Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/424

390&#93; for the celerity and facility with which it is diffused, and likewise for the certainty of its a£tion; in consequence of which, it instantly destroys all putrid miasraata, that may either be floating in the air, or be fixed upon bodies.

It is a circumstance well known to persons conversant wltli chemis- try, that wood, during combustion, yields one-sixth part of its weight in coal, while the remaining live- sixths of smoke (which contains a large proportion of inflammable air), are usually dissipated, without being subservient to any useful {>urpo3e. Hence, an apparatus has ately been contrived in France, by M, Lkbon, fir applying such smoke to the heating and illumi- nating of rooms at the same time. It is denominated a Tkermo-lamp, and consists of a box or vessel, tie smoke rising out of which, after being freed from all vapours and soot, is conveyed through very small tubes, that are concealed in the plaster of the walls or ceiling. Such tubes are made of oiled silk, but the orifice is composed of me- tal, to prevent the silk from burn- ing, when the gas takes fire on coming in contaft with the atmos- pheric air. Thus, the flame may be conduced in a moment from one apartment into another, with- out depositing either ashes, coals, or soot ; so that, according to M. Lebon's assertion, chimnies be- come unnecessary. He farther states, that the fire, thus produced, does not require any particular care in supporting it, while it possesses this advantage, that the pure light may be made to represent flowers, festoons, or other ornamental ob- jects J or, such fire poay be so ar- ranged as to emit its light frcin above, with the purest lustre.

ALMOND.— Although we hare declined to give a particular description of the Alniond-trcc, yet as it is frequently cultivated in shrubberies, both on account of its beautiful flower*, and also for its fruit, we shall here add an outline of the manner in which it should be managed.

Almonds are propagated by I»o- cuLATioN, or budding on plum or. peach stocks, in the month of August, at such heigiit as may correspond to that of the stem in- tended to be raised : at the expi- ration of two years, the trees may be finally planted out. If the soil be dry, tliis operation should be performed in October, when the leaves begin to decay ; but, in case the ground be wet, the proper sea- son is the month of February.

When the young trees are re- moved from the nursery, Mr. Forsyth is of opinion, that they should never be cut, or pruned, " till the new shoots begin to " break ;" and, as these frequent- ly perish during severe winters, that succeed wet autumns, when the wood is not well-ripened, he direSs them to be cut down to the sound wood j care being taken to extirpate with the knife all cross shoots, so as to make the tree open in the middle, and to leave tlie principal shoots, according to their strength, from six to sixteen inches long. I'hose parts, hich are af- feiSted with the CANKKR,must also be cut out ; and such excision ought farther to be extended to all decayed wood.

Almond-trees being very deli- cate, it will be advi-sable to place them in a soutliern aspe61, and in a sheltered situation, either among tall flowering shrubs, or to thatch their tops with fern, or other light covering j