I report on soft shell almonds as follows:

In February, 1914, I ordered from Armstrong Nurseries, Ontario, California, the following trees:

The trees were shipped in March of the same year and healed in until May. The farm on which these trees were planted is situated on the south shore of Lake Ontario, in Wayne County, New York. This district is a large producer of peaches and apples. The trees were planted twenty feet apart in a sandy loam soil in line with a young apple orchard. This soil is especially adapted to peach growing. The entire orchard was given clean cultivation with intercrops until the Spring of 1917. For two years potatoes were grown among the trees, and for one year cabbage. The land was limed and fertilized with both natural and chemical fertilizers. Cultivation of the tree rows stopped about the 1st of August, the intercrops about the 15th of September. For the year 1917 the trees were grown in sod. The trees were pruned similar to the peach trees, and have made somewhat less growth than a peach tree would make under the same conditions.

The lake on the boundary of the farm tempers the climate conditions of this location so that the opening of the season is about two weeks later than the average, and the date of the first frost is two to three weeks later. On this account the trees have had a better opportunity to ripen the wood for the winter period after cultivation ceases. During these winters the thermometer has gone as low as four degrees below zero without winter killing those trees which survived. Six trees of the thirty originally planted are now living. All others died the first winter after being set out. Unfortunately, the trees were not labeled at the time of getting out so I am unable to indicate what varieties lived through. Of the six trees living, three blossomed scantily this year, but all the blossoms proved false. I think there is no particular cause for discouragement on this account, as we have the same experience with peach trees. That is, they often bear a number of blossoms the first year, and none of them come to maturity. All the trees appear to have buds for next year. Some of these should develop into blossoms, and unless there is a frost after the blossoms come out in the spring of 1918, there may be some nuts produced. The final test as to whether or not these trees can be brought into bearing, will come next spring. The site upon which the trees are planted, as mentioned before, on account of the proximity of the lake, is more favorable than most locations for peach growing, and if the experience of the peach growers in New York State is any index, there would be little opportunity for success with almond trees, except under similar conditions.

M. E. Wile.

I am pleased to advise that the hardy soft shell pecan trees I have planted in Virginia, and the hardy English walnut trees are all growing finely. I find it just as easy to get a budded pecan tree to grow as it is to get an apple tree to grow. I am telling my friends about this all over Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee as well as Virginia. They have planted a good many trees and all report favorably.

My advice is to plant pecan and English walnut trees as they are just as beautiful and useful for shade as any other kind, and in addition to this they will produce a large amount of the healthiest and most nutritious of food for the human family.

I am very much indebted to the Northern Nut Growers Association for the knowledge obtained along this line. You can rest assured that I will try and pass it along as I go.

John S. Parrish.