The almond (Prunus dulcis, formerly Amygdalus communis) is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to the Caucasus region, of the family Rosaceae with a smooth reddish coloured bark, spreading branches and alternate, stalked, rectangular to lanceolate, glossy and finely serrate leaves. The almond grows usually to the height of six meters, and is akin to the peach and nectarine. The flowers are sessile, white or pink in colour and appear in early spring before the leaves. The fruit is an elliptical, light-green coloured, velvety drupe which contains one oval seed in a hard- pitted shell. The almond was introduced to southern Europe in ancient times, and started being grown in Britain in the 16th century for its blossom, since the fruit doe not ripen in Britain. Research Almond
John Doe and Richard Roe were sham names formerly used as standing pledges for the prosecution of suits, used to protect the true identities of those involved. In early times real and substantial persons were required to pledge themselves to answer to the crown for an amercement or fine set upon the plaintiff for raising a false accusation. As the matter became mere formality, the false names of John Doe or Richard Roe became popularly used until they were no longer needed when the Common Law Procedure Act of 1852 declared the form no longer necessary. Research John Doe
Gloves are coverings for the hand, or for the hand and wrist, with a separate sheath for each finger. They are made of leather, fur, cloth, silk, linen thread, cotton, worsted, etc. The chief leathers traditionaly used in glove manufacture were doe, buck, and calf-skins; sheep-skin for military gloves; lamb-skin for much of the so-called kid gloves; true kid for the best and finest gloves; and formerly also dog, rat, and kangaroo skins, etc. The leather in all cases undergoes a much lighter dressing than when used for boots and shoes. Leather gloves are usually cut out by means of dies, and sewed by a machine of peculiar construction.
The best woollen, thread, and silk gloves are made by cutting and sewing, but commoner gloves are made by knitting and weaving. In Englandleather gloves were traditionallly manufactured at London, Worcester, and elsewhere. Limerick was formerly celebrated for gloves of a peculiarly delicate kind. Gloversville, in New York, was the chief American seat of the manufacture. Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany all historically have a reputation for the manufacture of excellent gloves, but France traditionally supplied the world with most of the finer and more expensive kinds.
Large quantities of cotton gloves were formerly manufactured at Nottingham and Leicester; and the greater part of the woollen gloves was made in Wales, Scotland, and the North of England.
Gloves are a very ancient article of dress, and many curious customs and usages are connected with them. Throwing the glove down before a person amounted to a challenge to single combat. The judges in England used to be prohibited wearing gloves on the bench; and it was only in case of a maiden assize that the sheriffs were allowed to present a judge with a pair of gloves. Research Glove
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Research Almond
