PROMISING NEW FRUITS. 479 



The variety was commercially introduced by the Wragg Nursery at 

 Waukee, Iowa, about 1895, and has been found adapted to conditions 

 at many points between Nebraska and Maryland. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Form roundish, slightlj' oblique; size medium; cavity small, shal- 

 low; apex minute, depressed; surface smooth; color deep purplish 

 red, with bluish white bloom; dots numerous, minute, yellow; skin 

 rather thick and tough, acid but only slightly astringent; stone oval, 

 of medium size, cling; flesh deep yellow, translucent, tender, juicy; 

 flavor mild subacid, rich; quality good. 



Tree strong, vigorous, and productive. A valuable sort for the 

 North and West. 



The specimen shown on PI. LXII was received from the late Prof. 

 E. S. Goff, of Madison, Wis., in 1901. 



JORDAN ALMOND. 

 [PLATE LXIIL] 



The exact identity and the place of production of the commercial 

 supply of the Jordan almond were until quite recently shrouded 

 in obscurity. Under the name "Jordan" considerable quantities of 

 almond kernels of large size, symmetrical form, and delicate flavor 

 have long been known in the markets of England and America. 

 These kernels were said to have come from Malaga, Spain, where a 

 single firm practically controlled the product and exported it entirely 

 in the form of shelled kernels. A search of European nursery cata- 

 logues failed to afford any clue to the identity of the varietj- or the 

 source from which the nuts came, and steps were accordingly taken 

 by the Department of Agriculture, through its Division of Pomolog3 T 

 and Section of Seed and Plant Introduction, to locate the variety 

 in its region of commercial production and secure authentic stock for 

 testing in the almond districts of the United States. This end was 

 accomplished by Mr. David G. Fairchild, agricultural explorer, who, 

 during the summer of 1901, visited southeastern Spain, investigated 

 the orchards, and secured scions from bearing trees. From these 

 scions trees were propagated that are now growing at several points 

 in the United States, and may soon be expected to yield fruit. 



Meanwhile, Mr. John Rock, of Niles, Cal., had secured, early in 1897, 

 through a French correspondent, some dormant budded trees propa- 

 gated on myrobalan plum stock in France from scions obtained in 

 Spain in 1896. Fearing that the almond would not thrive on myro- 

 balan roots in California, Mr. Rock grafted 100 of these dormant 

 buds upon bearing peach trees, using as a scion the entire trunk of 

 the myrobalan plum stock with the dormant almond bud upon it. 



