42 THE ALMOND. 



Fruit in Cellars. "A great deal of winter fruit suffers early decay, 

 in consequence of a deficiency of ventilation, especially during Autumn, 

 and after the fruit is deposited. Another cause of decay, is the im- 

 proper location of the shelves or bins, which are placed against or 

 around the walls. By this inconvenient arrangement, the assorting 

 of decayed specimens must be done all from one side, and the shelves 

 must hence be very narrow, or the operator must stretch himself in 

 a most irksome horizontal position. The circulation of the air is, at 

 the same time, greatly impeded by the want of space next the walls. 

 To avoid these evils, the shelves should be in the centre, with a pas- 

 sage all around. This allows circulation of air ; and the shelves may 

 je twice the width, with the same conveniences in assorting or pick- 

 ing. If suspended from the joists above, on stiff bars, rats cannot 

 reach them. It is said, that the Germans are very successful in the 

 ventilation of their cellars, by a communication with the principal 

 chimney, the heated air in which necessarily maintains a current, 

 which sweeps out the noxious and stagnant gases from the vegetable 

 and other contents." 



THE ALMOND. 



Amygdalus communis Dec. Rosacea of Botanists. 



THE almond tree is a native of the north of Africa, of the moun- 

 tains of Asia, and of Russia. Linna3us places it in the same genus 

 with the peach and nectarine, and many botanists regard it as the 

 parent of both the fruit of almond, peach, and nectarine, it is said, 

 have been found growing naturally upon the same branch. How 

 true this may have been, when so recorded, we do not know ; but 

 we do know that nature produces no such variations in the present 

 age. The tree bears a general resemblance to the nectarine, but is 

 easily distinguished by its more glossy leaves, and the peculiar color 

 and hardness of the wood. The flowers resemble those of the peach, 

 but are larger than most varieties, and produced in greater profusion. 

 It is a fruit which has been too much neglected, and especially in our 

 South- Western States, where it should be grown in such quantities 

 as to entirely exclude importation from Europe. 



Propagation. Easily grown from seed, which should be placed 

 in sand, kept moist during the Winter, cracked in Spring, and sown in 

 drills three feet wide, and one pit every eight inches in the drill, 

 covered two inches deep. Varieties are continued by budding on the 

 wild plum (which is best) the peach and almond. In light soils, the 

 peach answers a very good purpose, but for strong, rich soils, the 

 plum is best. 



