POPULAR KINDS OF ALMONDS 429 



Varieties of the Almond. Almonds should bear well every year, 

 hull easily, have clean, thin, soft shells, and a smooth, bright, and 

 plump kernel. Almonds with long, single kernels are preferred in 

 general to those which have double ones. These are the characters 

 which ruled in the selection of new varieties by the pioneer propagator 

 of new almonds, A. T. Hatch, formerly of Suisun. In 1878 Mr. Hatch 

 planted out about two thousand five hundred seedling almond trees 

 grown from the bitter almond seed. He afterward budded all the seed- 

 lings but about three hundred which were left to bearing age unbudded. 

 The fruit of these seedlings was of all degrees of excellence. A few of 

 the best of them were selected for propagation and naming, and they 

 constitute the chief part of the acreage which is now bearing almonds, 

 but other late bloomers and sure bearers are being preferred in current 

 planting. 



Excellent seedling almonds have also been produced by other 

 growers. The following list includes the sorts most widely grown 

 the following being chiefly approved by growers, in the order given : 

 Nonpareil, Drake's, IXL, Ne Plus Ultra, Texas Prolific, Languedoc, 

 Peerless : 



IXL. Tree a sturdy, rather upright grower, with large leaves; nuts large 

 with, as a rule, single kernels ; hulls easily, no machine being needed, nor is any 

 bleaching necessary; shell soft, but perfect; largely discarded for shy bearing, 

 but desirable in some places. 



Ne Plus Ultra. Large and very long in shape ; heavy and regular bearer ; soft 

 shell; hull free. 



Nonpareil. First called Extra. Of a weeping style of growth; smaller foli- 

 age than the IXL, but still forms a beautiful tree. An extraordinarily heavy 

 and regular bearer, with very thin shell, of the Paper Shell type. Ripens early 

 and can be gathered before other varieties are ready. 



Lewelling's Prolific. Originated with the late Mr. John Lewelling; "tree a 

 great bearer; of drooping habit; nut large and good; soft shell; hull free." 

 Leonard Coates. 



Harriott's Seedling (or Commercial). From Visalia, where it is a surer crop- 

 per than elsewhere ; shell softer than the Languedoc ; nut long, of peculiar shape, 

 quite large ; kernel sweet. 



King's Soft Shell. Originated in San Jose; shell very thin and soft; regular 

 and abundant bearer. 



Princess. The finest of the Paper Shell class ; long, oval, kernel large, white 

 and sweet. 



Languedoc. Nut large ; shell thin ; kernel sweet ; condemned for irregular 

 bearing. 



Paper Shell. Medium size ; shell very tender, easily broken between the finger 

 and thumb; kernel large, white and sweet. 



Drake's Seedling. Originated with Mr. Drake, of Suisun, of the Languedoc 

 class ; very prolific, and a regular, abundant bearer. A late blooming variety. 



Golden State. Originated by Webster Treat. A large soft shell, somewhat 

 longer than the Languedoc, with a full, smooth-skinned meat; parts from the 

 hull readily. An early variety, but in less favor than formerly. 



Peerless. Resembling IXL: Popular in Yolo County for regular and heavy 

 bearing. 



Texas Prolific. Brought from Texas by Robert Williamson, of W. R. Strong 

 & Co., of Sacramento, about 1891, as a seedling originated at Dallas, and the 

 only almond which would bear there. Planted at Acampo by Robert Adams, who 



