NECTARINE TREEFiled Nov. 18, 1955 WITNESS INVENTORJ ATTYS- United States Patent
This inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree which is characterized, as to primary novelty, by verytearly ripening, yellow fleshed, highly colored fruit.
the fruit of the present varietyis yellow instead of white fleshed; ripens three or four days earlier; has more red exterior color; and has a much shorter chilling requirement during the winter months, so that its average production is greater.
the tree of the present varietyis more vigorous and productive; and the fruit, while not quite as large or as firm, is generally of better eating quality, and has less growth cracks during wet harvest seasons.
nectarineAnother distinguishing characteristic of the present variety of nectarine is that the kernels or pits from the stones of the fruit are sweet, as in the case of commercial almonds.
the herein claimed variety of nectarine treewas originated by me in my experimental orchard near Le Grand, California, during the course of a continuing plant breeding program which I have conducted over a long period of years, and the purpose of which program is to seek and bring forward new and commercially desirable fruit varieties, especially peaches and nectarines, adapted for commercial planting.
the varietywas originated by me-under careful supervision and controls-by crossing the flowers of a Le Grand nectarine (United States Plant Patent No. 549) with pollen of the John Rivers nectarine. Seeds from this cross were planted, and all of the resulting seedling trees produced white fleshed nectarines. Nextly, seed-s of such white fleshed nectarine-s were planted and the resulting seedling trees, of which about one-fourth were yellow fleshed nectarines, were brought into production in a nursery row, as well as being top-workedby budding-on mature orchard trees in my experimental orchard, as aforesaid.
One of such yellow fleshed nectarineswhich is the present variety, evidenced a very early ripening period and the other described novel characteristics; all of which made the variety commercially desirable.
Fig. 1is an elevation showing two of the fruit, together with twigs and leaves.
Fig. 2is a sectional elevation of one of the fruit, with the stone exposed.
TrunkSize-stocky to medium.
the tree and its fruit herein describedmay vary in slight detail due to climatic and soil conditions under which the variety may be grown.
a new and distinct variety of nectarine treeas illustrated and described, characterized by free to semi-free stone, early ripening, yellow fleshed fruit having yellow skin over-spread to a major extent with bright red and being entirely glabrous; such fruitas compared with the John Rivers nectarine being yellow fleshed instead of white fleshed, ripening three or four days earlier, having more red exterior color, and having a much shorter chilling requirement during the winter months; and-as compared with the Grand River nectarine-being*not as large or as firm but of generally better eating quality, and having less growth cracks during wet harvest seasons; the tree of the instant variety being more vigorous and productive than the Grand River nectarine tree; and the kernels of the fruit being sweet, as in the case of "commercial almonds.
