


ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 43 
Distinguishing characteristics—Nut irregular ovate; base constricted; apex 
decidedly scimitar shaped, sharp pointed; ventral streak cuneiform, widening 
gradually from apex to base, base round. Kernels mostly doubles, long, with 
short fine pubescence. 
In shape the Crown somewhat resembles Barclay, Philopena, O’Neil, and 
Silvershell. It is easily distinguished from these by the scimitar-shaped apex. 
COMMENTS 
The tree is so brushy that it is kept in shape with difficulty. An alternate 
bearer, therefore unprofitable. Difficult to harvest because nuts ripen very un- 
evenly. Ripens from August 10 to September 10. Most of the nuts are doubles, 
very irregular in size, and of poor flavor. Of iittle value. 
17. DE WITT (DE WITT’S SEEDLING) 
Origin.—A_ seedling tree appeared on the De Witt ranch, Sutter, Calif., in 
1906. At one time it was thought that the variety might be an improvement 
over the Jordan types. It is not grown commercially. 
Description 
TREE 
Rather upright, top somewhat scraggly. Medium in vigor. Trunk inclined 
to be slender; bark rough. 
Main branches.—Rather stocky, medium in length with short, irregular de- 
pressions. Branching angle quite wide in crotches, but branches tend to curve 
toward each other. Wood brittle, with many knots. Bark rough on old 
branches, dark reddish brown, with small amount of thin gray epidermis, ex- 
foliates in small, very thin flakes; younger branches delicately striated. 
Twigs.—Medium in length, stocky, rather rigid. Branching angle moderately 
acute; branches tend to curve together. Nodes large; internodes short (aver- 
age 4 inch). Bark, light green, reddish in fall. 
Lenticels—Rather few, tend to vary in number, and occur in patches; ash 
gray; rather large (on 8 to 10 year-old wood vs by is by 2 by 2 inch), wide- 
elliptical. Apexes bluntly acute; sides curving. Slightly raised on old bark; 
frequently level with surface of bark on young wood, on young bark few but 
conspicuous. (Pl. XVI, B.) 
Foliage.—Medium dense and retained quite late in fall, light green. 
Blade: Small to medium (2 by 24 to 1% by 3? inches); average ratio of 
width to length about 2:7. Shape elliptical-ovate. Base widely acute, origin 
of margins usually unsymmetrical. Apex long, tapering, acute. Margins 
crenate or doubly crenate. Main rib slender, quite prominent. Veins distinct, 
slightly raised on lower surface. Upper surface glossy, medium light green; 
lower surface dull green. 
Petiole: Medium in length (? inch; ratio of length of petiole to length of 
blade, about 1:4); slender, light green, frequently tinged with red in late sum- 
mer. Groove medium width; usually deep. Glands two to six, commonly three 
or four, small, globular, dark yellow or brownish red. 
Bearing habit—On wood 2 to 4 years old. Nuts in clusters. Spurs medium 
in stockiness (4 inch) and length (4 inch); expands gradually to oval disk 
is by 4+ inch. Nuts drop from branches so readily that when ripe they fall 
before they are knocked. 
NUT 
Immature nut.—lLarge (2 by 14 by 14 inches). Ovate. Ventral edge much 
more curved than dorsal; ventral ridge wide (is inch), prominent (,‘ inch 
high or more); suture depression #: inch wide, 7s inch deep. Dorsal edge 
gently curved. Base rather flat and round. Ventral shoulder much rounded. 
Apex round or slightly tapering; rudiment small. 
Hull: Outer surface green, retains color a long time when dehiscing; 
wrinkles and shrinks much on dehiscing; color finally becomes grayish green. 
Inner surface changes rapidly from green to a rich brown as dehiscence pro- 
ceeds. Thickness of hull one-eighth or one-fourth that of nut. Dehisces on 
ventral edge first, then cracks on dorsal edge at apex and base; halves of hull 
May or may not be completely divided, frequently remain attached to each 

