30 THE NUT CULTUKIST. 



It is advisable, as well as exceedingly important, for 

 all who intend or feel inclined to cultivate almonds in 

 regions where the adaptation of this nut has not been 

 fully established by years of practical experience, that 

 seedlings should be raised in large numbers, and from 

 these a selection be made to meet the requirements of 

 the climate and other conditions under which they are 

 to be propagated and grown. If spring frosts have been 

 heretofore inimical to the cultivation of the almond, 

 then the production of late-blooming varieties would be 

 a remedy. There will also be variations in the season 

 of ripening ; some may come on too early, others far too 

 late for special localities, but all these faults or varia- 

 tions may be readily overcome by raising seedlings, and 

 then selecting for propagation those coming nearest ful- 

 filling the requirements of local conditions or circum- 

 stances. It is by such experiments and means that fruit 

 culture has reached its present position in this and all 

 other countries, where it is practiced as an art or indus- 

 trial pursuit. Varieties that have become exceedingly 

 popular and profitable in one locality or country, may 

 not have succeeded elsewhere, and this holds good with 

 all cultivated plants. 



In making experiments with the almond in regions 

 where it has not been cultivated, but under conditions 

 which appear to be favorable, I would certainly advise 

 testing the well-known varieties first, and if these fail, 

 then see what can be done in the way of producing new 

 ones adapted to the locality and climate. 



Raising Seedlings for Stocks. — In warm or 

 moderately mild climates the nuts, whether peach or 

 almond, may be planted soon after they are gathered in 

 the fall, but should the weather continue warm and 

 moist the nuts will sometimes sprout prematurely and 

 the young sprouts get frosted later in the season, and 

 for this reason it is better to store them in a cool room, 



