20 NUT CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 



As regards the production of nuts, these efforts seem to have resulted in failure, 

 as all reports from those sections indicate that the blossoms of the almond, except of 

 the worthless, hard-shelled variety, rarely escape spring frosts. The early blooming 

 habit is the weak point in -the almond and is a trait that has not been overcome by our 

 Eastern pomologists. On the Pacific Slope also there was for a time widespread failure 

 among almond growers, probably due to the same cause, but varieties recently origi- 

 nated and introduced there have proved reasonably regular in fruiting and have 

 made almond growing exceedingly profitable in some small areas. The history of the 

 growth of the industry in California is of interest, as an illustration of the progress 

 that has been made in this line of horticultural work. According to Wickson, 1 the 

 importation of European varieties began at an early date, a number of them having 

 been planted prior to 1853. 



They proved to be irregular bearers, though making a vigorous growth of wood. 

 The importation and trial of varieties was continued, and some were eventually found 

 that succeeded in a few localities, though they failed in others. From this it was 

 concluded that the question of locality was all important, and the relative value of 

 varieties was to some extent lost sight of. Some twenty years of experience resulted 

 only in establishing the fact that in a few scattered localities occasional profitable 

 crops of almonds could be produced. These served to keep alive the interest in 

 almond culture and to stimulate efforts to extend it. 



In 1878 A. T. Hatch, of Suisun, Gal., planted over 2,000 seedlings of the bitter 

 almond, of which he budded all but about 300 trees. The fruit of these see/llings 

 varied materially, and Mr. Hatch exhibited specimens of many of them at the New 

 Orleans Exposition in 1885 and at the Sacramento Citrus Fair in 1886. At both 

 of these exhibitions the collections attracted much attention, and Mr. Hatch was 

 encouraged to propagate from the 192 varieties shown four that were selected for 

 their distinctive and desirable qualities, namely: "IXL," "Ne Plus Ultra," "Nonpa- 

 reil," and "La Priina." Since then Mr. Hatch and other propagators have found 

 occasion to say many good words for later seedlings, as will be noted in the list of 

 varieties given in this report. With the introduction of these varieties, almond planting 

 again increased in California, and is now being tried in portions of Utah and Arizona 

 with some degree of success. 



The California crop in 1891 was estimated at 1,000,000 pounds, and it is stated 

 by the State board of trade that the crop netted the growers more per pound than the 

 price of the imported article, because of its superior quality. In that year the growers 

 realized in the New York market 2 22 cents per pound for "paper-shell," 16 cents for 

 "soft shell," and 12 cents for "hard-shell" varieties. 3 



The total yield in successive years is stated by N. P. Chipmau to have been as 

 follows : 



Yield of almonds in Calif ornia from 1885 to 1892. 



The importation of almonds, however, continues to more than keep pace with 

 increased production. In 1855, according to the report of the Commissioner of 

 Patents, almonds to a value of $250,000 were imported, while in 1891 the importation 

 had increased to 7,497,193 pounds, valued at $989,966, and in 1892, 6,371,015 pounds, 



1 California Fruits, page 491. 



2 California State Board of Horticulture Report, 1891, page 86. 



3 Not the hard-shell almond of the Eastern States. 



