126 BULLETIN 1282, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
symmetrical or nearly so. Apex usually tapering and acute. Margins irregu- 
lar; crenations irregular, deep and short; exceedingly small dark bristle. 
Midrib large, very prominent, pale green. Veins large and distinct. Upper 
surface of blade dull deep green, varying much in color in late summer; lower 
surface lighter than upper. 
Petiole: Rather long (% to 14 inches; average, 14 inches; ratio of length of 
petiole to blade, about 2:7); rather stocky and rigid. Groove variable in 
width, shallow, bright green; reddish tinge common early in fall. Glands one 
to eight, commoniy four, frequently six, occasionally none; very small, round- © 
ish, flat topped, greenish or yellowish. 
Bearing habit—This variety seems to be peculiar in that it bears well on 
heavy soils. It appears better adapted to heavy soils than the other com- 
mercial varieties of almonds, provided the soil has good drainage. On light 
soils, especially in dry seasons, the Sultana tree bears many sticktights. 
Bears mostly on spurs on wood 2 to 4 years old; a considerable number on 
1-year-old laterais. Spurs short (az to 4 inch); stocky (# to 4 inch); ex- 
pands gradually to large, wide, oval disk (4 by gs inch). Buds free, very large, 
very long, constricted at base, very plump in middle; pointed; scales rather 
small, thin, with much long pubescence on edges. 
NUT 
Immature nut.—Size, quite large (13 by 18 by 14 inches). Shape plump, wide 
ovate (part on ventral side of axis ovate or cordate-ovate; part on dorsal side 
long oval or ovate), widest portion of nut one-third to one-half way from base 
to apex. Ventral edge much curved; suture depression shallow (¢¢ inch) ; 
narrow (32 inch). Dorsal edge gently curved; frequently with slight ridge. 
Base very plump, dorsally sloping, with short grooves and ridges; dorsal shoul- 
der lacks prominence; ventral shoulder somewhat cordate; cavity 4+ inch in 
diameter and 35 to ss inch deep. Apex plump, round pointed; depressed some- 
what along suture, especially to ventral side of rudiment; style drops rather 
early; rudiment rather large. 
Hull: Outer surface green, turning yellowish green and later dark brown 
while dehiscing; pubescence abundant, short, fine, gray, felty. Inner surface 
rapidly turns to light brown while dehiscing; during early stages of de- 
hiscence hull has slight reddish tinge along ventral edges. Dehisces first along 
entire ventral edge and often on dorsal edge as well, the halves spreading 
apart at base, remaining attached together at apex; hull tends to curl outward 
along entire ventral edge; frequently dehisces on ventral edge only. Ripens 
August 5 to 30. 
Hulled nut.—(Pl. XIV, C.) Size rather large (average, 14 by 14 by # 
inches). Number of nuts to the pound, 110 to 140. Percentage of kernel to 
nut, 37. 
Shape: Rather flat and wide in proportion to length, part on ventral side 
of axis cordate; part on dorsal side oval-ovate or long ovate. (Edgewise 
view, ovate with cuneiform apex.) Ventral edge curves rather sharply, 
flange quite thick and prominent to medium prominent, but brittle and 
crumbly, portions of it breaking off with hull, leaving a thin prominent wing 
running from stem scar to apex; wing most prominent along lower half of 
ventral edge. Dorsal edge rather plump, slightly curved, curved most at 
base and apex ends; suture line frequently showing. Base wide, truncate, 
sloping dorsally; rather thin; stem scar small to medium, narrow, long, oval; 
dorsal shoulder drops off rather abruptly from stem scar; ventral shoulder ele- 
vated above stem scar, wide, sharply rounded. Apex rather thin; bluntly 
tapering, with sharply curved ventral edge and gently curving dorsal edge 
and wing clear to apex. 
Shell: Very dark brown; just within the hard-shell class; outer shell, 
thick, porous, somewhat brittle. Pits very numerous, vary in size on same 
nut, small to medium, deep, and present on dorsal edge as well as on Sides; 
portion of shell between pits coarsely stippled; short grooves along ventral 
edge, base, and flange; canals numerous, large, oval; fibers large; network 
coarse. Inner shell thick, hard. Inner surface dark brown, undulating. Ven- 
tral streak very dark brown, medium in width to very wide, long, tapering 
for a considerable distance along basal half; base end acuminate; apex acumi- 
nate, 
Kernel: Large (average, 14 by §& by ws inches). Kernels inclined to be 
deformed or with long, crooked, deep depression on one or both sides, due 
