PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



65 



tons, in 1908 it was 11.200 tons, a clear gain of over 40 per cent in 

 one year. When it is understood that over 75 per cent of this con- 

 sumption is imported from Europe, and that the area for the home 

 production of this nut is practically limited to California, and a very 

 small portion of the State at that, we will hardly need to think of over- 

 production for a lifetime at least. In fact. I doubt if we will ever be 

 able to keep up with the growing consumption. Therefore, in view of 

 the viticultural situation and the great influx of population and devel- 

 opment of our resources, is it not worth while to look seriously into 

 the commercial possibilities of the almond ? 



The almond is such an early bloomer, such a shy bearer in some 

 varieties and locations, and such a "sensitive plant" with regard to 

 bearing, that I would emphatically advise all who anticipate starting in 

 almond production to gain all possible information from the experi- 

 ences of the past, and especially as to the behavior of the various varie- 

 ties in the locality which you have under consideration. If there has 

 been no proving in such locality, then get all your information and 

 begin slowly and prove the varieties for yourself. Of course, if you 

 plant an almond orchard, and it does not prove a success, your effort 

 has not been entirely lost, for you can profitably work your trees over 

 to other varieties of fruits. You can change varieties of the almond by 

 grafting or budding, or you can work plums and prunes on them very 

 profitably. The writer's brand of sugar and giant prunes, which has 

 won high standing among the trade in the East, has been achieved with 

 fruit grown on almond trees worked over to prunes after they were 

 fifteen years old. In this connection I would especially advise the read- 

 ing of E. J. Wiekson's book. "California Fruits and How to Grow 

 Them." In this you will find very much that is helpful in getting 

 your starting points. 



CLIMATE. 



Iii the matter of climate you must consider both frosts and a tend- 

 ency to continued wet weather at blooming time. I am satisfied that 

 crops are as often lost by wet weather during blooming time as by 

 frost. It takes sunny weather in blooming time to ripen pollen. Note 

 the odor of honey and perfume in the orchard when the trees are in 

 bloom, if it is sunny, as against the lack of such evidence on a cloudy 

 or rainy day. Moderate frosts in winter while the trees are dormant, 

 or even when they begin blooming, does not always presage damage. 

 But there should be no late spring frosts. Bear in mind that the 

 almond is the earliest bloomer of all our fruits. 



LOCATION. 



A sheltered location where there is a ravine, or some lower ground 

 close by. which may draw off the cold air after night, in a usually 

 frostless situation would be ideal. The crop does well even in low alti- 

 tudes (our orchards being only seventy-five feet above sea level), while 

 there are some young orchards on Paradise Ridge, in Butte County, at 

 an elevation of 1.700 feet which are doing well. They have a deep 

 ravine on either side of the ridge which draws off the cold air so that 

 ripe stawberries may be picked from the field at Christmas time. 



Portions of Butte. Colusa. Lake. Yolo. Solano. San Joaquin. Contra 

 Costa, and Sutter counties have been proven for almond growing. 



o — FGC 



