Pollination of Almonds.

I have Drake’s Seedling almonds.  Some people have told me that I must plant some hardshell variety between them, otherwise they will not bear.

It is not necessary to plant hardshell almonds near Drake’s Seedling trees in order to have them bear.  Some varieties of almonds will set few nuts unless they are cross-pollinated, but these are the paper-shell varieties, as a rule — the Nonpareil, IXL and Ne Plus Ultra — and for these the Drake’s Seedling or Texas Prolific is planted as a pollenizer.  The highest-priced nut of all is the Nonpareil, and it is also a good bearer when in a good location and planted with Drake’s or Texas Prolific.

Stick-tight Almonds.

I have leased seven acres of bearing almond trees which have the appearance of being reasonably well cared for.  I notice a few trees that still have almonds on ("stick-tights").  What is the cause and remedy?

The occurrence of stick-tights is generally due to lack of moisture and thrifty growth, although some trees may be weak from some other cause and therefore deficient in sap-flow, which manifests itself in that way.  Single nuts may also fall into that condition of malnutrition.  We know no remedy except to keep the trees in good thrift by cultivation or by the use of irrigation if necessary.

Shy-bearing Apricots.

Why do my apricot trees not bring fruit?  They seem healthy and are vigorous-looking trees.  Five large trees have not borne 100 pounds of fruit in three years.  The trees are not over six years old.

You may have a shy-bearing kind of apricot, of which there are many, or the trees may have grown too fast to hold the fruit, or the frost or north wind may have blasted the bloom.  Stop winter pruning, and summer prune to prevent excessive growth; reduce irrigation; try to convince the apricot that it is not a “green bay tree” and see what will happen.

Pruning Apricots.

In pruning apricots, if there should be a hollow center of a big branch in center of a seven-year-old tree, should it be cut out with summer pruning?  Should heavy growing apricots be summer pruned?  Would it be all right to thin out a dense growth of wood in the prune trees in September?

It is always desirable to cut below a hollow in a limb if possible.  Where, however, this would necessitate cutting below the desirable laterals, the cavity may be filled with cement and thus rendered serviceable for some years.  Summer pruning of the apricot is desirable if the growth is heavy and the tree has reached a bearing age.  Thinning out of prune trees can be undertaken in the autumn, providing the tree has practically finished its growth, as indicated by the change in the color and pose of the leaves.

Apricot Propagation.

Can Royal apricots be grafted into seedling apricots?  Do the scions do well?  What is the best time to graft them?