REQUIREMENTS OF THE ALMOND 425 



The barren almond trees were largely grafted into prunes or made 

 into firewood and the conclusion was reached that to secure regu- 

 larity and abundance in fruiting, locations for almond orchards must 

 be sought with the utmost care, and that the secret of success lay 

 in the location. After that local seedlings seemed to demonstrate 

 their value in regular crops, and in characteristics and qualities 

 superior to foreign kinds. Large planting was then undertaken on 

 the ground that the choice of soil and situation, and the selection of 

 trustworthy varieties, are both factors of success, but that possibly 

 more lay in the choice of variety than of location. This belief led 

 to the wide planting in locations now seen to be unfitted by reason 

 of frosts and losses were again encountered. Now it seems to be 

 fully demonstrated that no matter what variety is planted locations 

 for the almond must be selected with great care. It has also been 

 demonstrated that association of varieties promotes pollination and 

 satisfactory bearing. 



Situations and Soils for the Almond. Almonds are now doing 

 best on the higher lands in coast valleys, free from fogs and pro- 

 tected from direct winds, but subject to tempered breezes; also at 

 various points in the interior valleys and foothills. The general 

 proposition that low lands in small valleys should be avoided, and 

 bench or hillside situations preferred, seems to be a safe one. Lands 

 directly upon the coast have not proved satisfactory. In the large 

 interior valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, almonds are 

 successfully grown on flat valley lands but little lifted above sea 

 level and from such plains the chief product comes. Why almonds 

 are safer on the low lands of a great valley than of a small valley is 

 explained by the discussion on page 16. 



The almond prefers a loose, light, warm soil, and heavy, poorly- 

 drained soils should be avoided. Though they need moisture enough 

 to make good, thrifty growth they will produce good crops on soils 

 that are too light or dry to grow satisfactory peaches, apricots, nec- 

 tarines, cherries, or similar pulpy fruits. The almond is, however, a 

 very deep-rooting tree, and may succeed by reaching deeply for 

 moisture rather than by denying itself, as some think. The tree 

 certainly suffers and is barren from drouth in some cases, and a 

 certain amount of irrigation in midsummer is very desirable. Al- 

 monds are doing well in alfalfa with irrigation the alfalfa making 

 a good growth and still leaving soil-moisture enough to cause the 

 nuts to open their hulls better than on drier ground with clean cul- 

 tivation. 



Propagating, Planting, and Pruning. The almond is propagated 

 from seedlings grown as described in Chapter VIII, and budded as 

 described in Chapter IX. The almond root is preferred, though the 

 peach answers well. The apricot root should be avoided. 



For planting out, trees in dormant bud are very successful if given 

 proper care. Yearling trees are, on the whole, best and usually those 

 which have made a moderate instead of a very large growth are to be 

 preferred. The almond makes a comparatively large tree and should 



