502 



CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



planting. The barren almond trees were largely grafted into 

 prunes or made into firewood and the conclusion was reached that 

 to secure regularity and abundance in fruiting, locations for almond 

 orchards must be sought with the utmost care, and that the secret 

 of success lay in the location. After that local seedlings seemecl 

 to demonstrate their value in regular crops, and in characteristics 

 and qualities superior to foreign kinds. Large planting was then 

 undertaken on the ground that the choice of soil and situation, 

 and the selection of trustworthy varieties, are both factors of suc- 

 cess, but that possibly more lay in the choice of variety than of 

 location. This belief led to wide planting in locations now seen 

 to be unfitted by reason of frosts and losses were again encoun- 

 tered. Now it seems to be fully demonstrated that no matter what 

 variety is planted, locations for the almond must be selected with 

 great care. It has also been demonstrated that association of 

 varieties promotes pollination and satisfactory bearing. 



Situations and Soils for the Almond. Almonds are now doing 

 best on the higher lands in coast valleys, free from fogs and pro- 

 tected from direct winds, but subject to tempered breezes; also at 

 various points in the interior valleys and foot-hills. The general 

 proposition that low lands in small valleys should be avoided, and 

 bench or hillside situations preferred, seems to be a safe one. Lands 

 directly upon the coast have not proved satisfactory. In the large 

 interior valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, almonds are 

 successfully grown on flat valley lands but little lifted above sea 

 level and from such plains the chief product comes. Why almonds 

 are safer on the low lands of a great valley than of a small valley is 

 explained by the discussion on page 15. 



The almond prefers a loose, light, warm soil, and heavy, poorly- 

 drained soils should be avoided. Though they need moisture 

 enough to make good, thrifty growth they will produce good crops 

 on soils that are too light or dry to grow satisfactory peaches, apri- 

 cots, nectarines, cherries, or similar pulpy fruit. The almond is, how- 

 ever, a very deep-rooting tree, and may succeed by reaching deeply 

 for moisture rather than by denying itself, as some think. The 

 tree certainly suffers and is barren from drouth in some cases. 



Propagating, Planting, and Pruning. The almond is propa- 

 gated from seedlings grown as described in Chapter VIII, and 

 budded as described in Chapter IX. The almond root is preferred, 

 though the peach answers well. The apricot root should 

 be avoided. 



For planting out, trees in dormant bud are very successful if 

 given proper care. Yearling trees are, on the whole, best, and 

 usually those which have made a moderate instead of a very large 

 growth are to be preferred. The almond makes a comparatively 



