

ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 103 
wing medium in thickness to thin, medium in prominence; generally two wide 
pronounced ridges on ventral edge running parallel to wing. Dorsal edge 
varies in curve, but always curved less than ventral edge; dorsal ridge narrow 
and prominent. Base plump, truncate, slightly sloping dorsally; stem scar 
very large, wide, oval, depressed, gently sloping dorsally. Apex rather plump, 
wide, bluntly rounding, with suggestion of mucronate tip; dorsal and ventral 
sides curve abruptly at apex; wing pronounced one-half inch from tip of apex, 
but gradually becomes less pronounced from that point until immediate apex 
is reached. 
Shell: Hard, dark brown to reddish brown in color, with reddish tinge on. 
dorsal edge and around stem scar; said to be very hard to bleach; outer shell 
thick, varies in texture from medium hard to somewhat spongy. Pits medium 
in number, size, and depth; mostly round. Wide groove on ventral edge. 
Two ridges each side of wing running parallel with wing. Short grooves at 
base of nut. Canals large and round, network medium to fine; fibers large. 
Inner shell rather thick, hard, and tough. Inner surface light to medium 
brown in color, usually lighter than outer surface; slightly undulating. Ven- 
tral streak medium to dark brown, medium in width, long, round pointed at 
base, but base half slightly tapering. 
Kernel: Many doubles (20 per cent). Does not fill shell. Size, medium to 
quite large (average 1 by 4 by ws inch). Shape ovate, medium plump. 
Ventral edge slightly more curved than dorsal. Ventral shoulder round, plump, 
elevated. Dorsal shoulder somewhat Square and sloping, thinner than ven- 
tral. Apex half of kernel tapering; apex bluntly acute with mucronate tip. 
Pellicle thick, tough, dark, reddish brown, thickly covered with exceedingly 
long, coarse pubescence; pellicle fold medium size on apex half of ventral 
edge; base scar small to medium, dark brown, smooth, round. Veining dis- 
tinct but obscured by pubescence. Flavor slightly sweet, good. 
Distinguishing characteristics—Nut wide ovate; base truncate, dorsally 
sloping, stem scar large; apex blunt; shell, dark reddish brown, brightest 
color on ventral edge; ventral edge with pronounced ridges parallel to wing. 
Kernel ovate, dark reddish brown, exceedingly pubescent. 
The O’Neil nut somewhat resembles in shape Barclay, Crown, Philopena, and 
Silvershell. The blunt apex and longitudinal ridges on the ventral edge of 
the O’Neil render it easy to distinguish from thcse four varieties. 
COMMENTS 
The main defects of this variety are the light-bearing habit, the dark- 
colored nut which is hard to bleach, the tenacity with which the nuts cling 
to the tree at harvest time, the hard shell, and the large quantity of double 
kernels. It is one of the inferior varieties of nuts and is not to be recom- 
mended. The variety is not found outside of the Esparto district. 
54. PEERLESS 
Origin.—In California; exact date and locality uncertain. It was grown at 
first most extensively in the Davis, Winters, and Woodland localities. By 
1895 it was being sold by California nursery firms, and by 1910, commercial 
plantings of the variety had been made in all the almond-growing districts of 
California. Attempts have been made to grow the variety in Oregon and 
Washington and in Australia. 
Description 
TREE 
Rather vigorous; spreading (ratio of height of head to width, 1:14), some- 
what secraggly. Trunk rather stocky; bark medium rough, cracks close to- 
gether and quite deep, exfoliates in small thick patches. 
Main branches.—Medium in length, rather stocky, tend to grow upright, lower 
ones horizontal or drooping. Branching angle wide. Wood brittle. Bark 
somewhat rough on old branches; exfoliates in large flakes; yellowish brown 
to dark reddish brown; thin patches of gray epidermis; long, silver-colored, 
transverse patches common on young growth. Young branches frequently 
striated. 
Twigs.—Moderately short as a rule, moderately stocky, rigid. Branching 
angle rather wide. Nodes medium in size. Internodes average short (3% inch), 
Bark medium light green; a little bloom; reddish patches in fall, 

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