ON THE ALMOND 



it is harvested. Perhaps, however, selective breed- 

 ing may advantageously be carried out with an eye 

 to the whitening of the shell of the nut. At present 

 it is necessary to bleach the shells after the nuts 

 are thoroughly dried, first with low pressure steam 

 and then with the fumes of sulphur. Such bleach- 

 ing is necessary to meet the demands of the 

 consumers. 



It would obviously cheapen production and 

 save a good deal of trouble if a variety could be 

 produced that would have the desired color of 

 shell in the natural state. Another defect is that 

 the almond tends to cling to the tree too tena- 

 ciously, requiring unnecessary labor. Any almond 

 grower would appreciate these two experiments. 



My own experiments of late have been in all the 

 directions mentioned, and I have reason to sup- 

 pose that I now have better almonds than any 

 heretofore grown. 



It is clear, then, that there are various 

 directions in which the almond may profit by the 

 attentions of the plant developer. The steady and 

 increasing demand for this nut warrants the 

 expectation that systematic efforts for its improve- 

 ment may meet with an adequate financial reward. 

 Already the cultivation of the almond is an indus- 

 try that exceeds in importance that of any other 

 nut except the walnut and pecan. And it is an 



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