PART SEVEN: NUTS 



CHAPTER XXXVII 

 NUT GROWING IN CALIFORNIA 



Two nuts have risen to large commercial importance in Cali- 

 fornia: The English walnut and the almond. Other nuts than 

 these, except peanuts, have never attained great acreage, although 

 several have succeeded and promise to become popular. 



The commercial production of almonds and walnuts in Cali- 

 fornia during the last nineteen years has been estimated by the trade 

 as follows, in tons of 2,000 Ibs. : 



The walnuts are chiefly grown in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los 

 Angeles and Orange counties in southern California. The almonds 

 are from interior counties in the central regions of the State. 

 Reasons for the extreme fluctuations in production of the almond 

 will be suggested in the discussion of that nut which will follow. 



THE ALMOND 



The almond has an interesting history in California, but it can be 

 outlined in a few sentences. The importation of the best European 

 varieties began very early, and a number of them had been planted 

 in 1853. They proved irregular bearers, though the trees grew 

 thriftily and in some cases showed fruit very soon after planting. 



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