344 LUTHER BURBANK 



the Ne Plus Ultra, both of which originated in 

 California from seedlings grown by A. T. Hatch 

 of Salinas County. These may best be pollen- 

 ized, in the opinion of experienced orchardists, 

 by the variety known as Texas Prolific. 



Unfortunately neither of the varieties men- 

 tioned produces nuts of the largest size, but their 

 certainty of bearing gives them advantage over 

 varieties that would otherwise be superior but 

 which cannot be depended upon. 



It should not be difficult, except that such an 

 experiment necessarily takes time, to crossbreed 

 the different varieties that have individual traits 

 of exceptional value, and thus to produce in the 

 second generation, or through successive selec- 

 tions, varieties that will combine the best quali- 

 ties. Something has already been accomplished 

 in this direction, notably in the case of such a 

 variety as that known as Drake's Seedling, a late- 

 blooming variety that is prolific and a regular 

 and abundant bearer, notwithstanding its parent 

 form was the Languedoc, which has been pretty 

 generally condemned for irregular bearing. 

 There is no good reason why the almond should 

 not bear as regularly and as abundantly as the 

 apple, peach, or cherry. 



As to the shell of the almond, this has been so 

 specialized through selective breeding that in the 



