USPP920P - Peach tree - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1950 w. T. KIRKMAN, JR Plant Pat. 920

PEACH TREE Filed Dec. 8, 1947 WITNESS INVENTOR w .fff zk J:

m :1 man 1 ATTYS.

Patented Feb. 7, 1950 Pat. 9Z0

PEACH TI t-EE William. T...Kirkman,. Jr., Tracy, Califgassignorto -Kirkman. Corporation,, Tracy,,0alif., a cor-- poration oiflalifornia.

Application December 8, 19.47 Serial- Nil: 7902333 This discovery relates to. a new and. distinct. variety of peach. tree which bears, fruit, having. marked commercial advantages, both as to ripening and shipping; characteristics.

The tree. bears fruit which isa; larg e, latev ripening freestone, and such tree and its fruit are described herein. as compared to the Kirkman Gem, as. embraced by U. S. Plant: Patent No. 506, dated- March 1'7, 1942;

The present. discovery. is; a. variety which resulted' from an: open pollinated seedling; ofv the Kirkman. Gem peach. tree, and. the discoverywa-s made in the applicants experimental orchard near Bordenistation, Madera County, California.

Bud wood from. theaforesaid seedling was top worked on orchard trees (John Rivers Nectarines) in the aforesaid experimental orchard, and these top workings are now in hearing; such asexual reproductions of the variety evidencing all of the desirable characteristics of the parent.

The present variety, while similar in some respects to the Kirkman Gem, is distinct:

(a) In that the fruit may hang on the tree for a considerable length of time after ripening without becoming over-ripe, which makes possible picking over a longer period, or the awaiting of all the fruit to ripen, and harvesting at one time.

(b) In that the date of last picking of the fruit (which may be the date of only picking of the variety, as per (a) above), is somewhat later than the Kirkman Gem.

(0) In that the deep reddish suture line of the Kirkman Gem is absent, which suture line ripened earlier than the remainder of the flesh of the fruit, thus limiting to some extent the period which the fruit could be kept unspoiled after picking.

(d) In that the tree of the present variety is more vigorous than the Kirkman Gem.

Fig. 1 of the drawing is a perspective view, in natural color, of one of the peaches of the new variety in association with a twig including leaves.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the peach taken on the suture line.

The following description sets forth in detail the characteristics of the new and distinct peach tree and its fruit.

Color identification in this specification is, to a certain extent, made by direct comparision with Maerz and Paul Dictionary of Color, and indicia corresponding to plate, letter, and number, respectively, of said dictionary are set forth following color descriptions.

1V Claim. (oi.47 s2 Tree.-The;. tree is. of medium size, vigorous, spreading; open, and. round-topped; the-.vigor of the treebeing somewhat. greater than: that: of the Kirkman Gem. The. tree has medium: pro.- ductiv-ity,.but isa regular bearer. x

The trunk is, of medium. size andmediumtexture; the branches being. likewise of. medium size, smooth, and brown (fir-H511) lnzcolonl. The lenticelsare, few in number andlsmall' irr. Size-11.

Leaves;'1he leaves. average 6%". .in. length and 1% in. width; such ieavcsbeing'ofimedium size, acuminate; lanceolatm. and; acutely: pointedi Additionally, the. leaves. are or medium: thickness, and smooth, being dark: green. (.22;-L+7.):L-oni,the top. side. and relatively: light: green:'( 22-K--f4r):= on the underside.

The margin of the leaves is glandular and crenate, and the petiole is short and thick; the glands, averaging four in number, being opposite, of medium size, reniform, green, and positioned on the petiole near the leaf blade.

Flower buds and flowers.-The flower buds are of medium size and length, obtuse, plump, appressed to free, and pubescent. The flowers are of large size and pink, being substantially the same as on the Kirkman Gem.

Fruit.--The fruit is of large size, averaging axially 3" to 3%", and averaging 3 4" transversely in the suture plane. In form the fruit is uniform, symmetrical and globose.

The suture is a cacao brown (5-B-11) 1nconspicuous line, with a slight depression beyond the pistil point, and is distinct from the suture of the Kirkman Gem in that the deep reddish suture line of the latter is absent. This is an advantage, for the reason that the deep reddish suture of the Kirkman Gem has a tendency to ripen ahead of the remainder of the flesh of the fruit, which naturally limits the keeping time after picking. This characteristic is wholly absent from the present variety, wherein the yellow suture line ripens evenly with the remainder of the fruit, which is desirable.

The ventral surface is rounded and the lips are equal. The cavity is flaring and rounded, being circular to elongated in the suture plane, and averaging /2" deep and 1 in breadth. The markings are smooth. The base is truncate; the apex short, mammiform, and rounded; and the pistil point is apical.

The skin is of medium thickness, tender, and relatively tenacious to the flesh, with no tendency to crack. In color the skin is deep yellow (11-L-9); the reddish brown mottling adjacent the suture being relatively dark (5-L-11), while ferred, if desired, until all of the fruit is ripe,

which may be toward the date of last picking. The fruit is thus available for the late market.

Such fruit is further characterized by the fact that it keeps well after being picked, being capable of withstanding shipment to distant points.

vThis advantage is enhanced by the absence of The stone in free and parts from the flesh smoothly; such stone being of medium size, aver aging 1%" to 1%" in length, -1 /8" -to'-l%'-'-'in breadth, and in thickness{ The forni of the" stone is oval; the base is straight to oblique; the

hilum is oval; and the apex; acute to acuminate.

the early ripening suture line of the Kirkman Gem, as previously explained. I

The variety has medium resistance to insects,

1 and good resistance to plant diseases.

Use-The fruit thus is an excellent market variety, Well adapted for commercial shipping,

as an eating fruit, and as a canning fruit.

' The characteristics of this new variety of peach tree and its fruit as described are typical The sides are equal, and the surface is irregularly furrowed throughout; being ridged toward the apex and pitted; toward the base. The ridges are rounded. Th'e pits are'elongated,-andthe dorsal edge is narrow with shallow, 'narrow grooves throughout.1. The-ridges are interrupted. The color ofthe stone is a deep-:browniiQ-L-l), and such stone hassli'ght't'endency'to'split. 'Ripem'ng' perz'0d.=-The"fruit of this variety ripens mid-September to mid-October; thedate of last picking thus being somewhat later than the' 'Kirkman Gem,' whose date of last picking is before the end oflseptember. In addition, to the date of .lastv pickingbeing later than that 'of the Kirkman Gem, the present variety is .fu'rther'cha'racteri'ze'd by the'fact "that the fruitv may be'lleft on-the tree for aconsiderabl'e length of time after ripening, and'yet". without becoming over-ripe; This makes it possible for the pickingto be deas" g IQWn near Madera, California, but may be subject to variations if grown in different localities, with varying conditions of soil or climate.

Having thus described the instant new variety. of pe'ach'tree and its-fruit, what I claim as new "and" useful and desiretol'secure by Letters "Patent The new and distinct variety of peach tree, as described and illustrated, characterized, in comparison with the Kirkman Gem, by the later. ripening period of the fruit;the ability of its ripened-fruit to remainon the tree a considerable length of time without spoiling? the ye'llowifsutur'e line which ripens evenly with the fruit as distinguished from the deep reddish early ripening suture line of the Kirkman'Gem; and the greater. vigor'of the-tree. WILLIAM T. KIRKMANQ'JR'.

J No references'mited."

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