St. Basil's Hexaemeron, a Christian text from around the fourth century, contains a curious botanical instruction: Pierce an almond tree in the trunk near its roots, stick a "fat plug of pine ...

A front loader moves an uprooted almond tree at Baker Farming on February 25, 2014 in Firebaugh, California. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Feb. 25, 2014, 4:45 PM EST / Updated Feb. 25, 2014, 4:51 ...

The Central Valley produces 80% of the world’s almonds. So when a new variety of tree comes along that is said to be better than what’s in the ground now — growers get very interested.