THE FLOWERING ALMOND. 



By Emily C. Thompson. 



THE Sweet, the Bitter, and the 

 Flowering Almond arc all of 

 a kin and in this kinship 

 many include also the Peach 

 and the Nectarine. The Fiowermg 

 Almond or the dwarf Almond is a 

 shrub which early in the spring, in 

 March or April, sends forth its fair 

 rosy blossoms before its leaves are 

 sprouted. The shrub seldom exceeds 

 three feet in height. The leaves are 

 like those of the willow, only darker 

 and of a more shining green. It is 

 really a native of Calmuck Tartary but 

 now is used extensively in gardens be- 

 cause it blooms so early and can easily 

 be cultivated in any dry soil. 



The Almond tree figures in history, 

 mythology and poetry. In the Bible 

 we find four references to it: Exodus 

 25:33,34; 37:i9-2o; Num._ 17:8; Ecc. 

 12:5. In this connection it is interest- 

 ing to note that Aaron's famous rod 

 was the shoot of an Almond tree. 

 Theophrastus mentions the Almond as 

 flourishing in Greece. Cato also tells 

 us that it was grown, but as a luxury, 

 in Italy. The rest of its history is ob- 

 scure and all we know about its culti- 

 vation in England is that it was intro- 

 duced during the reign of Henry VIII. 

 Virgil in the Georgics welcomes the 

 Almond when covered with blossoms 

 as the sign of a fruitful season. 



In ancient times everything that was 

 considered of any importance to the 

 Greeks had some connection with the 

 siege of Troy. The Almond tree here 

 fared especially well, for two stories 

 have come down to us in mythology 

 relating its connection with that won- 

 derful event. Demophon returning^ 

 from Troy suffered the fate of many 



another Greek worthy. He was ship- 

 wrecked on the shores of Thrace. He 

 was befriended by the king and re- 

 ceived as a guest. While at the court 

 he met the beautiful daughter of his 

 host. Immediately he fell in love with 

 the charming princess, gained her love 

 in return, and made arrangements for 

 the marriage. But Demophon was 

 obliged to return home to settle up his 

 affairs before he could take upon him- 

 self these new ties. So the youth 

 sailed away, but never to return. The 

 princess, faithful Phyllis, watched and 

 waited, hoping in vain for the return of 

 her promised lord. Her constancy was 

 noted even by the gods who, when she 

 was gradually pining away, turned her 

 into an Almond tree. Since then this 

 tree has been a sign of constancy and 

 hope. 



"The hope in dreams of a happier hour, 

 That alights on Misery's brow, 



Springs out of the silvery Almond flower, 

 That blooms on a leafless bough." 



Another version of the same story 

 relieves Demophon of such gross in- 

 constancy. It is reported by some 

 that the marriage took place and not 

 until after the couple were happily 

 wedded was ihe hero called to Athens 

 by the death of his father. Day by 

 day the young wife watched for his re- 

 turn on the shore, but he was detained 

 until the winter passed away and with 

 it his faithful bride. In the spring he 

 returned to find only an Almond tree 

 awaiting his coming. He realized what 

 had happened and in his despair 

 clasped the tree in his arms when it 

 burst forth into blossoms although i^ 

 was bare of leaves. 



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