The Almond in California

by R. H. Taylor

VARIETIES

The problem of selecting varieties of almonds for planting in California is to choose the ones that are most marketable and at the same time to secure best results in cross-pollination. At the present time there are comparatively few varieties of almonds which have won and retained their popularity with the grower and the trade. There are a number of reasons for this condition. The cultural, climatic and soil conditions under which the almond thrives are much more limited than for most of the common deciduous fruits; the area of production in America is limited largely to California; the industry is comparatively new, and in general, there is not the great varietal variation in season, appearance, texture, flavor and behavior that is found in the apple, peach, pear and similar fruits. The comparatively rapid deterioration of fleshy fruits after ripening makes a succession of varieties desirable to extend the period of consumption. With almonds, the season of all varieties extends from one harvest to the next, if properly handled. Growers are, therefore, recommended to plant only standard, marketable varieties as far as possible.

Early ripening varieties must be chosen. The crop must be in the hands of the trade early, for the bulk of it is used in the holiday trade. This is especially true with unshelled almonds. Early almonds only can be harvested and sold before the bulk of the European shipments arrive.

The actual time of ripening of the different varieties is variable from season to season, and in different sections or even different orchards in the same season. Generally, harvesting commences early in August and closes about the middle of October. The approximate order of ripening of the better known varieties is shown in [table IX].

TABLE IX
Approximate Order of Ripening of Varieties of Almonds

1.	Nonpareil
2.	I.X.L.
	Jordan
3.	Ne Plus Ultra
4.	Peerless
	Princess
	California
	King
	Silver
5.	Golden State
6.	Lewelling
7.	Drake
8.	Languedoc
	Texas

Many new varieties have been originated in California but most of them have fallen into disfavor in a short time. In fact, it is impossible to locate even single trees of some varieties which were formerly well known. From time to time, however, worthy varieties have been introduced and have succeeded in making a permanent place for themselves through their ability to fill a demand that before had been but partially or poorly supplied.

In view of the changing market situation for California almonds, due to the rapidly increasing acreage and the very limited demand for unshelled almonds, it is safe to predict that the only new varieties which will be of value in the future will be those that are primarily of superior quality for shelling purposes. Yield must take second place.

Well known varieties are not only in heavier demand in the principal markets, but they invariably bring much better prices than the newer varieties. In some years, when the domestic crop of a given variety is light and the demand good, it is possible to unload poorer or less known varieties at fairly good prices. More often, however, they are a drag on the market.

Owing to the increasing consumption of shelled almonds and the probability of a still greater increase in the future, growers should arrange future plantings with a view to supplying the best shelling varieties. At the present time, the best shelling varieties are not ordinarily the heaviest producers. With a limited production they may not even bring as large returns as the poorer but heavier yielding varieties. As the production increases, which it is doing very rapidly, the relative value of the best shelling varieties will increase in proportion and they may be sold at good prices when it will be impossible to move a heavy tonnage of a poor variety at a profitable price.

Although the future almond markets will no doubt use shelled almonds very largely, there will always be a limited demand for unshelled almonds for use in the holiday trade and for home table use. Unshelled almonds to be acceptable for such purposes must be large, attractive nuts with light-colored, clean-looking shells, soft enough to be broken with the hands. The kernels must be well filled and free from gum. The I.X.L. is the most popular and highest-priced nut for this purpose. The Ne Plus Ultra ranks next because of its attractive outside appearance and shape; one of the principal objections to it being its tendency to have gummy kernels. The Drake is another variety in demand for this purpose. It is moderately large, plump and well filled with a good quality kernel, and while not as attractive as the I.X.L. or Ne Plus Ultra, it is popular with the medium-priced trade. A certain class of trade prefers the Nonpareil for such use, and it appears to be growing in popularity because of the attractive kernel and the ease with which shelling by hand is accomplished.

The confectioners, on the other hand, care nothing for shell. They want a medium or large sized kernel, uniform in shape, and plump; one that can be coated smoothly or evenly with candy. For blanching and salting purposes, the kernels must be large and smooth. The best California variety for this purpose is the Nonpareil. It is also the best nut for table use when sold shelled. As a rule, the papershell varieties are the best for shelling because of the large percentage of unbroken kernels which may be obtained. The broken kernels and those obtained from cheaper and less desirable varieties are used largely by the bakers and almond-paste manufacturers.

