59 BULLETIN 1282, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
thin, with considerable spongy material between outer and inner shell. Canals 
medium in number, medium in size. Fibers medium in size. Inner shell thin, 
dark brown in color. Ventral streak long, medium in width; peculiar in that 
the widest portion is near the apex, narrowing backward to acute point at 
base. © 
Kernel: Does not quite fill shell. Some gummy nuts. Percentage of kernel 
to nut, 50. Large (1¢ by wv by 2 inches). Long ovate. Edgewise view, long 
ovate. Edges curve gradually, ventral edge being more curved than dorsal... 
Dorsal edge thinner than ventral. Dorsal shoulder rounding or slightly square. 
Ventral shoulder plump and sloping as a rule. Apex acute with ventral edge 
slightly curved. Pelilicle tough; dark brown; rather smooth near base; heavily 
pubescent with very coarse pubescence on apex half; pellicle fold on apex third 
of ventral edge. Base scar round or oval. Veining visible. Flavor dry, 
slightly sweet. 
Distinguishing characteristics.—This nut comes into the market as Ne Plus 
Ultra, which it resembles in shape. The nut is slightly smaller, the base 
slightly more constricted, the kernel usually narrower and less pubescent than 
in the Ne Plus Ultra.. For points of distinction between it and Hudson and 
Bigelow, see those varieties. 
COMMENTS 
The soft shell, large proportion of kernel to shell, large kernel, and absence 
of doubles are points in favor of this variety. The nut and somewhat pubescent 
kernel are not so attractive in appearance, however, as are those of other 
varieties. There is some gum, the kernels are inferior in quality to the Ne 
Plus Ultra, and the nut is, therefore, not as desirable commercially. The 
variety should be eliminated. At the present time the acreage of Fair almond 
is small, the nuts coming into the market as Ne Plus Ultra, which, in the 
shell, they resemble closely. 
24. FAIROAKS 
Origin.—Trees of the variety have been grown since 1910. The exact date of 
origin iS in question. The trees were originally obtained in nursery stock 
bought as I. X. L. They turned out to be seedlings, which bore good crops 
and were distributed in the Fairoaks district of California under the name 
“Fairoaks.” Not grown elsewhere. 
Description 
TREE 
Upright (ratio of width of head to length, 1:1). Below average in rate of 
growth. Scraggly and bushy, but not so much so as the Drake. Trunk rather 
slender; irregular in growth; bark rough, cracks deep; exfoliates in thick 
patches, 
Main branches.—Numerous. Vary in length and stockiness, average medium 
in length and rather slender. Tendency to grow upright; branching angle 
moderately acute, smaller branches tend to curve toward larger branches. 
Wood tough. Bark thick, tender, very dark reddish brown, with small, thin 
patches of gray epidermis. Young branches striated with gray; occasionally 
entire branch covered with gray epidermis. Bark rough on older branches. 
Many knots. 
Twigs.—Medium in length; rather slender; moderately flexible as a rule. 
Nodes medium in size. Branciing angle moderately acute. Internodes rather 
short (4 to 1 inch). Bark very light green when young; usually with much 
waxy bloom; dark reddish brown patches in autumn. 
Lenticels—Moderately numerous (vary much) ; inelined to be numerous in 
patches and few in other places; small to large on old wood (on bark 8 to 10 
years old zs by is to + by & inch; average s by is inch). Shape wide ellip- 
tical; sides curving, gradually increasing in curve from middle to bluntly acute 
ends. On twigs lenticels numerous, small, grayish green, inconspicuous. 
Foliage.—Dense. Great majority of leaves in clusters on spurs. Leaves 
flat or slightly recurved, or slightly curved upward along midrib. 
Blade: Small (8 by 2 to 1 by 3 inches; average ~ by 23 inches; ratio of 
width to length, about 1:3). Shape wide ovate with gradually tapering apex. 
Widest portion of leaf generally near the middle. Base widely acute to obtuse, 
rounding, origin of sides very slightly unsymmetrical. Apex long and taper- 
