europe in 

 rookery and confectionery in the same way as sweet Almonds, and 

 their flavour is greatly appreciated. The trees are robust, and will 

 often attain a height of thirty feet or more when growing under 

 favourable conditions. They are also fairly hardy, and will thrive in 

 regions where the frosts are not very severe. 



CULTIVATION. 



In Australasia the tree may be grown to perfection in all but the 

 very cold districts, and its cultivation ought to prove profitable, as the 

 Nut, being a good substitute for the Almond, and possessing a distinct 

 flavour of its own, must necessarily be in great demand by confectioners. 

 It may be grown successfully in any fairly good land that is not too wet, 

 and it will adapt itself readily to various localities. Being a tree with 

 very handsome dense foliage, it is valuable for ornamental purposes, and 

 may be planted with advantage in parks or shrubberies. The Pistachio 

 is also a serviceable tree for street planting, and may be used for this 

 purpose with advantage in many localities. 



PROPAGATION. 



Propagation is effected by seeds, layers, and cuttings. Plants can 

 readily be obtained from seeds, provided they are fresh, but if old they 

 have less vitality. They should be sown in a light rich soil, covering 

 them to the depth of an inch. When large enough to handle, the young 

 plants should be transplanted in rows, or potted off. The following 

 season they will be ready to plant out. Layers strike freely if put down 

 in the spring, and yield very good plants. Cuttings will also root readily 

 if taken off just before the spring and inserted in sand. 



PLUM. 



HISTORY. 

 The Plum is known botanically as Pntrtus, and belongs to the natural 



