[THE ALMOND 



The almond may be budded or grafted on almond 

 seedlings or suckers, and on its own roots, as hinted 

 above. In other countries it is also budded or grafted on 

 seedlings of the peach and on the wild plums, and plants 

 so raised may bear fruit a little sooner, but the practice 

 has nothing else to reccommend it, at least for our 

 climate. The almond commences active vegetation at 

 least two months before the peach and the plum, and by 

 grafting on this stock the activity of the almond is greatly 

 retarded, which is doubtless an important consideration 

 in northern countries where frost is a constant menace. 

 The almond is grafted on its own stock in December, 

 and is budded at any time from January to September. 



CULTIVATION. The almond has a most hardy consti- 

 tution and will not resent much long periods of neglect, 

 provided that the neglect is not associated with wilful 

 devastations or with unskilled pruning. On the other 

 hand, there are few trees which respond so kindly to 

 good treatment. A good digging in autumn will promote 

 the absorption of rain, and this is an important point as 

 the vigour of the tree when it starts active growth in 

 January or February, is greater and better sustained if 

 the deep roots have had the advantage of the stimulating 

 influence of the early autumnal rains. Moreover, early 

 and heavy rains in autumn are followed by an early and 

 protracted blooming, and this means that a heavy crop 

 may be expected. The ground should be weeded once 

 or twice in winter, and dug again in March when the 

 sods may be broken up, and the soil levelled properly to 

 preserve the moisture as long as possible in the dry 

 season. The ground between the trees may be cropped 

 regularly, and the tree will benefit from the tillage and 

 the manure necessary for this cultivation, but it is 

 advisable to grow only such crops as will not remain on the 

 ground after April, so that the soil may be dug and 

 levelled in time before it becomes too cracked and dry. 

 The almond tree is not in need of irrigation, and is 



