Varieties of the Almond. 409 
are preferred in general to those which have double ones. These 
are the characters which ruled in the selection of new varieties 
by our leading propagator of new almonds, A. T. Hatch, for- 
merly of Suisun. In 1878 Mr. Hatch planted out about two 
thousand five hundred 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 large acreage which is 
now credited to the almond in Chapter VI. 
Excellent seedling almonds have also been produced by 
other growers. The following list includes the sorts most widely 
grown :— 
INXNL.—‘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. It bears 
heavily and regularly.’—A. T. Hatch. 
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 INL, but. still forms a beautiful tree. An 
extraordinarily heavy and regular bearer, with very thin shell, of the 
Paper Shell type. 
Lewelling’s 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.—Nut large; shell thin; kernel sweet; condemned for 
irregular bearing. 
Paper Shell—Medium size; shell very tender, easily broken between 
the finger 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. The 
latest 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. 
THE CHESTNUT. 
The chestnut is not yet produced in large amount in Cali- 
fornia, and certain quantities of the nuts are annually imported, 
the American, Italian, or Spanish and Japanese all being found 
in the San Francisco markets. Of chestnuts grown in Califor- 
27 
