22 BULLETIN 1282, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
COMMENTS 
Ripens early in the fall. Although the flavor of the kernel is excellent, the 
very hard shell and small percentage of kernel are sufficient to exclude the nut 
from favor. A few trees are found in various orchards in the Sacramento 
and San Joaquin Valleys of California, but the variety is not extensively grown 
at the present time and has no value as a commercial almond. 
2. BALLARD (BALLARD DRAKE; BALLARD’S SEEDLING) 
Origin.—In 1897 L. A. Ballard, of Pennington, Calif., discovered in the Marys- 
ville Buttes a chance seedling tree which he considered promising. From this 
tree buds were taken and budded on other almond trees in Mr. Ballard’s 
orchard. The variety was later gradually distributed in the Pennington 
district. There are about 100 acres of this variety in the Live Oak—Penning- 
ton district at present (1923). 
Description 
e TREE 
Upright tendency with branches somewhat spreading (ratio of height of head 
to width, 1:1). Moderately vigorous grower. Trunk medium stocky; bark 
rough, exfoliates in large patches. 
Jain. branches.—Tend to grow upright, rather stocky, medium in length. 
Branching angle acute. Tree branches profusely. Wood brittle. Bark dark 
yellowish brown with considerable gray epidermis, striated on young branches, 
rough on old branches; exfoliates in small flakes. 
Twigs—Stocky: usually make good growth. Internodes short (average 4 
inch). Wood brittle. Bark rather tough, thick, green, with much red color in 
autumn. 
Lenticels—Vary in number, few to numerous, usually few on growth 3 to 6 
years old, elliptical with acute or acuminate ends, large (average size on 
bark 6 to 8 years old, # by 2 inch; on 5-year-old wood, ss by 2 inch, 
raised, ash gray; old lenticels tend to have sides near middle quite straight 
with acuminate ends at extreme apexes. On young branches, lenticels small, 
wide, raised, with sides sharply curving. On twigs, lenticels numerous and 
conspicuous. 
Foliagé—Dense. Leaves numerous, flat, or gently rolled along midrib, fre- 
quently slightly recurved. 
Blade: Varies in size from small to quite large (} by 2 inches to ~ by 34 
inches) ; average medium (%? by 2% inches). Ratio of width to length, about 
2:7. Shape ovate or elliptical-ovate. Base tends to be quite acute; origin of 
sides slightly unsymmetrical. Apex usually tapering, acute. Margins fre- 
quently uneven in outline; crenate; crenations vary in depth and length. 
Upper surface glossy, light deep green. Lower surface dull green, much lighter 
in color than upper. Midrib pale, medium slender, medium prominent. Veins 
distinct, slightly elevated on lower surface. 
Petiole: Long (average ~ inch, ratio of length of petiole to length of blade. 
about 1:3), rather slender, widens near base of blade; light green tinged with 
red in autumn. Groove rather narrow and deep. Stipules occasionally present 
near base of blade. One or two of the basal crenations nearest the petiole 
sometimes missing, extra large, or glandular. Glands usually two, sometimes 
three or four, brownish, yellow, small, globular or ovate-elliptical 
Bearing habit—Bears well and quite regularly on spurs on wood 2 to 4 
years old, mostly on wood 2 and 3 years old. Tendency to bear in clusters. 
Spurs medium in length (4 inch), large in diameter (% inch). , Disk wide oval 
(4 by # inch). Buds large, rather plump; scales medium tough, thin, brown, 
with considerable gray pubescence on their edges. 
NUT 
Immature nut—Medium in size (average, 1} by 14 by 14 inches). Ovate, 
i. e., ovate to ventral side of axis; obovate to dorsal side of axis. Ventral edge 
curves much more than dorsal, curves most at base: smooth; suture depres- 
sion 7; inch deep and 7s inch wide; sometimes slight suggestion of a ridge. 
Dorsal edge very gently curved throughout base half, much curved at apex. 
sase irregular, very short grooves and ridges present, dorsally sloping; ventral 
shoulder elevated and round; dorsal shoulder square, projecting 4 to % inch 
