42 



ALMOND POSSIBILITIES IN THE EASTERN STATES 



By R. H. Taylor* 



There is probably no better way to open a discussion of this kind 

 than by asking a question and then using it as a text. The future 

 possibihties for ahiiond production in the eastern states can not be 

 stated any otlier way dian as a question. For my text I am indebted 

 to vour secretary, Dr. W. C. Deming. It is taken from a letter 

 written by him under date of June "■?"-?nd to Mr. T. C. Tucker, the 

 manager of the California Almond Growers' Exchange, and is as 

 follows : 



" Why can't we breed an almond that will do in the 



East what its sister, the peach, does ? " 



Any answer we might give must be, of necessity, more or less 

 empirical in nature. 



In order properly to understand that answer, and I shall attempt 

 to give one later, certain fundamental relations and limitations must 

 tirst be considered; dien the possibilities of any given line of pro- 

 cedure may be more clearly understood. 



Botanically the almond is very closely related to the peach, both 

 belonging to the genus Pnoius, sub-genus A)}iygdalus. The species 

 of die peach being l^crsica, and of the almond, co)}n}ii<His. In fact 

 the two trees are in many respects so much alike that it is possible 

 to select twigs and leaves from each which cannot be distinguished 

 except by an expert, and even he may be misled at times. Ordinar- 

 ily, however, the}- are of sufficient difference to be readily distin- 

 guished. 



In the fruit the principle difference is that the fleshy portion of 

 the peach becomes in the almond a leatlier\- hull which splits at 

 maturity revealing a seed or nut, the shell of which is generalb 

 softer than that of tlie peach pit. The kernel may or may not be 

 bitter, depending upon die characteristics of that particular seedling. 

 If 100 almonds from a sweet almond tree are planted and brought to 

 bearing it is probable diat from a diird to a half of them would pro- 

 duce bitter almonds. As a matter of fact, we have had by actual tests 

 as high as 50 per cent, bitter. The peach, on the other hand. will, 

 probably in 99^ per cent, of the cases, produce a seed with a bitter 

 kernel, only ven.- rarely a seed developing which will produce edible 

 kernels. The same is true of the apricot, the Smyrna variet\- being 

 an edible apricot widi an edible kernel. 



The almond is normally die tirst of the stone fruits to begin 

 growdi and come into blossom in the spring and is also noniially die 

 last tree to become dormant in the fall. It is evident, dierefore. that 

 its normal winter resting period is comparatively short. The peach 

 has a much longer resting period than the almond although less than 

 the apple, pear and odier similar fruits, and it is for diis reason that 



*In charge Field Department, California Almond Growers' Exchange. 



