274 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



Japan walnut. The Japan walnut (Juglans sieloldiana) is 

 now cultivated in an experimental way and is much hardier than 

 the English Walnut which it somewhat resembles, although not 

 so hardy as the Black Walnut or Butternut. This tree gives 

 promise of being productive even as far north as central Minne- 

 sota. The nuts are small and more like the Black Walnut than 

 the English Walnut, and probably of little importance commer- 

 cially. 



The Black Walnut and Butternut are prized for their timber 

 and shade as well as for their nuts. These are frequently gather- 

 ed and marketed in considerable quantities and there is generally 

 a good demand for them. The shucks should be removed and 

 the nuts dried before they are marketed. Black Walnuts have 

 been planted in considerable quantities in Minnesota and Iowa 

 for fence posts and for their nuts. 



The Almond. 



The Almond (Prunus amygdalus) resembles the peach in 

 habit of growth, flowering, etc. The nut is really a peach in 

 which the flesh portion is obliterated. It is divided into two 

 classes, the bitter and sweet almond. The sweet class is di- 

 vided into the hard and soft shell types. The hard shell type is 

 scarcely grown, but the soft shell type produces the edible al- 

 monds of commerce. The bitter almond has a hard shell and its 

 chief use is as a stock for the cultivated kinds. It is also grown 

 in the Mediterranean district for the bitter kernel, which is used 

 In the manufacture of flavoring extracts and prussic acid. The 

 Almond is cultivated in a very limited area confined mostly to a 

 few small districts in California, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. 

 The tree is nearly as hardy as the peach, but on account of the 

 flowers opening so very early, they are almost always destroyed 

 by frost, except in a few favored districts. The tree comes into bear- 

 ing from two to four years after budding, and is generally at its 

 best when from six to nine years of age. Five pounds of hulled al- 

 monds per tree is reported as a good average crop in California 

 orchards. The nuts begin to ripen about the middle of August. 

 It Is desirable to have varieties mixed in order to secure good 

 pollination. Much disappointment has been occasioned by plant- 

 ing the almond in situations not suited for it, or possibly by 

 the planting of only one variety ki a large area. 



