

ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 65 
Lenticels —Exceedingly large (on bark 8 to 10 years old, s& by % to + by 
14 inches) ; very much raised, gray, rough, many cracks, wide, long-elliptical 
or oblong-elliptical; apexes acuminate except on young wood. On young bark 
lenticels very much raised, gray, conspicuous. (See Pl. XVI, D.) 
Foliage—Moderately dense; has feathery, willowy appearance. Leaves 
rather large; roll up slightly along midrib, recurve. 
Blade: Rather large (% by 24 to 1 by 44 inches; average, $ by 32 inches; 
ratio of width to length, about 1:4). Shape narrow-ovate or elliptical-ovate ; 
widest part near middle as a rule. Base, bluntly obtuse; origin of sides 
symmetrical or nearly so. Apex tapering; tip usually acute, but sometimes 
blunt. Margin frequently irregular; crenations irregular, very short, deep; 
bristle short, sharp, dark. Midrib rather slender; pale in color; very prominent ; 
slightly depressed on upper surface. Veins distinct; much elevated on un- 
der surface. Upper surface blade very glossy, light yellowish green; under 
surface light green and dull. 
Petiole: Varies much in thickness and in length (4 to 14 inches long; aver- 
age rather short, # inch; ratio of length of petiole to length of blade, about 
2:9). Bright green, tinged with light red in autumn. Glands two to six, com- 
monly three or four, dark brownish, oval, on upper part of petiole near base 
of blade. 
Bearing habit—Somewhat of an alternate bearer, with much variation in 
type of shell, i. e, when crop is heavy, shell is hard; when crop is light, sheil 
is soft. Bears on spurs on growth 2 to 4 years old. Spurs large in diameter 
(+s inch), medium in length (4 inch), disk very large, wide oval (7% by 2 
inch). Buds free; very large; constricted somewhat at base, plump in middle; 
apex bluntly tapering; scales grayish brown, moderately thick, brittle, with 
large amount of long, gray pubescence on edges and some on outside of scales. 
NUT 
Immature nut.—Medium to rather large (average 12 by 14 by 1 inches). 
Ovate; part on ventral side of axis ovate; part on dorsal side long oval, or 
obovate. Ventral edge curved most along base half; gently curved or almost 
straight at apex; ventral ridge wide (3 inch) and not prominent (7s inch) ; 
suture crease shallow (7; inch). Dorsal edge gently curved, most curved at 
apex. Base broad, much dorsally sloping, finely grooved and ridged with very 
short grooves. Apex tapering and round, pointed; rather straight on ventral 
side, rounding on dorsal; style drops quite early; rudiment small. 
Hull: Outer surface green, changing to yellow green; turning dark brown 
on ventral edge soon after dehiscing; dries from ventral edge dorsally. Pubes- 
cence moderately abundant, gray, very short, very fine, silky. Inner surface 
green when first opening, but turns brown rapidly. Dehisces along ventral 
suture, usually from base downward ; dorsal edge remains intact, but sometimes 
eracks at base. Halves curl outward, one side usually curling more than the 
other. Ripens August 12 to 24. 
Hulled nut—(P1. VI. D.) Size medium to quite large (average 14 by 11's 
by # inches). Number to the pound, 110 to 200. Percentage of kernel to nut, 
hand-cracked, 35. 
Shape: Quite plump, wide ovate, with rather straight dorsal edge; the part 
on ventral side of axis cordate (viewed edgewise, long ovate, with apex half 
tapering rapidly; sides sometimes curve in at apex). Ventral edge one-fourth 
longer than dorsal; curve clear cut, gradually increasing from near shoulder 
to apex; wing prominent, thin, runs from stem scar to apex, where it ends 
prominently in a point. Dorsal edge gently curving, most curving at apex; 
dorsal ridge medium prominent, wide. Base quite plump, wide, sloping dor- 
sally; dorsal shoulder usually begins to slope after leaving stem scar; ventral 
shoulder somewhat higher than dorsal, running out square on level with stem 
sear for a short distance, then rounding suddenly. Apex somewhat pointed ; 
usually rather thin; wing ends in prominent point at apex; stem scar medium 
in size, oval and slightly depressed, dorsally sloping. 
Shell: Dark brown; varies much in hardness with crop; is much harder when 
crop is heavy than when it is light. Pits numerous, small to medium sized, 
roundish ; surface between pits stippled. Short numerous grooves at base and 
on ventral edge oblique to wing. Outer shell medium thick and heavy. Canals 
large oval to round. Network fine. Fibers coarse. Inner shell medium thick 
99729°—24—_5 
