THE FLOWERING ALMOND. 
By Emily C. Thompson. 
THE Sweet, the Bitter, and the 
Flowering Almond are all of 
a kin and in this kinship 
many include also the Peach 
and the Nectarine. The Flowering 
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 
2 5:33.34; 37:19.20; 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 the 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 it 
was bare of leaves. 
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