Freestone peach

A peach tree of the freestone class, a moderately vigorous growth habit, bearing fruit which is somewhat larger than average, generally globose in form, and with creamy white flesh, maturing in mid-August in southern California, and characterized by its good eating quality, good keeping quality, and good shipping quality.

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual reproduction of a new 
variety of freestone peach. The fruit of this variety is juicy. It has a 
pronounced and pleasant aroma. Its creamy-white flesh is of melting 
texture, and a mild and sweet flavor. It ripens in mid-August, in southern 
California and is best harvested between the twelfth and twenty-fifth of 
that month. 
The new variety was discovered by David L. Armstrong, in the fields of 
Armstrong Nurseries, and was reproduced by him in Wasco, Calif., where he 
asexually reproduced it by budding. The first plant was the result of a 
planned cross breeding of the peach Rio Oso Gem, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 84, 
as the seed parent with pollen of the peach Redwing, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 
621. 
The generic name, or "denomination" of the new variety is "Armdelawhip". 
Among the ways in which the new variety differs from its seed parent, Rio 
Oso Gem, may be mentioned the fact that it is white-fleshed whereas the 
seed parent is yellow-fleshed. The fruit of the new variety ripens, 
usually, about one or two weeks later than that of Rio Oso Gem. The tree 
of the new cultivar is notably more vigorous than the tree of the seed 
parent, and its flowers are relatively small, of a salmon-pink color and 
not showy, whereas flowers of the Rio Oso Gem are larger, showy and light 
pink in color. 
Among the ways in which the new variety is distinct from its pollen parent 
may be mentioned the later ripening season of the new cultivar. "Redwing", 
the pollen parent, usually ripens in or about the third or fourth week of 
June, whereas this new cultivar ripens considerably later, usually in the 
second or third week of August. The fruit of the new variety is generally 
somewhat larger than that of Redwing and bears less of a blush on its skin 
than does the fruit of the pollen parent.

TREE 
The tree is of medium size, of upright-spreading habit, and of moderately 
vigorous growth. Its foliage is dense, and the shape is round. Its 
hardiness has not yet been tested, but in the Wasco district it is very 
productive and bears regularly. The trunk is neither stocky nor slender, 
but intermediate. Its branches are of medium caliper, and are moderately 
smooth. They are semi-glossy, and their color varies from near Strong 
Yellow Green 5GY6/8 to near Moderate Brown 7.5YR4/5. The lenticels are few 
in number, and of medium size. 
LEAVES 
The leaves, which are of medium thickness, vary from 51/2" to 8" in length 
and from about 11/4" to 2" in width. The form is lanceolate, and acutely 
pointed. The color is dark green. The leaf surface varies from smooth to 
slightly rugose, and the leaf margins are finely serrate and somewhat 
undulate. The petiole is of medium length and thickness. There are usually 
about 4 glands, alternately arranged, of medium size and mostly reniform 
in shape. The stipules fall off early. 
BUDS AND FLOWERS 
The flower buds are obtuse in shape and medium in size. Their hardiness is 
untested. 
The flowers come into first bloom about March 3, in the Wasco area, which 
is between average and late in comparison with other peaches in the 
neighborhood. The blossoms are small and non-showy. They are 
salmon-colored. 
FRUIT 
The mature fruit is slightly variable in size, ranging from medium to 
large. The axial diameter is from 23/4" to 3"; the diameter transverse the 
suture plane from 31/4" to 35/8"; and the diameter at right angles to the 
suture plane, from 31/4" to 33/4". The form, like the size, is slightly 
variable and varies from globose to slightly unsymmetrical. 
The suture is distinct but shallow, and extends from the base to the apex, 
where it becomes discontinuous. There is a slight depression beyond the 
pistil point. 
The ventral surfaces are rounded and the lips unequal. 
Stem and stem cavity.--The stem cavity is flaring in shape and elongated in 
the suture plane, with the suture showing on one side. The stem cavity is 
about half an inch deep, and about one inch broad. The base is rounded to 
truncate. The apex is short and varies from rounded to truncate; to 
slightly depressed. The pistil point is short and oblique. 
The stem is from about 5/16" to approximately 1/2" in length. It is of 
medium caliper and nearly glabrous. It manifests a normal adherence to the 
stone. 
Skin.--The skin is of medium thickness. It is tough, and tenacious to the 
flesh. It manifests no tendency to crack in a dry season. Its ground color 
is near to, but lighter than, Brilliant Greenish Yellow 7.5Y7/8 overlaid 
lightly to moderately with a color between Moderate Red 2.5R4/10 and Dark 
Red 2.5R3/7. The down varies from moderate to scant. It is short and rolls 
up when rubbed. 
EATING QUALITY OF FRUIT 
This description refers to a peach which was eating ripe at the time 
reported, in this case, on the 20th of August, 1979. The fruit had been 
picked in a firm/ripe state and stored indoors at room temperature for 3 
days. 
FLESH 
The flesh was creamy white in color. The surface of the pit cavity was 
between Dark Reddish Orange, 7.5R4/11, and Dark Red, 5R3/7. 
The amygdalin taste was scant; the juice abundant to moderate, and rich in 
viscosity. The texture was medium-fine and melting. The fibres were few 
and medium-tender. 
The fruit had ripened evenly. Its flavor was mild and sweet. The aroma was 
pronounced. The eating quality was from good to best. 
STONE 
The stone is free. It has short fibres. The stone parts from the flesh 
smoothly but retains short fibre-like threads along the ridges. The size 
of the stone is medium, being about 13/8" to 13/4" in length and 7/8" to 
1-3/16" in breadth. Its thickness runs from 11/16" to 7/8". The form of 
the stone is oval but cuneate toward the apex. The base is slightly 
oblique; the hilum oblong. The apex is acute. The sides are unequal; the 
surface is irregularly furrowed throughout; it is ridged near the base and 
toward the apex and is pitted throughout. The ridges are jagged, toward 
the base and apex. 
Some pits in the stone are circular and some are elongated. The ventral 
edge is medium-thick, and is without wing throughout. 
The dorsal edge is medium-thick also with a relatively shallow broad 
groove; toward the base. Interrupted ridges are on either side. 
The color of the stone is between Strong Brown 2.5YR4/7 and Moderate 
Reddish Brown, 10R3/4. 
The stone shows no tendency to split. 
The fruit has good marketing qualities, both as to keeping and shipping. It 
is used primarily as a dessert peach. 
The variety has good resistance to insects and from good to medium 
resistance to diseases.