

ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 25 
Ventral streak dark brown, medium to short in length, tapering from middle to 
apex, wide, base wide. 
Kernel: Usually plump; ovoid; medium to rather large size ({ by 4 by 2 to 
14 by 3 by 2 inches), filling the shell cavity quite well. Viewed edgewise, 
the shape is ovate with straight sides, giving apex end of kernel a decidedly 
cuneiform appearance. Base plump, thick; ventral shoulder round, thick; dor- 
sal shoulder thin, square, and humped. Apex cuneiform in both the flatwise and 
edgewise view, thin, with sharp point. Pellicle various shades of brown; 
varies in thickness and toughness and in the amount of pubescence, usually havy- 
ing the most pubescence at apex end; pellicle fold on apex half of ventral edge 
thin, prominent; veins prominent. Flavor slightly sweet. 
Distinguishing characteristics —The striking pink color on the wing and 
ventral edge of this nut is sufficient to distinguish it from others. 
COMMENTS 
On account of the early blooming of this variety (February 10 to 22 at Oak- 
ley, or about the same as I. X. lL.) it is Liable to injury by frost. The nuts are 
irregular in size, averaging small. The texture of the shell varies: so much as 
to put some of the nuts in the soft-shell class and others in the medium hard- 
shell class. Although the kernei is fair, the variety can not compare with the 
superior Hatch varieties. It is a second-rate nut and should not be planted. 
Grown principally in the Oakley-Brentwood-Antioch district. 
4. BATHAM (BATHAM’S EVERBEARING) 
Origin.—The original tree of this variety, first noticed in 1894, is a seedling 
growing on the C. F. Batham ranch near Chico, Calif. Mr. Batham became 
interested in the tree because of its late blooming habits, its long period of 
blossoming each year, and its heavy-bearing qualities. From this seedling he 
propagated a few trees which in turn bore well, and later his neighbors 
planted a number of trees of the variety. The original tree has yielded an 
average of 39 pounds of nuts yearly for the last nine years, the smallest 
annual yield being 15 and the largest 56 pounds. 
Description 
TREE . 
Vigorous grower. Wide spreading (ratio of height of head to width, 1:1.7). 
Top rather flat. Trunk quite.stocky with a tendency to grow somewhat crooked 
with slightly twisted grain; bark medium in roughness, exfoliates in small 
patches. 
Main branches.—Medium in length, rather stocky, with tendeney to grow 
horizontal, scraggly; lower branches drooping. Branching angle very wide. 
Wood of medium toughness. Bark rather smooth except on old branches, yel- 
lowish brown, frequently with thin gray epidermis; commonly striated on 
young branches. 
Twigs.—Thrifty in growth, rather stocky. Branching angle very wide. 
Wood rather tough. Nodes quite large. Internodes medium in length (4 by 
1% inches). Bark thick, tough, light green when young, with reddish or 
brownish patches in autumn. 
Lenticels—Exceedingly numerous, gray or brownish gray, raised, small, 
wide elliptical, short except on old bark (size on bark 8 to 10 years old is by 
# to vs by ws inch; on 5-year-old bark, 4 by 4 inch), with crack through 
center longitudinally. Apexes acute; much longer in proportion to length on 
old than on young bark. On twigs, lenticels numerous, wide, oval, gray, much 
raised, conspicuous. 
Foliage——Dense. Leaves remain on the tree late in fall, start growth in 
spring before blossoming has ceased, tend to be borne in clusters on old wood, 
flat or rolled slightly horizontally along midrib, slightly recurving, many small 
leaves on old wood. 
Blade: Medium to rather large (#% by 2% to 14 by 5 inches; average, 1% 
by 34 inches; ratio of width to length, about 1:3). Shape, ovate to elliptical- 
ovate; widest portion usually at a point one-third of distance from base 
to apex. Base usually broad, obtusely rounding, sometimes acute; origin of 
sides generally unsymmetrical. Apex half of leaf generally tapering, acute to 

