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Spanish Cherries

given to even typhoid patients with success when fruits as a rule are forbidden. Also, peaches have been found beneficial in serious cases of intestinal disorders among children and adults alike. The peculiar acids of this fruit are apparently fatal to germs of the dysentery type and Holbrook quotes a physician who wrote him that in the treatment of dysentery he much preferred "ripe, sound fruit, peaches especially, to any medicine that can be suggested." Fresh or stewed the fruit is laxative and refrigerant. The seeds and flowers of peaches are used in the manufacture of a liqueur called Persico and the bruised pits give to almost any alcoholic liquor the flavour of Noyeau. The flowers were formerly steeped to be used as a tea for their laxative quality and it is also thought they exert "to a moderate extent, a sedative influence over the nervous system" (U. S. Dispensatory). Sometimes, according to the same authority, they have been given in infusion for "irritability of the bladder, sick stomach, and whooping-cough." As for the blossoms, it should be remembered that they have been known to cause fatal cases of poisoning among children although in the hands of physicians they are safely used (as a vermifuge), and "a syrup prepared from them is considerably used in infantile cases, on the continent of Europe." The leaves, when rubbed or steeped in hot water, give out a strong almond flavour greatly esteemed in many countries. From both the leaves and kernels, when distilled, is extracted oil, that from the kernels being frequently used as an adulterant of almond oil.

The apricot is supposed to have originated in Armenia. The nectarine, once puzzling to botanists, is but a variation of the peach. (All recipes for peaches may be applied to nectarines and apricots.) PEACHES HALVED (Uncooked) Select large freestones; drop into boiling water for two minutes, then into iced water, and the fruit will easily slip out of the skin. Halve the peaches; remove pits and place the fruit on ice. When ready to serve fill the centres with powdered sugar, or sugar and melted marshmallows; join each two halves with short, fine, toothpicks, and place in the serving dishes or glasses. Pass with them whipped cream.