
ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 67 
Bearing habit.—Alternate bearers, but average well. Produce many stick- 
tights as trees get older. Bears on spurs on wood 2 and 3 years old as a 
rule, but some nuts are borne on laterals. Many nuts in clusters. Spurs large 
in diameter (7s inch) and medium in length (4 inch) ; expand gradually to 
wide oval disk (4 by # inch). Buds short, conical, apex rather blunt; scales 
dark brown, quite thick, tough, small, with pubescence on edges. 
NUT 
Immature nut.—Large (24 by 13 by 14 inches). Plump. Ovate. Ventral 
edge curves most throughout base half; gently curved at apex; ventral ridg 
wide (zs inch), prominent (% inch) ; grooves very shallow; suture crease dis- 
tinct in middle of ridge. Dorsal edge gently curved, curve abrupt at apex. 
Base plump, broad, round, grooved, dorsally sloping; cavity vs inch deep, is to 
4 inch across. Apex tapering, pointed, cuneiform. 
Hull: Outer surface green, turning to yellowish brown in ripening; fre- 
quently with shallow depressions; pubescence moderately abundant, medium 
long, gray, woolly. Inner surface almost white, gradually turning brown .as 
dehiscence proceeds. Dehisces on ventral edge first, halves curving outward at 
base and inward at apex; usually but not always, dorsal edge dehisces its 
entire length from base downward, dividing hull into halves. Many stick- 
tights as trees get older. Ripens August 12 to 24. 
Hulled nut.—(Pl. VI, H.) Size large (12 by 14 by ~ inches). Number to the 
pound, 65 to 100. Percentage of kernel to nut in hand-cracked samples, 36. 
Shape: Moderately plump, medium wide; part on wing side of axis cordate; 
part on dorsal side of axis ovate (viewed edgewise ovate with narrow-pointed 
apex). Ventral edge very plump; varies in curve, but curves rather sharply ; 
less curved near apex than elsewhere; sharpest curve near base; wing, rather 
thin, medium in prominence, most prominent near apex. Dorsal edge usually 
straight near base, curving sharply at apex; sides slope abruptly to wide, me- 
dium prominent dorsal ridge. Base either plump or quite thin, sloping dor- 
sally; ventral shoulder rounding sharply, wide, higher than dorsal shoulder ; 
dorsal shoulder slopes or rounds off sudden!ty; stem sear large, long, slightly 
depressed, gently but distinctly dorsally sloping. Apex thin, acutely pointed. 
Shell: Dark brown; standard shell, varies in thickness and hardness. Pits 
numerous, variable in size and depth. Surface stippled between pits. Short 
grooves on ventral edge, running oblique to wing. Outer shell quite thick; 
either spongy or hard. Inner shell medium thick and hard. Canals very large, 
usually round in section. Fibers very coarse. Network medium coarse. Inner 
surface of shell light brown, having undulations longitudinally. Ventral streak 
light or dark brown, long, varies in width; base end pointed. 
Kernel: Large (14 by té by i inches). Shape flat, obovate, resembles I. X. L. 
much in shape, but is usually thicker and has many doubles (385 per cent). 
Single kernels have longitudinal depression on one side. Ventral edge plump, 
straight, and much shorter than dorsal edge. Dorsal edge thinner than ventral. 
Dorsal shoulder thinner than ventral, sloping, and humped. Ventral shoulder 
higher than dorsal. Apex rather thin, bluntly pointed. Pellicle light to dark 
brown, thick, medium tender; veining distinct and dark brown; base scar quite 
round and large; pellicle fold prominent on apex half; pubescence varies; 
usually coarse and thick, especially on apex and ventral edge; base frequently 
smooth. Flavor rather flat, slightly sweet. 
Distinguishing characteristics—This nut is in a class with Gordon and Grosse 
Tendre. For points of difference, see those varieties. 
COMMENTS 
This nut is inferior to the I. X. L. and other Hatch varieties. Its shell is 
harder, and there is a large percentage of double kernels. The variety is 
rapidly disappearing. 
34. HARRIOTT (COMMERCIAL, HARRIOTT’S SEEDLING) 
Origin.—This variety is often incorrectly called Commercial. The Harriott 
originated near Visalia, Calif., at some time between 1870 and 1875. It was 
planted to a limited extent in nearly every section, but is now found only 
occasionally. 
