The question of soils and stocks is too broad to discuss here, except to dismiss it with the statement that the soils that will successfully produce peaches should also prove reasonably satisfactory for almonds through the use of peach rootstocks. These are commonly and successfully used in commercial almond orchards in the West.
Whether it will ever be possible to produce commercial almonds will depend upon whether an almond can be bred which will fulfill the requirements of late blossoming and early ripening and at the same time answer the requirements of a commercial nut. We should judge that it is possible, although we believe it is a big problem. Our reason for thinking so is that the Ridenhauer almond under eastern conditions will often produce nuts and it is recognized as doing quite well. We have never had an opportunity of tasting this nut but have seen photographs of the tree and have examined personally the nuts. Without any knowledge as to the actual ancestry of this nut we are very much inclined to the belief that it is a peach-almond. If this is so it opens up a line of breeding possibilities which should not be overlooked.
The procedure which should be followed will depend necessarily upon the conditions under which breeding experiments may be carried on. We believe that under eastern conditions the only opportunities for outdoor breeding work will lie along the line of interbreeding with peaches and almonds. The feasibility of indoor breeding with almonds is questionable in view of the difficulty of properly hardening for winter and yet affording protection during blossoming and providing at the same time for conditions which will favor the setting of the fruit. We do believe that there is abundant opportunity for experimentation, with the possibility that valuable results may be secured by systematic breeding along the line just mentioned.
Along with this cross breeding simple almond breeding experiments should be carried on, but these must be done in a locality where almonds can be brought to fruitage. Of course, the ideal place for this would be in California in a known almond district, and it is hoped that as time goes on experiments along this line will be conducted in an effort to secure later blossoming varieties and earlier ripening varieties. Our guess is that it would not be possible, at least within the lifetime of one man, to lengthen the normal resting period of any strain of pure bred almonds to the point where they would be able to withstand the long eastern winters and at the same time shorten the ripening period to practical limits. The development of this work, as far as it can be practically carried, should result in relatively late blossoming almonds which could then be used as a basis for breeding with peaches in an effort to still further approach the desired results and yet maintain the desirable characteristics of the almond. This simply involves the application of known breeding methods to these fruits.
To accomplish anything of this kind involves the development of a long-time plan which must be consistently followed. We would not look for any results to speak of before ten years, and would not expect any definite worthwhile results short of twenty years. It appears, however, that the possibilities are great and well worth striving for, and it is our sincere hope that some day a variety may be developed which will prove adaptable to eastern conditions.
The usual summer climatic conditions which prevail in the eastern states are not favorable to the economical production of almonds in a commercial way but we see no reason why they should not be eventually developed to the point where they may prove of considerable value and satisfaction for home orchards. The very fact that thus far no varieties of peaches have been developed which are immune year after year to spring frosts would indicate that it would probably be impossible to secure an almond which would be better than any peaches now known. On the other hand, one never knows until he tries and we believe that out of the effort much good could be accomplished, not only in the possible production of satisfactory varieties of almonds, but possibly in the accidental development of new and highly desirable peach varieties.
The possible development of a desirable table or canning peach variety with a sweet kernel would in itself be well worth the effort.
I had occasion to examine those Illinois almonds on the table here. It is quite evident that even though dried out somewhat they have some of the characteristics of the peach. The hull itself is fleshy even though thin. That is a characteristic that does not appear in the normal, pure bred almond hull.
I was just talking with Dr. Morris about some efforts he made at Stamford, Connecticut, to grow almonds. He stated to me, what was a very great surprise, that almonds there are afflicted with peach leaf curl and other diseases to which, under our weather conditions, they are not subject at all. There are undoubtedly other conditions here, due to a different climate, which we of California do not recognize at all.
I have endeavored to make this paper just as short as I could. I think that after it comes out in the proceedings there may be opportunity to study a few of the suggestions made here, and I want to express, on the part of the people in California, our desire to co-operate with those of you from the other sections of the country in every way possible for the development of varieties of almonds, or peach almonds. I can see that it will be difficult to compete with the sections in which almonds are naturally produced under semi-arid conditions. But I do believe in being close to your market if it is possible and in developing an almond which will be worth while for local consumption, especially for home use.