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ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED sTaTEs / oan 
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Blade: Varies in size (is by 24 to 1% by 5 inches, average small, +@ by 3 
inches, ratio of width to length of blade, about 1:3). Shape ovate, with 
irregular curving edges, occasionally oblong-elliptical ; widest part near middle, 
one-third distance from base. Base variable, obtuse to wide-acute; origin 
of margins usually unsymmetrical. Apex bluntly acute. Margin shortly and 
rather deeply crenate. Midrib medium large and prominent. Veins distinct. 
Upper surface bright, medium-dark green, shiny. Lower surface dull green. 
Leaves tend to curl and twist slightly, especially late in the season. 
Petiole: Medium length (4 to 1 inch, average ? inch; ratio of length of 
petiole to length of blade about 1:4); quite slender but variable. Glands 
vary in number from 2 to 10, rather small, oval, yellowish brown to dark gray. 
Bearing habit-—Fruit on spurs on wood 1 to 4 years old. Tendency for nuts 
to be borne singly. Spurs slender to medium in thickness (¢ to 7 ineh), long 
(4 to 2 inch) ; expands suddenly to small elliptical disk 35 by + inch. Buds, 
especially leaf buds, Slightly flattened, constricted at base, short, plump, 
bluntly tapering at apex; scales reddish brown, medium sized, thin, with short 
pubescence on edges. 
NUT 
Immature nut.—Size medium (14 by 13 by linches). Shape: Nearly round; 
part on ventral side of axis cordate, ventral edge much curved, ridge well 
marked but not prominent (4 inch wide), with depressions on each side of it. 
Dorsal edge considerably eurved, but curved less than ventral. Base slopes 
much dorsally, usually grooved; ventral shoulder: above stem scar; dorsal 
shoulder rounding and sloping, but prominent. Apex bluntly. rounding, fre- 
quently depressed. Style drops early. 
Hull: Green outside, pubescence gray. Usually starts to dehisce in middle 
of ventral edge, the line of dehiscence soon traversing entire ventral edge. The 
halves then open, usually equally, and as opening continues the hull splits 
up dorsal edge from apex upward; usually the halves of the hull also split 
upward from apex, the hull finaliy being in quarters or with quartered apex 
(fig. 13). Many times dorsal edge does not completely dehisce. As hull de- 
hisces inside surface changes from light green to brown. Sometimes hull is 
slightly tinged with red on apex and ventral edge. Nuts mature August 5 
to 30; they tend to hang tightly to the spurs and are, therefore, difficult to 
knock. 
Hulled nut.—(Pl. If, D.) Rather small to medium and uniform in size 
(average, 14 by 1 by ié inches) ; number of nuts to the pound, 210 to 240. 
Shape: Very short and very: wide, ovate or oval-ovate, part on wing side of 
axis cordate, axis about one-third way from dorsal edge. Viewed edgewise nut 
is plump-ovate or oval-ovate. Ventral edge curved as in a heart-shaped figure; 
wing very prominent along entire ventral edge, very prominent at base, usually 
decreasing in prominence at immediate apex, terminating in an acute point at 
apex end, tapering to a very thin edge. Dorsal edge curved slightly but much 
less than the ventral edge. Strong fiber the entire length of dorsal edge. 
Dorsal ridge narrow and only slightly elevated. Base sharply sloping dorsally, 
medium plump. Stem scar rather large; long, and narrow, sloping dorsally. 
Apex bluntly pointed as a rule, frequently with mucronate tip. 
Shell: Paper shell, thin. Outer surface brown, frequently reddish brown, 
rough, consisting of a flaky, spongy material, stippled. Outer flaky material 
rough owing to network of heavy fiber underneath, which frequently shows 
through; outer shell usually knocked partly off and adhering to hull in 
hulling. Pits medium numerous, when not covered with flaky material, small, 
shallow. Inner shell thin. Inner surface light brown, smooth. Ventral streak 
dark brown, long, wide, widest at base, base end bluntly pointed. P 
Kernel: Plump; size medium to rather small (average 1 by % by ie inch). 
Shape ovate to elliptical. Dorsal edge longer than ventral. Dorsal shoulder 
sloping with tendency to be square; ventral shoulder usually plump and round. 
Most curved portion below base scar. Apex wide and flat with small tip. 
Pellicle.dark brown, tough, very. pubescent. Flavor flat and insipid, not rich. 
A poor nut. 
Distinguishing characteristics —The nut. of this variety resembles and is 
often confused with the King, Klondike, Princess, Silvershell, and Nonpareil. 
The California nut can be distinguished from other varieties, except those just 
mentioned, by the following: Paper shell, wide-cordate shape; base much 
99729 °— 24-3 

