PROCEEDINGS OF TWENTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 139 



covering bursts enough to disclose the nut. Great care should be 

 taken to see that the almonds, after hulling, are fully and carefully 

 dried. When ready to put on the market they should be carefully 

 bleached. They should not be exposed to the fumes of the sulphur for 

 more than from twenty to thirty minutes, according to the bleacher 

 arrangements. Many almonds are ruined by over-bleaching, and as 

 this process is entirely unnecessary except as a matter of appearance, it 

 is to be hoped that some other way of brightening them will be dis- 

 covered and adopted. It would be better if the system could once be 

 well inaugurated of taking the almonds from the trees to cracking 

 machines, and the kernels or meats alone marketed. It would mean 

 much to the industry. Not only could the crops be harvested cheaper, but 

 much more satisfaction would be given to the consumer. The demand 

 would be increased, and no further complaint of rancid nuts would be 

 heard. 



It will be seen that the almonds most extensively grown at present 

 were originated in this State. There are several other new varieties, 

 partly without names at present, that give splendid promise of being 

 profitable to producers and acceptable in all respects to the trade, which 

 really means the consumer. 



On the whole, the industry yet offers good inducements to those who 

 will go into the subject intelligently and exercise care in selecting the 

 location of the orchard, and of varieties, and the planting and caring 

 for the trees in the orchard. 



THE WALNUT INDUSTEY. 



By frank E. KELLOGG, of Goleta. 



In the language of the late B. M. Lelong, Secretary of the State Board 

 of Horticulture, in his fifth biennial report (1895-6), "the walnut is a 

 native of Persia and is supposed to have been introduced into our State 

 by the Franciscan monks during the establishment of the California 

 missions in 1769." 



Mr. Lelong's researches show that of the early plantings outside of 

 the Missions, the first was made in San Diego, probably in 1843, by the 

 late Colonel J. J. Warner, and that the second planting was made near 

 Calistoga, in Napa Valley, in 1848, by F. E. Kellogg, Sr., now deceased. 



Although the planting of walnuts began in the northern part of the 

 State almost as early as in the southern part, climatic conditions were 

 not so favorable, and the southern counties are to-day almost the sole 

 producers. 



The early plantings were very small, and it was not until quite 

 recent years that the industry assumed important proportions. 



