CULTURE OF FRUITS AND NUTS 237 



transportation, cold storage, etc., have given great en- 

 couragement to this fruit industry. Peaches especially will 

 not stand much handling, and are too perishable a product 

 to ship a great distance from grower to consumer. Success 

 in the handling of these orchards depends very largely upon 

 the amount of business management and intelligence ex- 

 ercised. 



4. Nut Farming of the South and West 



The largest commercial nut orchards of the United 

 States are found in the southern and southwestern states. 

 This industry has greatly developed during the last fifteen 

 years, and as the cultural methods become better under- 

 stood the area will be greatly increased. Nuts constitute 

 a very important part of our daily diet. They furnish a 

 very excellent substitute for meats, which are increasing 

 so rapidly in cost to the consumer. Most of the nut trees 

 grown in this country are considered very excellent trees 

 for the farmer's wood lot, and for ornamental or shade pur- 

 poses in our village and city lots. Some of the leading com- 

 mercial varieties are the almond, English walnut, pecan and 

 filbert. 



The almond. The almond tree very much resembles 

 the peach tree in size, foliage and flower. The almond is 

 a very valuable nut because of the high percentage of 

 food to shell. When the fruit ripens the pecan breaks open, 

 the pulp dries, and the nut falls to the ground. It is then 

 gathered and prepared for the market. The largest almond 

 groves are found in the southern half of the states of Flor- 

 ida, Texas and California. Almonds were brought to this 

 country from Spain and countries adjoining the Mediter- 

 ranean sea. They are used very extensively for confec- 

 tions, cooking purposes, medicine, flavoring extracts, and 

 sometimes for perfumery. 



