THE ALMOND. 1& 



ocular demonstration in the tons of these valuable nuts 

 received from there in the past few years, and placed on 

 sale in Eastern markets. If one man, by his individual 

 efforts, can revolutionize or establish a great industry in 

 a region as large as the State of California, it is not too 

 much to expect that something of the kind could be 

 done elsewhere, with the combined efforts of several 

 men. If the varieties heretofore tried in the East are 

 unsuited to the climate, it is certainly within the range 

 of probabilities that others better adapted to surround- 

 ing conditions can be produced. The native grape,, 

 raspberry and strawberry have had a history similar to- 

 the almond, but now all are extensively and successfully 

 cultivated. 



Propagation of the Almond. The propagation 

 of the almond is identical with that of the peach : that 

 is, from seed to procure new varieties, or by budding 

 the more desirable ones, when obtained, upon seedling 

 almond, peach or plum stocks. The half-wild hard- 

 shelled almond is probably the most congenial and best 

 stock for this purpose, but seedlings of the peach are 

 most generally employed because the most abundant and 

 cheapest. Under certain conditions, such as cold, 

 heavy, moist soils, and where rather dwarfish trees are 

 desired, the plum may be employed with advantage as a 

 stock, but it is not to be recommended for general 

 orchard culture. In mild climates seedlings of the best 

 of the soft-shelled varieties may be raised and planted in 

 orchards without budding, but the nuts from such trees 

 are likely to be somewhat variable in size and quality, 

 although the trees will usually prove to be as healthy 

 and productive as those subjected to artificial modes of 

 propagation. If, however, the grower desires a uniform 

 product, he must resort to the usual means of obtaining 

 it ; that is, multiplying superior or distinct varieties by 

 budding, either upon peach, almond or other stocks. 



