

ALMOND VARIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES 1385 
brown on younger branches, gray epidermis common; light-gray striations 
common on young branches. 
Twigs—Medium in length and diameter. Branching angle wide. Nodes 
rather large. Internodes medium in length (2 to 1% inches). Bark medium 
deep green, tinged with red in fall. 
Lenticels—Numerous, small (size on bark 8 to 10 years old, 35 by 3 to 
3x by is inch), gray, slightly raised, rather rough on surface, elliptical, wide. 
short, sides curving, ends acute. On twigs lenticels medium in size, numerous, 
round, grayish, conspicuous. 
Foliage—Average density. Leaves on individual branches slightly below 
average in number, large, tend to remain flat. (See Pl. XXIII, B.) 
Blade: Large (? by 34 to 1% by 6 inches; average, 1 by 4 inches). Width 
varies, averages narrow (ratio of width to length. 1:4). Shape long ovate, 
with apex half tapering. Base usually acute; origin of margins generally sym- 
metrical. Apex tapering, acute. Margins deeply and shortly crenate. Midrib 
slender, medium in prominence. Veins distinct, usually elevated on lower 
surface. Upper surface of blade medium dull green, very slightly yellowish in 
strong light. Lower surface light, dull. green. 
Petiole: Slender, rather short (average 1 inch; ratio of length of petiole to 
length of blade, 1:4). Lower surface light yellowish green. Upper surface 
bright light green. Groove narrow; deep except at base, where it is very 
shallow ; slightly tinged with red in fall. Glands two to seven, commonly four, 
medium to large, globular or oval, frequently protruding, grayish yellow or 
brownish yellow; occasionally slightly stipulate. 
Bearing habit—Averages light crops. Most of nuts on wood 2 and 3 years 
old: many in clusters on spurs on 2-year-old wood; some on wood 4 or 5 years 
old, a few on laterals. Some spurs compound and long (4 to 1 inch). Occa- 
sionally spurs live two years. Single spurs rather long (4 to ? inch) ; slender 
(* inch) ; expands gradually to nearly round disk about + inch in diameter. 
Buds free, long. pointed; scales dark brown, thin, tough, with medium amount 
of long, gray pubescence on edges. 

NUT 
Immature nut.—Quite large (2 by 12 by 1 inches). Shape flat, irregular, ovate 
or obovate, varying on same tree. Ventral edge much and regularly curved; 
one side frequently higher than the other. Suture depression narrow (as 
inch), very shallow (¢ inch), often a mere line. Dorsal edge less curved than 
ventral: curved suddenly near apex. Base tapering, with dorsal edge dropping 
off abruptly and straight; cavity narrow (4 inch), shallow (¢;inch). Apex 
pointed, usually cuneiform. 
Hull: Outer surface green: pubescence medium in amount and length, fine, 
gray; style usually drops early: rudiment small. Inner surface pale green, 
turning during dehiscence to brown. Dehisces on ventral edge; dorsal edge 
usually cracks somewhat, and sometimes the halves of hull completely sepa- 
rate; ventral edges of hull curve in at apex and outward at base. Many 
gummy nuts are produced. Ripens August 15 to September 15. 
Hulled nut.—(P1. XV, E.) Size quite large (12 by 42 by 4 inches). Number 
of nuts to the pound, 170 to 200. Percentage of kernel to nut in hand-cracked 
samples, 40. 
Shape: Somewhat flat, long, tapering at ends. Dorsal edge straight or very 
gently curved, with rather prominent, narrow, dorsal ridge. Ventral edge 
gently curved; wing thin, prominent, gradually increasing in prominence from 
base to apex. Dorsal edge straight or very gently curved, with rather promi- 
nent, narrow, dorsal ridge. Base tapering, constricted in all directions; dorsal 
Shoulder drops off exceedingly abruptly from edge of stem scar; ventral 
shoulder very sloping and has wing running clear to edge of stem scar; the 
prominence of the wing decreases as it approaches stem scar; stem scar small, 
wide oval, much depressed; at right angles to axis or slightly sloping either 
ventrally or dorsally. Apex long, pointed; varies in sharpness; extreme ends 
thin, short, pointed wing; ventral edge curves evenly; dorsal edge curves 
inward near apex, giving apex recurved appearance. Viewed edgewise, apex 
is tapering. s 
Shell: Soft, thin; frequently splits open along ventral edge next to wing; 
outer surface light brownish yellow; has tendency to flake off and to adhere 
to hull. Pits few, large, oval or irregular, shallow. Surface between pits 
slightly undulating, but of rather firm texture. Outer shell very thin. Canals 
