
ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 83 
Blade: Size variable, average medium (? by 8 inches; ratio of width to 
length, 1:4). Shape of mature blade usually ovate, but frequently elliptical- 
ovate; widest part generally near base or one-third of way from base to apex. 
Base bluntly acute; origin of margins symmetrical or nearly so. Apex gen- 
erally long, tapering; extreme tip acute or bluntly acute. 
Margin deeply and shortly crenate. Midrib varies in size, prominent. Up- 
per and lower surface of blade light green. 
Petiole: Varies in thickness. Long (average, 1 inch; ratio of length of 
petiole to length of blade, 1:3). Lower surface pale green. Upper surface 
light green. Groove usually wide and shallow, especially near point of at- 
tachment to twig. Glands, none to four, commonly two, globular, rather small, 
yellowish. 
Bearing habit—Produces quite well when young, but appears to decrease in 
production as trees get older; on spurs and also on short laterals. Spurs 
vary in length, medium in diameter ($ inch) ; expands suddenly to large oval 
disk + by zs inch. Buds free, large, plump, short, bluntly pointed; scales 
dark brown, medium size, rather thick and tough, with considerable pubescence. 
Nuts adhere to disk and are harvested with difficulty; frequently all the hulls 
are knocked off the tree before the nuts are loosened. 
NUT 
Immature nut—Size averages medium (14 by 14 by 1 inches). Shape plump, 
nearly round, or very wide ovate, part on ventral side of axis wide oval; on 
dorsal side long oval or long obovate. Plump. Ventral edge curving almost 
in the form of a circle; suture depression narrow (7s inch) and shallow (32 
inch). Base round, slightly sloping dorsally; cavity none or so slight that 
disk appears to be on surface of hull; sometimes exceedingly short grooves 
are present. Apex usually plump and broadly rounding; suture very slightly 
depressed to ventral side of rudiment; style usually drops early ; rudiment very 
small, pubescent. ; d 
Hull: Outer surface, green, holding color well while dehiscing, finally be- 
coming yellowish green and then brownish; pubescence abundant, fine, medium 
long, gray, felty. Inner surface pale green when dehiscence starts, turning 
brown as dehiscence continues. Dehisces first along ventral edge; when 
abundant moisture is present in soil dehiscence usually continues on dorsal 
edge, either from base end or from apex, or both; entire dorsal edge may 
erack, causing the hull to divide into halves; hull may dehisce on ventral 
edge only, especially when moisture is lacking in soil; ventral edges tend to 
curve outward in middle and inward at base and apex. Many sticktights in 
dry seasons. Ripens August 10 to September 15, depending on season and 
district. Nuts tend to ripen unevenly, even on same tree. 
Hulled nut.—(P1. IX, B.) Vary much in size, very small to large (4% by 44 
by + to 12 by 1% by 2 inches). Very small when grown in dry soil and large 
when moisture is present. Number of nuts to the pound, 150 to 250. Percentage 
of kernel to nut, hand cracked, 65. 
Shape: Usually plump; wide ovate, sometimes almost round, occasionally 
almost triangular; viewed edgewise, ovate. Ventral edge much curved; most 
sharply curved at ventral shoulder; wing thin and very prominent. Dorsal 
edge decidedly curved; dorsal ridge narrow and prominent. Base rounding 
or truncate, usually round; fairly plump; stem scar large, long, depressed, and 
slightly sloping dorsally. Apex thin, wide, bluntly pointed; wing prominent, 
curving much, approaching axis at obtuse angle. 
Shell: Paper; outer shell spongy, thin, and somewhat flaky; outer surface 
light to dark brown, frequently with reddish tinge. Pits very large, shallow, 
medium in number, frequently with raised portion around them. Inner shell 
very thin. Inner surface medium to light brown, sharply undulating. Ventral 
streak dark brown, medium in length, medium in width, tendency to be pointed 
at base but frequently base end is blunt. 
Kernel: Occasional doubles (3 to 7 per. cent). Very small to very large 
(3 by 4 by 2 to 13 by ¢ by 2 inches). Does not quite fill shell. Shape flat, 
short, wide, ovate; viewed edgewise, long ovate. Dorsal and ventral edges 
usually curve about the same at apex; dorsal edge a little longer than ventral. 
3ase very wide, broadly round or slightly truncate, sloping very slightly ven- 
trally; dorsal shoulder thin, somewhat square and usually sloping; ventral 
shoulder plump, sharply rounding and sloping. Apex plump, wide, but slightly 
tapering, with sides slightly curving, Apex broader and less cuneiform than 
