Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1881 — The Almond. [ARTICLE]

The Almond.

The almond is a native of Asia and Africa, but is cultivated also in Europe. In the North of Europe it is grown only for its beautiful flowers, which appear before its leaves, and for its foliage, as the fruit does not ripen in these northern latitudes. The blossoms resemble those of the peach, but are larger and paler in color—sometimes almost white. The wood of the almond tree is hard, of a reddish tint and is used for furniture. The chief value, of the tree lies, however, in its fruit. There are several varieties of almonds, but they may be generally classified as sweet and bitter. The sweet almonds are familiar to every nut-loving child. They are pleasant to the taste, but are the most indigestible of all nuts. Bitter almonds are also cultivated for the nut, from which a valuable oil is pressed. When in a crude state the oil is very poisonous, on account of the prussic acid contained in it, and many persons have died from its careless use. When properly prepared the pure oil is not dangerous poifcon. It is used as a medicine, as a flavoring extract, and for perfuming soaps, oils, blacking and many other articles of commerce.

Almonds are mentioned several times in the Bible. They were among the gifts which Jacob directed his sons to take to the unknown Joseph in Egypt. The seven-branched candlestick had the bowl of its branches modeled after the almond. In Ecclesiastes the tree is used as a symbol of old age, and it is also alluded to by the prophet Jeremiah; and in Numbers we learn that Aaron’s rod that budded was cut from an almond tree, for it “yielded almonds.”