114 BULLETIN 1282, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
61. REAMS (REAMS’ FAVORITE) 
Origin.—At some time prior to 1906, J. W. Reams, near Suisun, Calif., set 
out some almond trees which proved to be mixed lot. One of these trees, a 
thrifty grower and good yielder, was named “ Reams’ Favorite.” The variety 
was sold by.a few nursery companies in California by 1910 and was planted 
principally in the Sacramento Valley. . 
Description 
TREE 
Only moderately vigorous, spreading (ratio of height of head to width, 
1:14), scraggly. Trunk moderately stocky, quite straight; bark has rather 
shallow cracks, exfoliates in fiakes. 
Main branches.—Medium in number; medium length; rather stocky; tend- 
ency to grow horizontal. Branching angle very wide, almost right angle. 
Wood rather tough. Bark smooth except for knots; dark reddish brown with 
patches of gray epidermis, frequently striated on young branches; exfoliates in 
small flakes. 
Twigs.—Medium in length, quite stocky, rigid. Branching angle wide (very 
nearly a right angle). Nodes rather large. Internodes medium in length (% 
to 13 inches). Bark rather thick and brittle, green with reddish patches in fall, 
usually coated with waxy bloom. 
Lenticels—Numerous; large (on bark 8 to 10 years old, = by 2 to 3 
by % inch); raised, but surface of lenticel itself is smoother than in many 
other varieties; gray, frequently bark surrounding lenticels has light gray 
color; shape wide oval. On old bark sides tend to be straight and apexes 
acuminate. On young bark lenticels rather large, numerous, raised, greenish 
gray, Wide oval, with bluntly acute to acuminate apexes. 
Foliage.—Quite dense, although tree frequently is open in center. Leaves 
quite flat and moderately numerous on individual branches. 
Blade: Small to medium (# by 23 to 1% by 34 inches; average, ~ by 22 
inches). Wide (ratio of width to length, about 1:3). Shape ovate, tapering 
from middle of blade to tip. Base obtuse; origin of margins symmetrical or 
nearly so. Apex sharply acute, frequently margins curve inward near tip. 
Margins crenate; crenations of medium length and depth; bristle long, slender. 
Upper surface of blade glossy, bright medium green; lower surface lighter than 
upper. Midrib large and prominent, pale green. 
Petiole: Quite long (average, $ inch; ratio of length of petiole to blade, 
about 1:3); vary much in thickness, inclined to be stocky and rather inflexible. 
Lower surface pale green. Upper surface light green, tinged with red in 
autumn. Groove narrow to medium, depth medium. Glands two to four, very 
small, yellowish brown, globular or oval. 
Bearing habit.—Irregular bearer; averages heavy; bears exceedingly heavy 
crops in some seasons. Nuts borne principally on spurs on wood 2 to 4 years 
old, frequently in pairs and in clusters; a few borne on laterals. Spurs long 
(2 inch), medium in thickness (% inch) ; gradually expand to almost round or 
slightly elliptical disk 7; inch in diameter. Buds free, long. tapering, bulging 
at base; scales dark brown, large, thin, brittle, with considerable pubescence 
on edges. 
NUT 
Immature nut.—Size small to medium (14 by 14 by ? inches). Shape oblong- 
ovate or oval. Ventral edge usually curves more than dorsal; varies as to 
ridge, often grooved on one side, sometimes on two, but both grooves seldom 
run entire length of edge; suture depression distinct; narrow, pubescent. 
Dorsal edge ridged, especially at apex and base. Base quite plump, grooved, 
round (shoulders lack prominence) ; slope nearly at right angles to axis, occa- 
sionally slightly sloping dorsally or ventrally; stem cavity very narrow and 
shallow (s» inch). Apex rather thin, broad, slightly depressed; style falls 
rather early; rudiment very small; pubescent in depression. 
Hull: Outer surface irregular with shallow ventral depression and grooves; 
green, turning yellowish green to brown upon dehiscing; pubescence abundant, 
short, coarse, gray, felty. Inner surface light gray with green showing through 
as it starts to dehisce, later turning brown. Dehisces on ventral edge and 
usually partially or wholly on dorsal edge as well. Dorsal edge cracks either 
