OF ALMONDS. 243 



Apricots, and according to their strength. Never 

 omit cutting out all the cankery parts and decayed 

 wood. 



Some plant these trees out as standards, and 

 others as half standards, according to the ground 

 and situation ; always taking care to plant them 

 in a sheltered place facing the South, intermixing 

 them in the back of the shrubberies with the taller 

 flowering shrubs ; or they may be planted on lawns 

 for ornament, as they make a very beautiful ap- 

 pearance when in flower, or bearing fruit. If 

 planted as dwarfs, they may be covered with poles 

 stuck into the ground, thatching over the tops of 

 the trees with some fern, or any other light cover- 

 ing, which will prevent the blossom from being 

 killed by the frost in February and March. After 

 the fruit is set, and the leaves so far out as to cover 

 it, if fine weather, the covering may be remov^ed in 

 the latter end of April or beginning of May, which 

 will ensure a plentiful crop of Almonds ; a very 

 useful supply for the table in Autumn and Winter. 



Those who have plenty of walling, sometimes 

 plant Almond-trees on walls, and sometimes on 

 espaliers. 



Almonds may be preserved in dry sand, or bran, 

 for use 5 but they must be thoroughly dried on 

 shelves, or boards, in an airy place before they are 

 put into the sand or bran, otherwise they will get 

 mouldy. They are preserved only for their ker- 

 nels, the other part of the fruit being of no service. 



R 2 



