PREFACE. 



The accompanying paper is one of a scries, which it is hoped can 

 be issued from time to time, embodying observations made on specific 

 crops by the agricultural explorers of this Department. Already 

 several such papers have appeared and have aroused general interest 

 in the subjects discussed. 



Almond culture is an important industry in California, and, to a 

 more limited extent, in Arizona and Utah. It is hoped, therefore 

 that this bulletin may prove of value to these regions. The introduc- 

 tion of the varieties of almonds herein discussed can not, apparently, 



be without great benefit. 



Ernst A. Bessey, 



Assistant in Charge of Seed and Plant Introduction. 



Office of Seed and Plant Introduction, 



February U, 1902. 



