ALMOND. 29 



almonds cause sleep, and create appetite. They were 

 considered a cure for chilblains, as well as for the bite of 

 a mad dog. 



Neumann states, that these almonds are poisonous to 

 birds, and all animals that come into the world blind. 

 The Bohemians are said to bruise them, and to throw 

 them where fowls frequent, which will stupify those that 

 eat them, so that they are easily taken by the hand. 

 The bitter almonds are more generally used for culinary 

 purposes, and for flavouring cordials, &c. From the Jor- 

 dan almond is produced one of the most exquisite and 

 nourishing of all our soups. 



As an ornamental tree, the almond deserves to be more 

 generally cultivated in our shrubberies, and particularly 

 as a foreground to clumps of evergreens in parks and 

 plantations, which have a sombre appearance towards the 

 spring, that would be much relieved by the blushing 

 petals which grace the leafless branches of the almond- 

 tree in the month of March, and give a gaiety to the 

 plantations at a time when no other trees are in blossom. 

 In favourable seasons, the fruit often comes to perfect 

 maturity in this country; but these almonds will not keep 

 so well as those produced in warmer climates ; but when 

 gathered young and preserved with their peachy pulp, 

 they make an excellent sweetmeat, and we have no doubt 

 but that they would be found an equally agreeable 

 pickle. 



It is observed that the handsomest almond-trees are 

 those which have not been transplanted, but raised by 

 planting well-ripened almonds in the month of October, 

 or November ; but they may be planted in February or 

 March, if care be taken to preserve them in sand. Both 

 the common and the dwarf almonds are, however, more 

 generally propagated by inoculating a bud of either of 

 these trees into a plum or peach stock, in the month of 



