46 BULLETIN 1282, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
hull to one side of suture is more prominent than the other. Ventral suture 
depression wide (2 inch), quite deep (2: inch), deepest along base half. Dorsal 
edge very gently curved, curving most at apex. Base tapering. sloping dor- 
Sally: very short grooves at base: stem cavity + by 2 inch in area, shallow 
(sz inch). Apex pointed ovate. with rather straight ventral edge; short de- 
pression to dorsal side of rudiment; style stays on quite long. 
Hull: Outer surface of hull green and smooth (i. e.. no marked depressions) ; 
pubescence abundant, thick, medium long, medium fine, felty, gray. Usually 
dehisces on ventral edges only. Sometimes apex or dorsal edge cracks slightly. 
Ripens from September 5 to 30, according to locality and season. 
Hulled nut—(Pl. IV, B.) Size small to medium (1 by # by 2 to 13 by # 
by 74 inches). Number of nuts to the pound, 130 to 220. Percentage of kernel 
in hand-cracked samples, 35 to 40: in machine-cracked run, 36.5. 
Shape: Plump, very wide in proportion to length; very broad round-ovate, 
sometimes round oval. Viewed edgewise wide oval. sides Symmetrical or un- 
symmetrical. Ventral edge sharply curving. outline almost circular; thick and 
blunt: wing thick, distinct, but not prominent. Dorsal edge curved much less 
than ventral, gently curving, curving most at apex, very plump, dorsal ridge 
wide and only slightly elevated, most prominent at base; coarse fiber entire 
length of dorsal ridge. Base plump; stem scar medium to large, wide in pro- 
portion to length, gently sloping dorsally, seldom at right angles to axis. 
Apex blunt, round, and thick, ending in blunt point. 
Shell: Outer shell thick, varies in texture, generally spongy and somewhat 
crumbly, usually light brown in color. Pits numerous, small, round, surface 
between coarsely stippled. Base end grooved with short, fine grooves. Grooves 
along ventral edge running at wide angles to the wing. Canals and fibers me- 
dium size. Inner shell medium thick and hard. sometimes so hard as to make 
it difficult to crack nuts with fingers. Inner surface of inner shell light rich 
brown in color. Surface very slightly undulating. Ventral streak, dark brown, 
medium to long, medium in width, acute at apex, broad and round at base. 
Kernel: Small to medium (average, = by x by 2 inch). Some doubles (5 per 
cent). Rather large, plump, ovate. nearly fills shell cavity. (Viewed edgewise 
kernel is ovate or ovate-oval.) Ventral edge gently curving and thick. Dorsal 
edge usually a little longer and a little more curving than ventral. Base 
plump: dorsal shoulder sharply round or slightly square; ventral shoulder 
round but sloping. Apex plump, usually round, but sometimes acute. Pellicle 
rich light brown, thin; with very short, fine pubescence, sometimes appearing 
almost smooth; veining distinct, veins usually large, dark brown in color; 
pellicle fold heavy and covered with more pubescence than rest of pellicle, on 
apex half of ventral edge. Flavor rather poor, slightly sweet, dry. 
Distinguishing characteristics—Shape of nut rather wide, quite plump: 
round-ovate; ventral edge sharply curved. most curved near base; dorsal edge 
considerably curved; base dorsally sloping and often depressed on ventral 
edge: outer shell usually spongy or crumbly, becoming firmer as tree gets older, 
especially on poor soils: pits small, round, numerous; fine short grooves at 
base: ventral streak medium in length with blunt base. Kernel plump. some- 
what variable in shape. wide at base, generally cuneiform, dorsal shoulder 
sharply rounded, sometimes slightly humped, ventral shoulder sloping; apex 
plump; pubescence short and rather scant: veins on pellicle distinct. 
According to its shape the Drake almond is classed in a group consisting 
of Ballard, Languedoc, Lewelling. Pistache, Spagon, and Texas. It is most 
often confused with Texas, Languedoc, and Lewelling. For points of difference 
between Drake and Ballard, see “ Distinguishing characteristics ** under the 
latter variety. 
The Drake can be distinguished from the Languedoc by the long ridges and 
long wide depressions on the ventral edge of the latter: furthermore, the wing 
in Languedoc is much more prominent than in Drake, especially near the apex. 
The Drake can always be distinguished from the Lewelling by the numerous 
fine grooves at the base of the nut: in the Lewelling the base is smooth or 
has only a very few coarse grooves. The Lewelling also has a much more 
prominent flange and wing. and the kernel is much sweeter in flavor. 
The Drake and Texas are very often confused. The ventral flange is more 
prominent on the Texas, the nut is usually smaller, and the flavor of the 
Texas kernel always has a bitter tinge. 
Although the Drake closely resembles the Pistache and Spagon in shape, 
the very small size of the nuts of the two latter varieties are distinctive. 
os 
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