SPRING BLOSSOMS 
THE ALMOND 
HE Almond belongs to the large genus of Prunus, which The Prunus 
brings us every spring such a wonderful wealth of blossom, genus - 
fruit-bearing trees vieing with non-fruiting kinds in their 
exquisite beauty. The genus is divided into six big classes— 
Amygdalus, Armeniaca, Prunus, Cerasus, Padus, and 
Laurocerasus—including the Almonds and Peaches, Apricots, 
Plums and Blackthorns, Cherries, Bird Cherries, Portugal Laurels, 
etc., all of which should adorn our gardens in their season. 
It is strange how seldom in small gardens, where space is a 
valuable consideration, the double use of these trees for blossom 
and fruit is realised. The lesson might be more often 
learnt from farms or cottages, where fruit-laden branches are 
trained to the eaves, or boughs heavy with Apples mingle 
with Roses or other autumn flowers. One such cottage 
garden I have seen lately, clinging to a steep cliff of the 
Yorkshire coast, with a brilliant blue sea to add to the picture. 
We, instead, relegate our fruit trees too often to the kitchen 
garden and orchard, forgetting that Pear and Plum will wreathe 
the windows with white blossoms some time before the regular 
garden creepers are out, and will be enriched again in the 
autumn with the ripened fruit. Clusters of red or purple plums, 
and golden brown pears, are not to be despised by those with 
an eye for colour, whilst a rosy-cheeked apple excels them all, 
and there are other advantages in having an Orange Pippin or 
Worcester Pearmain at hand! Fruit trees might stand on the 
O 10$ 
