PART SEVEN: NUTS 



CHAPTER XXXVII 

 NUT GROWING IN CALIFORNIA 



Two nuts have risen to large commercial importance in Cali- 

 fornia : The English walnut and the almond. Other nuts than 

 these, except peanuts, have never attained great acreage, although 

 several have succeeded and promise to become popular. 



The commercial production of almonds and walnuts in Califor- 

 nia during the last thirteen years has been estimated by the trade 

 as follows, in tons of 2,000 Ibs. : 



The walnuts are chiefly grown in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los 

 Angeles and Orange counties in Southern California. The almonds 

 are from interior counties in the central regions of the State. Rea- 

 sons for the extreme fluctuations in production will be suggested 

 by the discussion of each nut which will follow. 



THE ALMOND 



The almond has an interesting history in California, but it can 

 be outlined in a few sentences. The importation of the best Euro- 

 pean varieties began very early, and a number of them had been 

 planted in 1853. They proved irregular bearers, though the trees 

 grew thriftily and in some cases showed fruit very soon after 



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