58 BULLETIN 1282, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Apex usually blunt, with dorsal edge usually much more sharply curving at 
apex than ventral. Pellicle medium thick, light to dark brown, veins distinct, 
pubescence unusually coarse and short, pellicle fold on apex half of ventral 
edge rather heavy; base scar small, round, dark, slightly elevated. Flavor 
rather flat, sweet; medium in quality. 
Distinguishing characteristics—Nut cordate, short, and wide; dorsal edge 
only one-half as long as ventral; ventral edge wedge shaped in cross section, 
flange very thick, heavy, prominent; dorsal ridge very thin and prominent; 
base very sharply dorsally sloping, with deep depressions and sharp elevations, | 
giving it a puckered appearance; stem scar long; apex blunt. 
This nut somewhat resembles in shape the Bidwell, Tarragona, and Washing- 
ton. It is distinguished from them by its characteristic ventral flange, with 
slight longitudinal ridges on ventral edge unaccompanied by depressions, by 
the much wrinkled or puckered base, and by the thin and very prominent 
dorsal ridge. 
COMMENTS 
The small proportion of kernel to shell precludes this variety from further 
commercial plantings. The hardness of the shell increases as the tree gets 
older. 
28. GILT EDGE 
Origin.—Uncertain. The variety probably originated in the Oakley district, 
where it has been grown to a considerable extent for years. It is found to a 
limited extent in other districts in California. 
: Description 
TREE 
Moderately spreading (ratio of height of head to width, 1:1%). Quite 
vigorous. Trunk stocky with rough, gray bark. 
Main branches.—Tend to grow rather short. Branching angle obtuse. Lower 
branches drooping. Branches somewhat bushy. Woed brittle. Bark tough, 
gray. 
Twigs.—Rather short. Branching angle widely acute. Nodes rather small. 
Bark tough, thick, dark green. 
Lenticels—Medium in number. Size on wood 8 to 10 years old, #5 by 3 to 
3x by ze inch. Gray, raised, oval, apexes acute. Crack longitudinally down 
middle. On young wood lenticels wide, oval, and very small. 
Foliage—Medium in density. Leaves medium in number on individual 
branches; inclined to curl. 
Blade: Variable in size, average medium ({ by 2% inches; ratio of width to 
length about 2:7). Mostly ovate but frequently elliptical. Base obtuse to 
wide-acute. Apex acute and tapering. Margin with very shallow and long 
crenations; bristles fine and short. 
Petiole: Varies in length and thickness, average length medium (# inch; 
ratio of length of petiole to length of blade about 1:4). Grooves deep and 
narrow. Glands two to four, small dark yellow or yellowish gray, on petiole 
near blade. 
Bearing habit—Usually does not average well. Considerable number of 
sticktights, mostly on spurs on wood 2 to 4 years old. Many spurs compound 
and long (1 to 6 inches), frequently living two or three years. Single spurs 
medium in length (4 inch) and in stockiness ($ inch). Expand gradually to 
almost round or oval disk 36 by + inch. Buds free, medium sized, short, plump. 
conical, obtuse apex. 
NUT 
Immature nut.—Varies in size, usually rather small to medium (1% by $% 
by } to 1% by 14 by 1 inches). Shape oval or oval-ovate, with straight dorsal 
side. Ventral edge sharply curved, curving much at apex. Ridge none or very 
slight; ventral suture depression narrow (s» inch) and shallow (¢; inch), 
deepest at apex and near disk; frequently hull at one side of suture more 
prominent than on other. Dorsal edge very slightly curved (axis near dorsal 
edge). Base plump, round, at right angles to axis or ventrally sloping; ventral 
shoulder round, plump, with suture line depressed near disk. Dorsal shoulder 
square, dropping off abruptly at a distance of about one-fourth inch from center 
of disk. Apex thin, tapering, but blunt, somewhat scimitar shaped, but dorsal 
es, 
