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ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 87 
Description Jf 
TREE 
Upright. Resembles the Languedoe quite closely. Bears on spurs on wood 2 
to 4 years old. Foliage of medium density. 
NUT 
Hulled nut.—(Pl. III, A.) Size variable, average medium (12 by ¢ by 2 
inches), number of nuts to the pound, 140 to 160. Percentage of kernel to nut 
in hand-cracked samples, 30 to 35, 
Shape: Quite plump, especially at base; pointed ovate; edgewise view, ovate- 
elliptical or cuneiform-ovate. Ventral edge plump, sharply and evenly curved, 
most sharply curved at base; longitudinal depressions common; wing and 
flange usually thick and bluntly tapering, being thick near nut and thin on 
edge; wing varies much in thickness, as well as in prominence. Dorsal edge 
gently curving; dorsal ridge narrow to medium, prominent or not prominent. 
Base plump, bluntly round; stem scar medium in size, but variable, at right 
angles to axis, or sloping slightly either ventrally or dorsally. Apex pointed, 
the bluntness of point variable; usually plump with tendency to narrow at 
extreme tip. 
Shell: Hard, bony in texture, thick; outer surface usually dark brown. Pits 
large, moderate in number. Outer surface between pits smooth or stippled. 
Grooves run outward from base, and grooves of varying depth and number 
appear on the surface of the shell. Inner surface light brown in color, wavy, 
frequently with very long, shallow, longitudinal depressions. Canals very large. 
Kernel: Medium to large in s:ze (1% by 1 by # inches) ; frequently does not 
fil! entire shell cavity. Shape variable, long oval, or ovate. Ventral edge 
usually much curved, but sharpness of curve varies. Dorsal edge straight or 
siightly curving. Ventral edge frequently same length as dorsal. Base round- 
ing and usually quite thick; dorsal shoulder generally square; ventral shoulder 
round and sloping. Apex pointed, bluntness of point variable. Pellicle rich 
brown, thick, pubescent; veins dark brown; pellicle fold rather small, on apex 
half of ventral edge; base scar dark brown, rather small, round or oval, some- 
times indistinet. Flavor fair. 
Distinguishing characteristics—This nut belongs to the group including the 
Brown, Concord, Fairoaks, Golden State, Rice, Routier, and a number of 
unnamed California seedlings and is, therefore, difficult to distinguish. The 
following combinations of points are helpful: Shape generally pointed ovate, 
but somewhat variable; ventral edge sharply curved, especially near base, and 
with longitudinal ridges and wide depressions parallel to wing; dorsal edge 
gently curved, at apex sharply curved either inward or outward; base gen- 
erally finely grooved, base scar varies in slope, i. e., at right angles to axis 
or sloping gently either ventrally or dorsally; ventral flange medium in promi- 
nence but variable; shell thick, very dark brown, with short grooves on surface 
varying in number and depth; kernel often with depression in side. 
This variety is distinguished from others in the group by the long ridges 
on the ventral edge and by the depression often found in the side of the kernel. 
COMMENTS 
Most of the Cartagena trees grown in California were planted in frosty 
localities, where they proved unproductive; many of them have been removed 
in recent years. It is one of the inferior varieties. 
12. CATAMERA (ALMENDRONE) 
Origin,—Introduced from Catamera, Spain, by D. G. Fairchild, of the United 
States Department of Agriculture, in 1901. In Spain the name is applied to 
several seedling varieties. A few scions were distributed to parts of the 
Sacramento Valley, California, by the United States Plant Introduction Gar- 
den at Chico. Only a few trees still remain. It should be noted that the nuts 
described vary in shape. 
