the present discoveryrelates to a new variety of peach tree which originated as a bud sport of the well-known Stark Early Elberta, unpatented, peach tree and was discovered by me in my orchard.
My new peachripens about ten days later than the Vetter" peach (Plant Patent No. 966), a week earlier than the Kim Elberta, twenty to thirty days earlier than the Christofferson peach, and approximately six weeks before the "Rio Oso Gern. It characteristically has a smaller pit and proportionately thicker esh than either the Kim Elberta or the Rio Oso Gem. It-colors and sizes earlier in its process of maturation than most peaches and thus may be picked correspondlnglyearlier for shipment, a valuable attribute in commercial peach production.
the present peachfulfills a commercially desirable demand for a peach having yellow flesh which ripens between the Vetter peach and the Kim Elberta.
the brilliant scarlet red streaking of the flesh of the subject peach, particularly near the pit well,is vividly contrasted with the yellow pit well of the Vetter peach and is more brilliant than the pit well of the Kirn Elberta.”
This new peachis aptly described as a slightly tight freestone. When the fruit is fully ripe, its fruit recedes from the pit leaving only thin laments or strands adhering to the pit. The peach is more clearly freestone than the semi-freestone Christofferson peach and slightly less free than the Kim Elberta.
the reproductionhas been accomplished by buddingT and by grafting.
the new varietyhas been budded successfully into such trees as the Kim Elberta peach, 1an unnamed experimental peach, the Eldorado plum, the Emily plum, the Lovel peachI all believed to be unpatented, and other peach trees. It has been successfully grafted into both early and late Sunbeam peach trees, believed to be unpatented, and others.
TrunkMedium stocky, and medium smooth.
LenticelsMedium in size and number.
LeavesAverage length when mature approximately 61/2 inches. Average width mature about 1% inches. Large, acuminate, lanceolate, acutely pointed smooth surfaced, few glands, edges very minutely serrated and slightly wavy. Surfaces approximately forest green in color, Plate XVII-29'm, and veins approximately courge green, Plate XVII25-i. Petiole medium length, long grooved, usually with none to four glands. Blend from garnet q 1:) brown or morocco red, Plate I-5-lc, to grass green during rapid growth.
BlossomsSomewhat smaller than average being approximately two-thirds as long as those of the Kim Elberta, slightly darker pink than Kim Elberta, and not as Widely opened. Blooms for a shorter period of time than Kim Elberta and slightly later although overlapping. Average blooming period in San Joaquin Valley of California about March 2nd to March 8th.
the fruitis of high quality, attractive appearance, and ships well.
Rlpening periodIn San Joaquin Valley approximately June 20th to June 25th.
FormUniform, symmetrical, globose, very slightly compressed, and slightly pointed.
SkinMedium thickness, tenacious to ilesh except where over ripe or bruised, no noticeable tendencies to crack, and pubescent. Pubescence, short, thin but present in suilicient quantity to roll when rubbed.
StoneFree but tight when not fully ripe, parts from flesh smoothly but frequently retains thin filaments of flesh along ridges near base.
the subject peach tree and its fruitmay vary in minor particulars due to climatic, soil, and other environmental variations but has been described as observed under cultivation in the San Joaquin Valley of California.
a new and distinct variety of peach treesubstantially as described and illustrated, bearing freestone fruit of generally light orange-yellow to salmon-orange color having splotches over extensive areas of scarlet red to nopal red and of the general shape of the Rio Oso Gem but more symmetrical and ripening about six weeks earlier, characterized by early coloring during maturation permitting picking for shipment in durable condition prior to full ripening; having flesh varied in color from light orange-yellow to Capucine yellow prominently streaked with scarlet red when mature similarly to the Kim Elberta but more brilliantly and ripening about one week earlier than the Kim Elberta; and blossoming at approximately the same time as the Kim Elberta with blossoms about two-thirds as large and less widely opened.
