The National tribune., 1883-08-02
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
TIE ALMOND TREE.

The common almond tree PrunHs cOmmuais,
Is native of Asia Minor, Syria, and Persia. 1t
grows from twenty 10 thirty feet in height, and
In appearance closely resembles 4 peach tree
The fruit consists of dry, coriaceous exterior
surrounding wrinkled stone, which incloses
the seed. and constitutcssthe almond of COM
merce Almonds are divided into two very dis
tinct kinds: the bitter and the sweet. There
are many varieties, especially Of the sweet
which differ I'm size and shape, the hardness
OF softness of the shells, and the value of the
kernels The softest shelled almonds are called
Princess; these are very tender, the shells are
easily crushed, and the kernels are highly eS-
teemod.
The production of almonds in California is
rapidly increasing and viii soon supply as good
an article as the imported, and in quantities
sufficient 10 mest all demands. Although very
indigestible. almonds are much eaten. They
are also largely used in cookery, confectionery,
and periumery. The bitter almonds of COM
merce arc mainly produced in Morocco, and
are used Cor fayoring various foods and con1ec-
tions, and in medicinal preparations. An oil
is obtained from almonds by expression. The
oil from the sweet almond is nearly coloriess
has sweet taste, an agreeable smell, and has a
great resemblance TO olive oil 1t has been re-
commended rs means OF providing pleasant
substitute for mill during sea voyages. by mix
ing il with double its quantity OF water and
half its weight of gum arabic, beating the
produced
The deleterious principle of prussic acid does
not exist in the kernel OF the sweet almond
although found In its bark, leaves, and flowers
After expressing the fat oil from the kernels Of
the bitter almonds, the cake or mare which is
left is redaced TO powder By grinding; this,
when distilled with water, gives over VIOLA
tile oil called oil of bitter almonds. This OF
has a yellowish color, bitter, acrid burning
taste; ii is powerfully poisonous, and In a
greatly diluted form is sold as the essence of
almonds. The oil OF bitter almonds, besides a
peculiar volatile oil, contains also hydrocyanic
acid, small proportion Of benzoic acid, and a
concrete principle called benZoine. II also con-
tains s per cent of prussic acid, which can be
removed by redistilling it over potash. The
culture Of the almond tree is exactly similar 10
that bestowed upon the peach tree.
SORGHUM SUGAR IN JAPAN.
Some of the rural papers are getting terribly
mixed up regarding sugar from sorghum.
These are mostly managed by young editors
who have no knowledge of what has been
done, either in this country or in other conn
tries, in sugar making from sorghum. The
Farmers ReUieC states: "All the sugar of Japan
is made from sorghum. and in 1871 seventy
one millions of pounds were exported The
sorghum is grown from cuttings the stalks
being cut and buried in September, and sprouts
are started through the winter from each Joint: :
these sprouts are cut of and planted IA the
spring"
Strange that the editor could not see that
this describes the culture of the tropical sugar
cane. lit has been repeatedly stated by these
who have made special effort to gel at the
facts, that neither the Chinese nor the Japan
csc make sugar from sorghum. About fifteen
years ago a Government agent was sent out TO
China and Japan for the express purpose of
procuring the best sugar bearing sorghum seed,
but he reported that it was not cultivated as a
sugar bearing plant. Next in order viii be
the recommendation to cut stalks and plant in
September, same as they do IN Japan" Ii The
question is asked, Why propagate ii from
cuttings when il can be more proftablv culti-
waited from seeds?" the questioner viii be rated
IS one opposed TO sorghum culture At least
that is about the usual way that practical
gradgrinds are answered, if they ask for infor-
NATION. L. s. G.
RIPENING OF FRUIT.
1t is wen known to those who have had the
opportunity OF handling fruits that the best
favored, best colored. aud finest specimens Of
fruits are those which have ripened on plants
having an abundance Of healthy foliage, and
where the fruit could be entirely screened and
shaded by the leaves. The finest strawbergie
are those found in the Gensest foliage, AID so
with grapes and all other fruits. We know Of
no exception TO this rule. Yet we arc very
aSAt0 hlCsuCI OF no. Tie leaves
should be removed from the lunches of grapes
80 that they may be exposed to the sun and
thus hasten their maturity; ii is even advised
by some practitioners as a necessity. and we are
told that it is rule TO do so in some Of the
vineyards Of Europe. To all this it may simply
be said that the removal Of leaves never vet
improved the quality Of fruit or hastened its
maturity.
The results from covering punches Of grapes
IN bags ought TO be convincing that direct sun
light on the fruit is an injury rather than q
benefit. But the foliage must have all the
light possible, and the more healthy foliage on
3 plant the more fruit II viii mature
The mere coloring of grapes is net sign of
maturity, although il is sign of approaching
80 ripeness. The only true indication Of a
ripened bunch Of grapes is when the shoot
upon which il is growing has turned brown
and hard, and the leaves beginning TO change
their color. Pulling the leaves from figs.
grapes, OF any other fruiting plants with view
70 assist III ripening crop, is fatal error, be-
cause il has the opposite effect.
SOWING WHEAT
We see it stated that there are about $50. 600
seeds IN a bushel of wheat weighing sixty
pounds, and each seed requires square foot of
soil In which TO develop INFO perfect wheat
plant New, this gives US about 43, $50 plants
to an acre, so that bushel Of wheat is enough
70 plant ten and one-fourth acres with. Whena
ulaD puts Il D1snei ana q half there Is enough
for about fifteen acres; therefore the greater
number Of the seeds are killed IN the struggle
for existence, whilst every plant in the field
probably suffers from the contest We have
seen I32 heads growing upon plant raised
from single seed sown upon good soil with
plenty of room TO grow in, and left undistrube
from time OF sowing until gathered.
These facts are mentioned, not because we
think it is practicable 10 SOW ten acres with
one bushel Of seed but to show that il is cutie
possible 20 sow too much to the injury of the
crop, aud to cali attention 10 the advantages of
the seed drill as a method of distributing a
small quantity Of seed regularly. and thus not
only saving IN the quantity OF seed grain. but
at the same time enhancing the value of the
crop.-AHssrdliGa pcper.
While the lessen inculcated in the above is
valuable, we are IA doubts about the accuracy of
the number of grains in bushel of wheat: we
think that it is at least three times TOO high,
even il a small seeded wheat be taken.
HINTS OK SHEEP MANAGEMENT.
An experienced sheep grower says: 81 do
not keep many sheep, because ii is not well 10
keep too many on q small farm Sheen should
not be IN one field too long; they should be
changed every two months TO a fresh pasture
believe the greatest secret 10 tie health Of
sheep is 70 keep them dry during winter and
early spring. i never let my sheep get wet
from October TO May, day or night I put
them IN warm, dry place with plenty Of air
aud light believe that catarrh in sheen is
t3e result either directly or indirectly. of ex-