The planting of large blocks of orchards to single varieties is not a wise practice. Planting of several varieties will assist greatly in lengthening the harvest season, and thus enable one to handle large crops with fewer men and less equipment. For example, the four best varieties—the Nonpareil, I.X.L., Ne Plus Ultra and Drake—ripen in the order named; the Nonpareil ripening about two weeks before the I.X.L., the Ne Plus Ultra about a week after the I.X.L., and the Drake about two weeks after the Ne Plus Ultra. Where there is danger of failure of varieties to set fruit due to frost or improper pollination or unfavorable weather conditions during, or soon after, blooming, the grower is more likely to get a crop from some variety if several are planted to secure a succession of bloom in the spring.

The principal reason for interplanting varieties is to secure adequate cross-pollination. For this purpose the Ne Plus Ultra and Drake are probably the best to use as pollenizers.

Other combinations, as indicated on [page 6], may be made that will be satisfactory, though care must be exercised to secure varieties that blossom near enough together to be effective. [Figure 26] shows the effective blossoming period for fifteen varieties.

Adaptation of Varieties.—The best marketable nuts are, as has been suggested, few in number, and most of these do well in all of the principal almond districts of California. Where the climatic and soil condition are equally favorable there is no great variation in their behavior, but owing to such differences it has been found that certain varieties are better adapted to some districts than others.

The Nonpareil, the best variety known at the present time for California conditions, bears more nearly uniform crops from year to year and shows a wider range of adaptation than any of the other good commercial varieties. It has proved itself to be satisfactory in every almond district in the state. The Drake closely approaches the Nonpareil in this respect. The I.X.L. and Ne Plus Ultra are the most variable in their behavior. The blossoms of the two varieties seem to be more tender and hence more liable to injury under unfavorable conditions; gumming is more prevalent near the coast, and during harvest the slower ripening and opening of the hulls in the more moist atmosphere in many of the coast valleys causes excessive darkening and sometimes molding of the shell. The Ne Plus Ultra does its best on comparatively high, well-drained soils, adjacent to the larger streams in the Sacramento Valley, such as the lands along the Sacramento River, Putah Creek, Cache Creek, etc., though it also grows and produces well in the Banning district and in many of the foothill sections where conditions are favorable. The I.X.L. does best on the foothills surrounding the Sacramento Valley, notable on the west side. In the Banning district the Ne Plus Ultra seems to be a better producer than the I.X.L. Varieties which ripen later than the Drake should be avoided in the Banning district because of the liability to damage from the frequent October rains.

There are a number of different varieties, such as the Eureka and Jordan, which give promise of filling a limited place in the markets but which have not yet been thoroughly tested throughout the state. The Eureka is popular with confectioners because of the similarity in shape to the Jordan. In limited quantities the demand is good. It is still a question as to whether it would hold up in price if grown in very large quantities. The Jordan nut is of excellent quality but in California the trees are variable in vigor. In some cases the trees make unusually large, vigorous growth while in others they are small and apparently stunted. The cause of this has never been adequately determined. In general, the Jordans do not bear sufficiently heavy crops to make them pay at the prevailing low prices. The chief reasons for the low prices are the extreme hardness of the shell and the absence of satisfactory methods of shelling. The invention of a satisfactory machine for this purpose would probably make it pay to plant Jordans in much larger quantities.

Fig. 26.—Period of Effective Blossoming of Almonds—University Farm—1917.

Other varieties, such as the Texas, have been sufficiently tested to show them to be well adapted to most districts, but they are not to be recommended because of the difficulty experienced in marketing them at a profit in large quantities. The Texas has been planted extensively in California without sufficient justification. It was planted because of its value as a pollenizer, its precocious and prolific bearing, and its upright habit of growth. In small quantities it was sold in less exacting markets as a Drake, but in larger quantities there has been a good deal of objection to it on the part of the trade. As the bearing trees become older and bear heavier crops, the nuts tend to become smaller and the shells harder, which increases the difficulty of selling. From the standpoint of the grower as well as the market, the lateness in ripening is very objectionable. The California Almond Growers’ Exchange is finding it harder each year to satisfactorily market the rapidly increasing tonnage of this variety. It should, therefore, be avoided in new plantings.