In summarizing the soil requirements for almond culture, it may be stated that the ideal almond soil is a medium loam, uniform in texture, or nearly so, to a depth of at least twelve feet, well drained and yet retentive of moisture for the use of the tree during the summer. Fortunately some of the best almond soils are situated along stream banks where the land is relatively high, and is, therefore, less subject to frost. These streams flowing from the mountains and foothills have built up their own beds by the detritus brought from the hills. The coarser particles being deposited first and nearest the stream itself, make the better drained soils, while the finer particles and the clays, deposited further back from the bank and in the lower lands, form the heavier soils. The various conditions mentioned above are what the tree should have for best conditions of growth and production. Oftentimes these conditions may be approached without the soil being as deep as ten or twelve feet. Exceptions to this will be mentioned in discussing the various almond districts of the state. It is essential to understand that trees, while growing and bearing on shallow soils in some localities, do so because of other exceptionally favorable conditions; either the soil is exceptionally well drained and yet sufficiently retentive of moisture, or the humus in the soil is plentiful and the roots are able to work into the underlying partially decomposed rock for moisture and some plant food. In such localities the trees bear comparatively well because of the exceptional freedom from frost in the spring. Trees in these localities are generally smaller than on the deeper, richer soils, and where other conditions are equal, they bear crops in proportion to their size. ALMOND DISTRICTS Almonds are grown in nearly every county in California. In some counties the few trees growing only occasionally succeed in producing a crop of nuts. There are sections in nearly all parts of the state, however, where they are a success commercially. Within these sections may be found desirable and undesirable locations, depending upon soil and moisture conditions and freedom from injurious frosts. Any discussion of a district, therefore, does not necessarily mean that all lands within that district are uniformly adapted to almond culture. On this account it is impossible to define a district any more closely than to name the center and include with it the outlying districts. In the same way it is sometimes impossible to say just where one district begins and another ends. Adaptability of any special location can be determined only by careful study of the land itself and diligent inquiry of those familiar with it.