_Davidiana Root._—Within the last five or six years the United States Department of Agriculture has introduced the seed of a Chinese peach, _Prunus davidiana_, the root of which is more resistant to alkali than the ordinary peach. This has been found to unite readily with the almond, although experiments have not yet gone far enough to fully determine its true value. It gives promise, however, of being a very desirable stock for sections where alkali may be troublesome. _Undesirable Roots._—The Myrobalan plum has frequently been recommended as a stock for the almond on poorly drained soils. The two make a strong union, but the plum root grows much slower than the almond top, as indicated in figure 5. A comparison with figure 4, in which both trees are 48-year-old Languedoc, shows that the trees on Myrobalan root are pinched-in below the union while those on peach root are swollen at the base. Even young trees show the same pinching-in below the union. Almond trees on Myrobalan root do not make as large trees nor do they bear satisfactory crops in any portion of the state where it has been possible to compare them with the same varieties on other roots in similar situations. The apricot is occasionally recommended because of its strong, thrifty growth, but it is a mistake to attempt to use it, as the union is not satisfactory. The trees grow thriftily for awhile, but before they reach full bearing they either break off at the union or are blown over above the union by moderate winds. TOP-WORKING OLD TREES Often through injudicious selection of varieties for original plantings, or for some other reason, it becomes desirable to work over old trees to more desirable varieties. This may be done by budding or grafting. In either case the tree may be entirely reworked in one season or one-half may be done the first season and the other half the next. The almond will recover fully if completely deheaded to a height of from five to six feet from the ground, provided it is not subjected to severe winds or excessive moisture in the soil. Winds are liable to break off the new top during the first year or two. Where these are dangerous it may be well to leave half of the tree on the windward side to be worked the second season. The remaining portions will help to serve as a wind-break until the top-worked portion of the tree has a chance to unite solidly with the stub of the main branch to which it is attached. Where winds are not likely to do damage it is generally the most economical method to work over the entire tree at one time. If the roots are subjected to excessive moisture conditions during the first season, the new growth may be unusually vigorous and much more likely to be blown out as a result of the heavy top and the poor attachment to the stub. “Sour-sap” may also be very serious. Under such conditions leaving half the tree the first season will enable it to distribute the growth more evenly with less undesirable forcing.