USPP970P - Christofferson - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 1, 1950 R. cHRlsTox-FERSON Plant Pat. 970

PEACH TREE Filed Nov. 28, 1947 @mug Patented Aug. l, 1950 Plant Pat. 970

L y IPEACH TREE Rowland Chrstofferson, assignor to Stark Bros Company, Louisiana, Mo.,

souri Mountain Home, Ark., Nurserieszand Orchards v y a corporation of Mis- Application November 28, 1947, Serial No. 788,623

(Cl. r1-62) 1 claim. 1

The present discovery relates to a new and distinct variety of peach tree, originating as a chance seedling.

The outstanding distinctive feature of this new variety resides in the combination of three important characteristics: (1) its early ripening period, (2) its yellow flesh color, and (3) its free stone and good quality character for a peach of its early ripening season.

It may be noted that it is quite unusual to nd a yellow flesh color in early ripening peaches and therefore this characteristic in the present peach fills an important commercially desirable demand. Known commercial peaches ripening at approximately the same time as this peach, when grown under comparable conditions, are Early Red Bird Cling and Early Red Free, which ripen about forty-five days before Elberta, but both of these varieties are white-fleshed and the quality of this new peach is very much better than either or any other known variety of peach ripening at the same time. It is therefore claimed that this new variety is the earliest ripening, high quality, yellow-fleshed, semi-free stone peach known to commerce today. By the term semifree stone I mean in the sense given to it by the trade, that the flesh breaks away from the pit of the ripe fruit, but some strands adhere to the pit as distinguished from the class of semi-clings where the flesh clings tightly to a part of the surface of the pit of ripe fruit, in which case the fruit is clingstone for all practical purposes. With this understanding, this new variety is distinguished from other yellow flesh peach varieties ripening around the same early ripening season, such as Mikado, Dixired and Marigold which are not classed as freestones but rather as semi-clings. Furthermore, this variety is distinct from Mikado grown under comparable conditions in that the new variety ripens from live to seven days before Mikado; and the new variety is distinct from "Marigold in that the former ripens twelve days ahead of Marigold and has a much better avor than Marigold, the flesh of which is relatively watery and insipid. This new variety diifers from Dixired in that the latter is a clingstone and the. former a semifree stone; moreover the present variety has a heavy pubescence while Dixired has a very light pubescence.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety shows the foregoing characteristics come trueto lform and are established.

In the accompanying drawing are shown specimens of this new variety in reverse positions, the yellow color of the skin indicating the yellow flesh olor as well known to those skilled in peach culure.

The following is a detailed description of the new variety, color terminology being in accordance with Ridgways Color Standard, except where otherwise indicated to have ordinary dictionary significance Tree Dates first and last picking: July 4th-July 9th, for 1946 season, in Pike County, Illinois. y Medium size; medium vigorous; open; upright; vase formed; hardy; productive; regular bearer.

Trunk: Medium stocky; medium smooth.

Branches: Medium stocky; smooth; three-year old branches Dull Citrine, Plate IV, with Chocolate Brown, color 7" tone m, Plate XXVIII, mottling.

Maricela-Medium to few; small.

Leaves: Length, 5"; width, 11/2". Medium large; oval; acutely pointed; medium thick; smooth; Dark Yellowish Green, Plate XVIII.

M mgm-Finely serrate.

Petioler-short; medium slender.

Glands- Average number, 3 to 5. Alternate;

small; reniform; free; not pubescent.

Flowers: Medium early compared with other varieties; medium size; pink.

Fruit Maturity when described; Eating; July 10th.

Size: Uniform. Axial diameter, 2%. Transverse in suture plane, 21/2". At right angles to suture plane, 2%".

Form: Uniform; oblong; compressed transversely toward suture; side unequal.

sutura-Distinct; shallow; has slight marked depression beyond pistil point.

Ventral surface-Slightly lipped toward apex; lips, equal.

Caoity.-Abrupt; suture showing on one side. Depth, breadth, 5/8". Markingsnone.

Apen-Prolonged; apical.

Stem-Length, medium stout; medium strong.

Skin: Medium tough; astringent. Tendency Surface.-Irregu1arly furrowed near ventral to break-none. edge toward apex; pitted from base to Color: Highly blushed red. Down-abundant; above center. y

medium length. Einiges-Rounded toward base and apex. Flesh: r, Pits-Circular to elongated; ventral edge,

Colon-Yellow, mottled with red on sunny thick.

Side throughout. Surface of pit cavity Dorsal enga-Narrow; with shallow, narrow pinkgroove throughout. Ridges on either Amygadalin.-Moderate. Juice-abundant; side-interrupted.

rich. 10 Use: Market; dessert; canning. Textura-Meaty. i t Keeping quality: Medium. Fibres-Abundant; iine; tender. Resistance to: Jimena- Fairly even. n Insects-Medium. Flavor-Subacm. Diseases-Good. Awww-Distinct. l5 Eating quality-Good. I clam' A new and distinct variety of peach tree char- Stone: Semi-free at maturity.

Fibres. Short; retains .short bre 1ike acter1zed as to novelty by the early ripening season and high quality of its fruit, combined with s thres 51km? nigesh 1 n th, k n yellow flesh color and free stone characteristics z'/e' e lum eng T75 n 1c ness u in such early ripening fruit, substantially as 4 shown and described. Form-Oval toward base and apex. Basel`ob1que; Oval. v ROWLAND CHRISTOFFERSON.

No references cited. Smash-Equal; curved on right and left sides. .25

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