USPP2071P - Merrill - Google Patents

Description

July 11, 1961 WITNESS G. MERRILL PEACH Plant Pat. 2,071

INVEN'YCR GRANT MERRILL ,4 77'ORNEKS HUEBNER 8 WORREL 2,071 PEACH .Grant Merrill, P.O. Box 392, Red Blulf, Calif. Filed Oct. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 766,639

1"Claim. (CI. 47-62) This invention relates to a new and variety of peach which bears large, round, yellow fleshed, ,firm, freestone peaches, with red coloring over about half of the surface of the fruit as grown in California, and

ripening about twenty to twenty five .days after Elberta I.

(unpatented), and blooming about in midseason for peaches, and with self fertile blossoms.

In comparison with Merrill Splendor (Plant Patent No. 1,257) the instant variety of peach has self fertile blossoms, blooms earlier, ripens about five days later, and the fruit is somewhat more highly colored.

I originated the present variety of peach tree on my farm near Red Bluif, Tehama County, California in the following manner:

A number of seeds of the J. H. Hale (unpatented) peach tree, which resulted from open pollination, were selected by me, germinated, and the resultant seedlings grown until they flowered, were open pollinated, and produced fruit. From said fruit a number of seeds were again selected, germinated, and the resultant seedlings grown until they in turn produced fruit. This procedure was repeated for four generations, in each instance relying on open pollination; selecting fruit for high color, firmness and size as well as on the basis of health and vigor of the trees producing the fruit; and germinating only the seeds from the carefully selected fruit.

In the fourth generation (F the instant variety first fruited in July 1954 and its fine qualities were noted. Asexual reproductions were performed by me, as follows: In 1956, the instant variety was budded onto young peach trees on my farm at Red Bud, Tehama County, California. In addition, in March 1957, scion wood of the instant variety was budded into two trees of the Merrill June (Plant patent No. 869) growing on my farm near Lamont, Kern County, California. When these trees came into bearing, it was found that in both aforementioned cases of asexual reproduction the fruit and the tree characteristics were the same as those of the original selected fourth generation seedling in all observed respects.

The accompanying drawing shows a characteristic twig of the subject variety bearing foliage and a mature fruit as well as such a fruit divided on its suture plane to reveal flesh and pit characteristics.

Referring now more specifically to the promological details of the instant variety of peach tree, the following is an outline description thereof; all major color plate identifications being by reference to Maerz and Paul Dictionary of Color:

Tree

Medium size, medium vigor, medium upright, medium dense, vase formed by pruning, hardiness unknown, productive, regular bearer.

Trunk: Medium stocky, medium shaggy.

Branches: Main branches grey and medium shaggy when older, moderately smooth and brown when younger. Lenticles--medium few, medium size.

Leaves: (Selected from midportion of vigorous unbranched terminal shoots 18" to 24" long.) Length- 6" to 6%"; average, 67 Width-1%" to 1%"; average, 1 /2". Medium size.

Form.Lanceolate, tip acuminate, medium thick. Leaf colon-Upper surface, medium green (23- L-2), under surface lighter green (22-K-5), midrib lighter green (10-1-1).

Plant Pat. 2,071

Patented July .1-1, 1961 position, on petiole and base of leaf. Stipulese-On base of leaf, falling 'ofl early.

Flower buds: Hardiness unknown, medium size, truncate to obtuse, plump, free, pubescent. Flowers: Medium early, pink, small.

Fruit Maturity when described, firm ripe.

Size: Variable.

Axial diameter.- 2%" to 3"; average, 2

Transverse in suture plane. 2%" to 3%"; average, 3%,".

At right angles to suture plane.- to 2%"; average, 3%

Form: Globose to slight compressed axially.

Suture.Inconspicuous to distinct line, extends from base to beyond but discontinuous at apex. Has slight depression beyond pistil point.

Ventral surface.--Rounded but slightly lipped on one side.

Cavity.Flaring, elongated in suture plane with suture showing on both sides. Depth, "A to average, V2". Breadth, to 1"; average, Markings-light yellow ground color, red blush.

Base.Rounded to truncate.

Apex.-Short, rounded.

Pistil point.Apical.

Stem.Length, diameter, Vs". Adheres to stone on a few, especially when not full ripe.

Skim-Medium thick medium tender, frees from flesh when soft ripe, tendency to crack, none. C0loryellow (10-L-6) to darker yellow (11- I-10) with red markings (4-L-10) to (6-L-10) to darkest red blush (7-L-12).

Flesh: Light yellow (9-L-4) to darker yellow (104-8), red at stone (4-L-4) to (6-L-6) farther from stone. Surface of pit cavity, light red, wtih light red fibers.

.Amygadalim-Scant.

Juice-Moderate Texture-Extra firm, meaty, somewhat fiberous.

Fibers-Abundant but tender.

Ripens.--Evenly.

Flav0r.--Mild sub acid.

Aromm-Wanting.

Eating quality-Fair.

Stone: Free, adheres to flesh along suture plane at times when firm ripe sometimes elsewhere. Fibers, long, distinct, tender.

Size-Medium small, quite reqular. Length, 1 to 1 /2"; Average 1%. Breadth, to 1% average, 1'. Thickness, to average, 25/532- Form.0bovate.

Base-Mostly oblique, some straight.

Hilum.0val.

Apex.-Mucronate.

Sides-Fairly regular.

Surface.--Pitted through central parts and pitted toward apex, grooved on sides and toward base. Ventral edgemostly small grooves, discontinternate medium size, rem'forrn, yellowish green,-

uous. Dorsal edge-mostly two ridges, usually interrupted, almost always interrupted near tip. C0lor.-Br0wn (7-A-12). Particles of flesh 0ceasionally protrude from holes in the stone. Tendency I0 split.-None Use: Market, local, dessert, culinary, long distance shipping. Keeping quality: Good. Shipping quality: Good.

General notes Having illustrated and described my new peach tree, I claim.

A new and distinct variety of peach tree substantially as herein illustrated and described which ripens approximately twenty to twenty-five days after Elberta (unpatented); which produces large, yellow-fleshed, free stone fruit of distinctive red color and round shape, particularly characterized by unusual firmness of its flesh; and which resembles the Merrill Splendor (Plant Patent No. 1,257) but is distinguished therefrom in blossoming somewhat earlier, being self fertile and having firuit that is redder in color and ripens approximately five days later.

No references cited.

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