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CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



The Nonpareil at 14 cents per pound, the Drake Seedling at n cents per 

 pound, and the Texas Prolific at 10 cents per pound, will each bring about 

 $10.50 per standard sack the IXL at 13 cents per pound about $9 per sack, and 

 the Ne Plus Ultra at 12 cents per pound about $8.50 per sack. 



Varieties of the Almond. Almonds should bear well every 

 year, hull' easily, have clean, thin, soft shells, and a smooth, bright, 

 and plump kernel. Almonds with long, single kernels are pre- 

 ferred in general to those which have double ones. These are the 

 characters which ruled in the selection of new varieties by the pio- 

 neer propagator of new almonds, A. T. Hatch, formerly of Sui- 

 sun. In 1878 Mr. Hatch planted out about two thousand five hun- 

 dred seedling almond trees grown from bitter almond seed. He 

 afterward budded all the seedlings but about three hundred, which 

 were left to bearing age unbudded. The fruit of these seedlings 

 was of all degrees of excellence. A few of the best of them were 

 selected for propagation and naming, and they constitute the chief 

 part of the acreage which is now bearing almonds, but other late 

 bloomers and surer bearers are being preferred in current planting. 



Excellent seedling almonds have also been produced by other 

 growers. The following list includes the sorts most widely grown : 



IXL. Tree a sturdy, rather upright grower, with large leaves; nuts large 

 with, as a rule, single kernels; hulls easily, no machine being needed, nor is any 

 bleaching necessary; shell soft, but perfect; largely discarded for shy bearing, 

 but desirable in some places. 



Ne Plus Ultra. Large and very long in shape; heavy and regular bearer; 

 soft shell; hull free. 



Nonpareil. First called Extra. Of a weeping style of growth; smaller foliage 

 than the IXL, but still forms a beautiful tree. An extraordinarily heavy and 

 regular bearer, with very thin shell, of the Paper Shell type. Ripens early and 

 can be gathered before other varieties are ready. 



Lewellings Prolific. Originated with the late Mr. John Lewelling; "tree a 

 great bearer; of drooping habit; nut large and good; soft shell; hull free."- 

 Leonard Coates. 



Harriott's Seedling (or Commercial). From Visalia, where it is a surer 

 cropper than elsewhere; shell softer than the Languedoc ; nut long, of peculiar 

 shape, quite large; kernel sweet. 



King's Soft Shell. Originated in San Jose; shell very thin and soft; regular 

 and abundant bearer. 



Princess. The finest of the Paper Shell class; long, oval, kernel large, white 

 and sweet. 



Languedoc.- 

 bearing. 



-Nut large; shell thin; kernel sweet; condemned for irregular 



Paper Shell. Medium size; shell very tender, easily broken between the 

 linger and thumb; kernel large, white and sweet. 



Drake's Seedling. Originated with Mr. Drake, of Suisun, of the Languedoc 

 class; very prolific, and a regular, abundant bearer. A late blooming variety. 



Golden State. Originated by Webster Treat. A large soft-shell, somewhat 

 longer than the Languedoc, with a full, smooth-skinned meat; parts from the 

 hull readily. An early variety, but in less favor than formerly. 



Peerless. Resembling IXL. Popular in Yolo county for regular and heavy 

 bearing. 



