ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 127 
to tendency to form doubles, but doubles are not numerous. Shape flat, 
cuneiform ovate, tapering from near base to apex. Widest part near base. 
Ventral edge rather thin, curved about same as dorsal, or less, and only about 
one-half as long. Dorsal edge thin, usually curves more at apex than ven- 
tral edge. Base wide, thin; ventral shoulder rounded; dorsal shoulder more 
prominent than ventral and thinner, with tendency to be straight for some 
distance from stem scar and sloping, having a slight hump. Apex long, thin, 
tapering, i. e., somewhat cuneiform. Pellicle varies from dark brown to 
very dark brown; rather thin, moderately tender, quite smooth near base; 
short pubescence near apex; veins large and very distinct; pellicle fold 
small and thin; base scar medium size, brownish gray, nearly round. Flavor 
slightly sweet, fair. 
Distinguishing characteristics—This variety belongs to the group including 
the Grosse Tendre and Hampton. In fact, it can be distinguished from these 
two varieties only with difficulty. 
Notre.—The California is often wrongly called ‘“ Sultana,’ and the name 
* Sultana” is sometimes incorrectly applied to the Princess. 
COMMENTS 
The dark shell and high percentage of deformed kernels of the Sultana are 
against it. The nut is not liked by the market and should not be grown 
commercially. 
71. TARRAGONA 
Origin—A Spanish variety. The exact date of the first plantings of the 
Tarragona in California is not known, but the largest acreage existed between 
1890 and 1905, most of the plantings being in the Oakley-Antioch districts. 
Plantings were made in the Santa Clara Valley and also in the Suisun dis- 
trict. The variety is grown much less now than formerly. Efforts have been 
made to grow the Tarragona in Tennessee and in Texas. Large quantities of 
Tarragona nuts are imported into the United States. 
Description 
TREE 
Very upright (ratio of width of head to height, 1:13). Trunk rather stocky, 
long, with flat depressions; bark distinctly reddish, exfoliating in large flakes. 
Main branches.—Long, medium stocky, upright. Branching angle acute. 
Wood and bark tough. Branches with long depressions (i. e., cross section 
seldom round). 
Twigs.—Medium in length, stocky, and rigid, grow straight or slightly wavy. 
Branching angle acute. Nodes small. Internodes medium in length (4 to 14 
inches). Bark green, smooth, turning reddish in fall. 
Lenticels —Numerous, very large (on wood 8 to 12 years old, #% by + to 4 
by 4 inch), wide, oval; ends bluntly acute; extreme apexes frequently acumi- 
nate, sides curving sharply outward; gray, usually depressed in center. On 
twigs, large, numerous, grayish green. (See Pl. XVII, LH.) 
Foliage—Moderately dense. Leaves on individual branches medium in 
number, very curly and crinkly. 
Blade: Size varies much (4 by 24 to 1+ by 4 inches; average medium, { by 
3 inches; ratio of width of blade to length, 2:7). Shape usually ovate, some- 
times elliptical. Base obtuse to acute; origin of margins symmetrical or nearly 
so; margins curving outward. Apex tapering and acute, margins tend to 
straighten near apex. Margins curve much near middle or at point one-third 
of distance from base to apex; deeply and shortly crenate; bristle dark and 
short. Upper surface of blade light green. Lower lighter green than upper. 
Midrib thick, prominent, pale in color. Veining very distinct. 
Petiole: Length short to medium (4 to 1 inch; average, # inch; ratio of 
length of petiole to length of blade about 1:4); stocky, rather inflexible. Pale 
green, tinged with red in autumn. Groove shallow, medium wide. Glands two 
to four, globular, rather large yellowish glands on petiole near base of blade. 
Bearing habit—Varies much. Bears on spurs, mostly on 2 and 3 year old 
wood. Spurs long, } to * inch; rather stocky (4 to 7 inch) ; expand suddenly 
to oval disk + by 3 inch. Buds inclined to be appressed, short, apex bluntly 
pointed, conical or slightly flattened. 
