


ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 99 
oblique. Stem scar medium in size, usually dorsally sloping. Apex some- 
what tapering, but variable; extreme apex either blunt or somewhat pointed; 
usually depressed on ventral side. 
Shell: Hard; no difference between inner and outer shell in regard to hard- 
ness. Inner surface dark brown, smooth. Ventral streak much darker brown 
than rest of inner surface, long, wide (s% inch wide), base end bluntly round- 
ing; tapers toward apex. 
Kernel: Some doubles; large, but small for size of nut (1 by 8 by #5 to 14 
by # by ive inches), flat, seldom filling shell cavity. Ovate, base end frequently 
truncate; ventral shoulder round and plump; dorsal shoulder round or oblique 
and thinner than ventral shoulder. Pellicle dark brown, rather thick, heavily 
pubescent; pellicle fold on apex third of ventral edge. Flavor fair, slightly 
Sweet. 
Distinguishing characteristics —Nut very large, shell hard, shape cordate, 
base plump, stem scar sloping dorsally; flange thick and prominent. One of 
the easiest varieties to identify. 
COMMENTS 
The variety is of little account. The shell is too hard and the proportion 
of kernel to shell is too small to make the nut acceptable commercially. It be- 
came popular chiefly as a pollinizer for other varieties. Its blooming date is 
such that it pollinates the Hatch varieties. 
6. BIGELOW (BIGELOW’S SEEDLING) 
Origin.—A variety originated from a seedling on the M. J. Bigelow ranch, at 
Oakley, Calif., in 1896. The original tree is still living. Mr. Bigelow was im- 
pressed by the good bearing qualities of the tree. The variety was distributed 
to a number of growers in the section and is now grown to a considerable 
extent in the Oakley-Brentwood-Antioch districts. 
Description 
TREE 
Rather upright (ratio of width to height of head, 1:1.1). Round topped. 
Branches profusely. Trunk stocky, vigorous grower; bark rough, exfoliating 
in thick patches. 
Main branches—Medium in length and somewhat stocky; rather upright. 
Branching angle moderately acute. Bark rough on old branches, smooth on 
branches under 7 years of age, reddish brown in color; frequently with gray 
epidermis. 
Tiwigs— Quite stocky, may be straight or crooked. Branching angle moder- 
ately acute. Wood brittle. Nodes medium size. Internodes rather short. 
Bark thick and tough, dull pale green, slightly tinged with red in the fall. 
Lenticels.—Moderately numerous. Wide in proportion to length. Oval with 
tapering ends, gray, slightly raised on old wood, but on young wood nearly level 
with surface of bark. Gray flakes of bark around lenticels are common. On 
young bark lenticels are inconspicuous, due to gray epidermis. Size of lenticels 
on bark 8 to 10 years old, 7s by x to 3% by 2 inch. On T-year-old bark or 
younger, lenticels very wide and short. On twigs, very small. 
Foliage.—Quite dense. 
Blade: Medium in size to rather large (by 24 to 14 by 3% inches, average 
& by 34 inches, ratio of width to length, about 2:7). Shape variable, ovate, 
elliptical, ovate-elliptical, sometimes widely obovate; about 2 per cent of the 
leaves are round, snatulate, or small odd-shaped ones, with round, truncate, or 
lobed apex. The Bigelow tree can be identified by these ‘“ off-shaped ”’ leaves. 
Base variable, bluntly obtuse to acute; origin of sides usually symmetrical, 
but often slightly unsymmetrical. Apex variable, tapering, acute to moderately 
acute. Margin irregularly and shortly .crenate. Color of upper surface, 
smooth, glossy, dark green. Under surface dull and slightly lighter than upper. 
Gsece Pin SVILE Be) 
Petiole: Varies in length (4 to 1} inches, average, 1 inch) and thickness; 
ratio of length of petiole to length of blade, about 1:3. Pale green, tinged with 
red in autumn. Groove varies in width, shallow. Glands two to six, vary in 
size, globular, brownish yellow. One of the few varieties having stipules; 
Many leaves have one or two stipules 4 inch long, on petiole near base of blade 
or on the base of the blade itself. 

