
66 BULLETIN 1282, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
and hard. Inner surface light brown in color, lighter than outer and some- 
what wavy longitudinally. Ventral streak long, wide, tapering from middle 
both ways, its shape being oval, apex acute, base tapers to acute point. 
Kernel: Doubles numerous (30 to 40 per cent). Size large (live by 3 by 8 
inches). Shape rather flat, sides ovate, with widest portion near base, tendency 
of lower two-thirds to be cuneiform, sides gently curving. Ventral edge thick. 
Dorsal edge thin. Ventral shoulder sharply rounding. Dorsal shoulder square 
and sloping, sharp curve occurring at a point slightly below the level of the 
base sear. Apex thin and pointed. Pellicle reddish, medium thick, medium ~ 
tough, usually smooth at base, increasing in pubescenee toward apex; slight 
pellicle fold on lower half of apex; base scar medium in size, dark brown, and 
usually oval; veins distinct. Owing to tendency to form doubles, there is 
usually a deep longitudinal depression on side of kernel. Flavor good, 
pleasantly sweet. 
Distinguishing characteristics—The Grosse Tendre nut, occasionally mis- 
taken for the I. X. L., is easily distinguished from the latter by the following: 
In the Grosse Tendre the base is. wide and always dorsally sloping, the nut is 
narrower in proportion to its length and more pointed at the apex, the pits are 
more numerous, and the shell is harder and darker in color. 
The Grosse Tendre is distinguished from the Gordon by the points given 
under that variety. 
The Grosse Tendre resembies the Hampton in nearly all its details. The 
apex of the nut appears slightly less tapering in the Grosse Tendre, and there 
is slightly less pubescence on its pellicle. 
COMMENTS 
This variety blooms very late. It is, however, an alternate bearer, the shell 
being hard when the crop is heavy and soft when the crop is light. The large 
percentage of double Kernels is a disadvantage. The quantity of nuts of this 
variety grown is not large. 
33. HAMPTON (HAMPTON’S SEEDLING, HAMPTON’S IMPROVED I. X. L.) 
Origin.—Originated on the J. M. Hampton ranch, Live Oak, Calif., in 1908. 
The variety was distributed to some extent in the Live Oak district. In the 
last few years many of the Hampton trees have been top-worked to other 
varieties, and the acreage at this time is small. 
Description 
TREE 
Spreading (ratio of height of head to width, 1:14). Vigor below average; 
scraggly, somewhat like Drake. Branches profusely. Trunk slightly below 
average in vigor, tends to grow crooked; bark rough, cracks quite deep, exfoli- 
ates in thick plates. 
Main branches.—Short; rather stocky. Branching angle wide. Wood brittle. 
sark rough except on young branches; reddish brown; much gray epidermis 
even on young branches. 
Twigs.—sShort, stocky, nodes large, internodes short (14 to # inches). Wood 
brittle. Bark thick, tender, green, with red patches in autumn. 
Lenticels.—Very numerous. Size (on 8-year-old wood, 7s by # to ws by is 
inch). Raised, small, wide; elliptical; ends bluntly acute. On twigs lenticels 
numerous, grayish green. 
Foliage.—Rather dense. Leaves numerous; many in clusters on spurs; 
leaves tend to twist slightly when mature, although many remain flat. 
Blade: Average large, many small ones present (3s by 24 to 14 by 4 inches; 
average, lis by 34 inches; average ratio of width to length, about 2:7). .Shape 
wide ovate, apex half tapering. Base acute to very blunt; origin of margins 
usually symmetrical. Apex acute. Margin very shortly and deeply crenate; 
frequently doubly crenate. Midrib pale, large, prominent. Veins distinct, ele- 
vated on lower surface. Upper and lower surfaces light green. 
Petiole: Length medium (1 inch, ratio of length of petiole to length of 
blade, 2:7). Groove medium wide and usually deep. Glands, commonly two; 
frequently three or four, brownish, small, globular. 

