CHAPTER IX. 



AXMONJJ. 



Atwgdatua <Jos#riun, 'Dee. Roeace^ of botanists. 

 , of the Jrench; Manddbawn* German j Mandorlo^ Italiar ; 

 Spanish, 



THE Almond tree, which is a native of the north of Africa^. 

 and the mountains of Asia, has long been cultivated, and in 

 mentioned in scripture as one of the charms of the fertile land 

 of Canaan, It so strongly resembles the peach tree that it fsi 

 difficult to distinguish it by the leaves and wood only} indeed., 

 several botanists are of opinion, from experiments made in 

 raising the almond from seed, that this tree and the peach are. 

 originally the same species, and that the rich and luscious 

 peach is the effect of accidental variation, produced by culture 

 on the almond. The chief distinction between the two in our 

 gardens lies in. the fruit, which, in the almond, consists of little 

 more than a stone covered with a thick, dry, woolly skin, while 

 the Peach has in addition a rich and luscious flesh* The bios* 

 soms of the almond resemble those of the peach, but are larger ; 

 they are produced in great profusion, early in the season, before- 

 the leaves, and are very ornamental* 



Uses, The kernel of the sweet almond is bighly esteemed as 

 an an article of food, and is largely used as an ingredient in 

 confectionary, cookery, and perfumery. It is raised in great 

 quantities in the south of Europe, especially in Portugal, and is 

 an important article of commerce* The bitter almond is used 

 in cookery and confectionary, and in medicine, it furnishes the 

 prussic acid of the shops, one of the most powerful of poisons. 

 From both species an oil is also obtained. 



In France the almond is preferred as a stock ou which toj 

 bud and graft the peach, which, in a very dry climate or chalky 

 soil, it is found, renders the latter more healthy and fruitful 

 than its own bottom. The sweet hard-shelled variety (Douce a- 

 coque dure,) is preferred for stocks by French nurserymen, 



Cultivation. The almond thrives best in a warm dry soil, 

 and its general cultivation in this country is precisely like that 

 of the Peach* The sweet almond is the only variety considered 

 of value here, and it is usually propagated by budding it on, 

 Plum stock, or on the bitter almond seedlings. It is rather 

 more hardy at the north when budded on the former, and as the 

 buds of the sweet almond are rather slender and small, the 

 plum stocks to be budded should he- thrifty seedlings riot more 



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