The entire coast district of Southern California has practically proved
itself to be unfitted for almond culture, except at elevations above 1500
or 2000 feet. The limiting factor seems to be the lack of a sufficiently
definite winter season at the lower elevations. Trees are inclined to
bloom too early in the season or before the winter is over.
Above 1500 or 2000 feet the increased elevation gives a sufficiently
definite cold winter season and the trees tend to blossom at more
seasonable times. Aside from scattered plantings in the hills of San
Diego County and a few orchards around Hemet and San Jacinto in Riverside
County, the principal plantings are at Banning and in the Mojave Desert.
_Banning District._—Within a radius of three miles of Banning, with an
average elevation of 2300 feet, where a plentiful supply of water is to
be had from the mountains to the north, are a large number of orchards
ranging in age from 2 to 29 years. The bulk of the plantings were made
during 1910 and 1911. This is the oldest district in southern California
and has proved itself to be well fitted for almond culture.
_Antelope Valley and Vicinity._—The old plantings in the Mojave Desert
are few and far between. They have, however, served as an impetus for
large plantings in recent years many of which have turned out to be
failures. This happened in many portions of Antelope Valley, west of
Lancaster, on the Southern Pacific Railroad in northern Los Angeles
County. Many more of these plantings are young and still have to prove
themselves.
Orchard almond trees are never grown from seed, as they do not reproduce
true to type, but are propagated by budding desirable varieties on
seedling roots in the manner commonly employed in nursery practices for
other stone fruits, like the peach. Every grower must decide, however, on
what rootstocks he will plant his trees.