




ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 99 
turning reddish brown. Dehisces first on ventral edge; then frequently cracks 
on base or. apex end of dorsal edge, or both; the hull frequently divides in 
halves; ventral edges curl inward. Ripens during late August and early 
September. 
Hulled nut.—(P1. XI, A.) Size small (14 by # by #6 inches). Number of 
nuts to the pound, 250 to 300. Percentage of kernel to nut, 45. 
Shape: Somewhat plump, ovate (edgewise view, ovate with tapering apex — 
and frequently with unsymmetrical sides). Ventral edge much curved, plump, 
evenly curved; flange thick and tapering to medium thin edge; wing not 
prominent. Dorsal edge slightly curved, plump, dorsal ridge usually narrow 
and fairly prominent, being most prominent at base. Base plump; round or 
truncate; stem scar medium to large in size, depressed, oval, at right angles 
to axis or Slightly sloping either ventrally or dorsally. Ventral shoulder 
round. Dorsal shoulder square or slightly rounding. Apex plump, pointed 
either bluntly or acutely; extreme tip with small mucronate point. Ventral 
edge of apex curving much; dorsal edge recurved slightly at extreme apex. 
Shell: Soft; usually hard enough to render cracking with fingers difficult 
but possible; outer shell either hard or soft (average medium), ash gray to 
light brown. Pits medium to numerous in number, usually medium in depth; 
variable in shape, mostly round. Frequently depression along one or both sides 
of ventral edge. Ventral edge grooved. Base grooved and frequently corru- 
gated. Canals medium to large, round or oval. Fibers usually small. Inner 
shell thin and tough. Inner surface medium to dark brown, darker than outer 
surface of shell, slightly undulating. Ventral streak dark brown, wide, medium 
in length, with wide rounding base. 
Kernel: Size average medium (1% by 4 by zs inch). Shape plump, short, wide, 
ovate. Ventral edge curving rather sharply. Dorsal edge gently curving and 
much longer than ventral. Base plump; dorsal shoulder square or widely 
rounding and thin at apex; ventral shoulder plump, sloping or sharply round- 
ing. Apex pointed and mucronate at extreme tip. Viewed edgewise the apex 
is cuneiform with bulging sides; tapering to a thin point. Pellicle thin; 
medium light to medium reddish brown; veining usually distinct; pubescence 
very short and most abundant at apex, so short at base as to cause that 
portion to appear smooth; pellicle fold on apex half of ventral edge large; 
base scar small, dark brown; oval. Flavor rather flat, oily, slightly sweet. 
Distinguishing characteristics—In order to distinguish this nut it is well to 
read the entire description. It is not found outside of the Oakley district. 
COMMENTS 
This nut tends to run to small sizes. It is a second-rate nut and can not com- 
pete in the market with the better varieties, such, for example, as the Non- 
pareil and I. X. L. 
52. NONPAREIL (EXTRA) 
Origin.—Like the Ne Plus Ultra, this variety originated as a sprout from 
the root of a budded almond tree on the A. T. Hatch ranch, Suisun, Calif. 
Mr. Hatch soon regarded the nut as the best of the three Hatch varieties. 
It was known for a time under the name “ Extra,” but was finally called Non- 
pareil. (For a more complete history, see I. X. L.) It is strange that out of 
thousands of seedlings an almond originating as did the Nonpareil should 
prove itself to be the best of all almond varieties for California. It has been 
planted extensively in every almond-growing section of California; also to 
some extent in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, 
Texas, and Australia. 
Description 
TREE 
Moderately vigorous grower, spreading (ratio of height of head to width 
1:14). Trunk medium stocky (about one-half as rapid in growth as California, 
Princess, and King), long, straight, with depressions and slight twist. Bark 
medium in thickness, cracks rather shallow, exfoliates in large flakes. 
Main branches.—Medium long, rather stocky; grow straight or curved 
downward; outer branches drooping. Branching angle widely acute. Wood 
medium in texture, slightly brittle. Bark dark reddish brown or grayish red; 

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