12 ALMOND. 



are sold by the druggists, are used for coloring : previous 

 to infusing them in any liquid you may wish to color, they 

 should be picked over, and then tied in a muslin bag. It 

 is a cheap, easily got at, and innoxious coloring. Confec- 

 tionary is often colored through the agency of this plant. 



ALLSPICE, n. The dried, .immature berry of the 

 Myrtus pimenta ; called also Jamaica pepper. ( Worcester.) 



This spice is not much used in any approved category of 

 culinary operations. Mixed with stronger spices, and chief- 

 ly to qualify their asperity, it is put into mangroves for 

 pickling. In common cakes, it sometimes gets leave to . 

 come in. 



ALLSPICE-TREE, or Sweet-scented Strawberry, or 

 Calycanthus. 



This delightful shrub is a native of North America. The 

 scent of its fragrant brown flowers is thought to resemble 

 the fruit of the strawberry. It thrives in almost any deep, 

 fresh soil, but loves a shady situation. The different species 

 are all varieties of the Calycanthus floridus, or the American 

 Allspice-tree ; it is also sometimes called Carolina Allspice. 

 All the varieties are propagated by layers, removing the 

 layers the third year. 



ALMOND (Amygdalus, Rosacece). These ornamental 

 species of almond are very popular, on account of their 

 flowers. The dwarf (A. nana) is a low but beautiful shrub, 

 that bears in spring exquisite double pink flowers. A. com- 

 munis-plcno is the large flowering shrub. Its flowers are 

 nearly white. It bears also a good hard-shell, but small 

 almond. 



There are several varieties of each of these species. The 

 dwarf almond is propagated by suckers, while other species 



