Almonds were planted quite extensively in past years in many of the coast
valleys, such as the Santa Clara, and where they were protected from the
direct influence of the moist ocean breezes, they apparently did well.
Later most of these orchards were replaced by prunes and apricots as they
were generally found to be better paying crops in these valleys. On the
hills, however, many typical hillside orchards remain, as shown in figure
3.
Localities directly affected by the coast breezes have proved themselves
to be unfit for commercial almond culture.