18 BULLETIN 5 9, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 
THE CROP 
AGE OF BEARING 
The age of bearing and the seasons of flowering and fruiting 
naturally vary greatly with seedling Macadamia trees. These habits 
are also influenced somewhat by environmental conditions, such as the 
soil, the temperature, and the amount of moisture furnished the crop. 
Certain of the trees in one of the station cooperative experiments 
in the Kona district came into bearing at 5 years of age. Other 
Macadamia trees have been reported as producing a few nuts in their 
fourth year. It is generally believed, both in Hawaii and in Aus- 
tralia, that the first crop of consequence appears in the seventh year, 
with some tardy exceptions which may delay fruiting till the tenth or 
twelfth year, or even later. Observations indicate that many of 
these long delays are caused by some unsuitable environmental con- 
dition. The bearing age of the Macadamia is very similar to that of 
many other cultivated nut and fruit trees. However, the blossom 
and bearing seasons are somewhat different. Macadamia trees of 
bearing age usually blossom and mature nuts twice a year, the first 
crop appearing in April and May, and the second in October and No- 
vember. The nuts require about six months from time of flowering to 
mature. Usually the largest crop develops from the spring blossoms 
and matures in the fall. Some trees have their fruiting period so 
lengthened in the year as to be considered everbearing. 
HARVESTING 
Harvesting the crop is far from difficult. On full maturity of the 
fruit the outer covering splits open (fig. 3), and the nuts drop to the 
ground. At this time they are considered to be too fresh for imme- 
diate use, but they can be eaten after a few weeks. 
The gathered nuts should be stored in a dry place sheltered from 
the sun and the rain and given protection against the attacks of 
insects and rats. Marketing should begin in the course of a few 
weeks after gathering and should be completed within the next three 
months. 
Macadamia nuts, like most other tropical nuts, do not retain their 
best flavor for a very long period unless they are preserved in salt 
and packed in air-tight containers. 
YIELDS 
Few definite records as to yields of the Macadamia are as yet 
available. However, results of investigations in Australia and in 
Hawaii indicate that yields vary greatly, and that the differences 
are due to both seedling variation and environment. As with most 
other nut and fruit crops, the Macadamia must receive* good culture 
to make large yields. Rumsey (16, p. 11, 15-16) refers to a small 
orchard at Rous Mill, Australia, in which the trees produced crops 
varying from 1 to 3 tons, but fails to give the number of trees pro- 
ducing or the area occupied by the crop. This orchard was about 
40 years old in 1927 and was the only commercial one in that part 
of Australia until rather recently. The trees were reported as being 
