BULLETIN 231] WALNUT CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 259 



to have been planted in 1886 among a lot of seedlings obtained from 

 Felix Gillet. One story has it that the tree is a seedling of the Mesange 

 variety, although we are unable to trace the origin of this idea. The 

 nut certainly has no resemblance to that of the variety mentioned but 

 seems to be of the Santa Barbara Soft Shell type. The variety owes 

 its prominence to Mr. A. R. Rideout, of Whittier, who has propagated, 

 sold and advertised it widely during the past few years. It has not yet 

 been tested to any extent in the north, although quite extensive plant- 

 ing of the variety has recently been made in that part of the State. 



NUT. 



Size. 



Medium to large on young trees, small on original tree. On young 

 trees average 1J by If by If inches, with many larger. Nuts on old 

 tree much smaller, with many less than 1 inch long. 



Form. 



Broadly oval or rounded, symmetrical, flattened, apex and base of 

 equal breadth. Apex terminating in a short and pronounced point or 

 beak. 



Surface. 



Quite smooth and even. 



Color. 



Neutral light brown, without the pinkish cast of Placentia Perfection. 



Uniformity. 



Strong, in trees of real Chase origin. In some cases the variety has 

 become mixed with other kinds, which probably accounts for some 

 apparent deviations from the type. 



Cracking Quality. 



Nuts poorly sealed, both at apex and base, so that they are very easily 

 opened with the fingers. 



Pellicle. 



Light tan to light brown. 



Meat. 



Uniformly plump and well filled. Averaging nearly 50 per cent of 

 total weight of meat, at the same time having a heavy shell. 



Flavor. 



Not pronounced. Mild and free from any decided characteristic. 



TREE. 

 Foliation Period, 



Very early. About the earliest of any named variety. Earlier in 

 southern California than the average of the seedlings. 



