Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-01
THE RANCHES.
Typical Facts About South
ern. California Farms.
Points About the Culture of
the Almond.
Some Excellent Advice as to AL
m0nds.
The Varieties OF Almonds-How to Care
for Them--Camphor Trees for
Proft-What to Plant.
Notes.

An essay was recently read by Nv.
Webster Treat before the State Fruit
Growers society upon almond culture.
The following are the main points of his
discourse:
In California many districts are
adapted to the successful growing OF
the almond.
Almond culture has not proven very
profitable on this coast because the Lam
guedoc, an old French variety, has been
propagated, and that nut is very ire
guIar bearer. The Tarragona is another
inferior variety. But now that new
varieties have been propagated it is pos
sible that in very short time California
almonds will drive the imported article
entirely out OF the American market.
Almonds may be divided into three
classes; the paper-shell, the soft-shell
and the hard-shell, although there are
kinds OF almonds that do not properly
belong to any of the above classes.
The paper-shell almonds bring nearly
double the price OF soft-shells, while the
hard-shells are sold only in limited
quantities for the drug trade.
A portion OF the trade in almonds is
taken by the confectioners. The most
is paid for nuts with perfectly smooth
and plump kernels, the dealers always
looking for smoothness before size.
The almond will do better in thin,
dry soil than any fruit tree but when
given the richest black loan, and the
right amount of water it will produce
double what it does on dry soil.
After being planted little orno care is
necessary to give the tree. 1t requires,
however, sufficient pruning to give it
good shape. After making that point
further pruning is unnecessary except
to keep the tree from getting too thick at
the top or prevent the growth of suck
ers. After transplanting cut the tree to
a foot above the ground; growing three
limbs from that point.
The almond is not troubled with in
sects, except the red spider, which can
be easily killed by spraying with the
lime, sulphur and salt wash in the late
winter, when the tree is dormant.
The process of preparing and gather
ing almonds for the market is very
simple operation. After the hulls have
been opened, disclosing the nut, spread
a large canvas-sheet under tree, strike
the limbs in the poles to shake off the
nuts. These poles are OF the straightest
grained Oregon pine, fifteen feet long
and one and quarter inches square,
with the edges rounded off little. At
ter gathering the nuts are put through
hulling machine, which is an incom-
plete affair. and which. it is anticipated,
will soon have in its place an improved
hulling and separating machine.
After the separation Of the almonds by
the present clumsy process the nuts are
bleached by suIphured fumes. Usually
in bleaching soft shells little water is
sprinkled on them before being put in
the sulphured house to make them look
whittier Care should be used that too
much sulphur is not put in, since in this
case the soft-shells will smell and the
paper-shell kernels taste of the sulphur.
One inducement to grow almonds is
that the tree commences to bear at the
age of three years, and some varieties
bear an average of three pounds to the
tree at that age.
When the tree is four years old it will
bear an average of thirteen pounds to the
tree, and last year there were taken from
100 five-year-old trees 1902 2pounds. which
sold in Chicago at wholesale rates for %
cents per pound. This is at the rate OF
$283.50 per acre on five-year-old trees,
planted twenty-five feet apart. Pomona
Register.
THE CAMPHOR TREE FOR PROFIT.
The camphor tree has been planted
quite generally in this state for orna-
mental purposes, and from the many
beautiful specimens to be- seen in Los
Angeles and vicinity we believe it could
be successfully grown here for its gum.
In Florida it is planted quite gener-
ally, and is said to thrive in any kind ol
soil, like their native pine or oak.
Every part OF the tree can be made to
yield camphor, 30 that nothing is
wasted. 1t is claimed that if cultivated
on an extensive scale, it would yield q
larger profit than any other product in
Florida, and that within ten years more
camphor trees will be grown there than
orange trees. 1t is handsome ever
green, hardy in that climate, not eaten
by cattle Or other stock, and hence re-
quires no fence for protection.
The present price of trees is 25 to 81
cents for one year old, and proportion
ately more for older trees.
Camphor is most largely used in India
and China, where fashion has put tns
price of one particular kind at ten dol.
lars per pound, while the ordinary cam
phor of commerce is sold at ten cent!
per pound. That used in the United
States comes mostly from japan ant
the islands of Formosa, Sumatra ant
Borneo, and amounts to nearly 3,000,0 ,0Ol
annually.-[Cultivator.
WHAT TO PLANT.
Mr.. George McCallister of Porterville
Tulare county, presents to the local hor
ticultural society his views regardin
certain fruits, which seem to justif
wide publication
II would first call your attention t
the French Petite prune. (the dryin
prune OF commerce). 1t contains NOR
sugar than any other known variety,
an early bearer, and has no off years
We have this prune bearing in this 10
cality at three years old, specimens c
which are before us' today. Next
would recommend the Prunus Simon
for its good shipping qualities. The tire