POLLIN1ZING THE ALMOND 



505 



sorting they are placed on trays or board platforms in the dry- 

 yard to cure. They should be cured until the kernel will break 

 without bending. Then they are ready for bleaching; but be sure 

 they are thoroughly cured before bleaching or the kernel will 

 absorb the sulphur and be spoiled. When properly cured, any 

 means may be employed which will thoroughly dampen the shell 

 but not penetrate to the kernel and then be subjected to the fumes 

 of burning sulphur for a period of 30 minutes to one or two hours 

 owing to the variety and condition of the nut. A yellowish white 

 color of the shell is demanded by the trade. Do not over-sulphur. 

 When sufficiently bleached they are removed and placed in the 

 sun f^:a few hours to dry, and then sacked up ready for market. 

 My ^^W n pl an of bleaching, given me by Mr. Reed, of Suisun, is 

 as fon^pb : When cured we place the nuts about one inch thick 

 on fruit trays and run them into a division of the sulphur house 

 which has been connected with a steam boiler (five horse-power), 

 and low pressure steam (20 pounds), is turned into the house for a 

 half or three-quarters of an hour. Then they are removed and 

 quickly run in another division which has a sulphur charge ready 

 fired and bleached from 40 minutes to an hour, when they are re- 

 moved and immediately sacked. The same help will bleach twice 

 as many in a day with steam as without it. Be careful not to use 

 high pressure steam or you will cook the nuts." 



Pollination and Late Blooming. The advantage of cross pol- 

 lination between different varieties and the surer bearing of late 

 blooming varieties are related subjects which are worthy of close 

 attention. Mr. J. P. Dargitz, whose harvesting method has just 

 been given, has pointed out that, according to his observation as 

 a rule all the paper-shells are deficient in pollen, and will not 

 bear well if planted alqne and he concludes that the only two which 

 warrant planting in his section are the Nonpareil and the Ne Plus 

 Ultra. The latter is not a very good nut, and needs much more 

 moisture than the other. The Nonpareil will give good results if 

 planted with some other variety as pollenizer. It is one of the very 

 best of nuts and is well worth planting. Mr. Dargitz regards the 

 Texas Prolific the very best pollenizer, and when planted in alter- 

 nate double rows with the Nonpareil will cause it to set fruit freely 

 in spite of the fact that the Nonpareil begins blooming two weeks 

 earlier than the Texas but still has bloom to catch the Texas pol- 

 len when it is ready. 



This late blooming of the Texas places it in the same class 

 for surety with Drake's Seedling. Both nuts are medium' soft 

 shell and small but are being largely chosen because of sure bear-, 

 ing and large product. As to the relative return per sack, Mr. Dar- 

 gitz says : 



