Nectarine tree

A new variety of nectarine tree discovered as a seedling of an open pollenated Red Grand nectarine tree growing in Fresno County, located in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The fruit of the new variety tends to ripen later than the Red Grand variety and is characterized by a strong red color over a moderate orange, the strong red coloring spreads from a substantially solid covering near the base of the fruit to blotches of strong red coloring near the apex.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY 
The newly discovered variety of nectarine tree is characterized by 
yellow-fleshed, clingstone fruit, and a tree similar in many respects to 
the Red Grand variety of nectarine tree, the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. 
No. 1,060, which ripens earlier than the new discovered variety. 
ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE NEW VARIETY 
Seeds selected from open pollenated Red Grand variety nectarine trees were 
planted in a plot at the southwest corner of Summer and Buttonwillow 
Avenues near Reedley, Calif., located in the San Joaquin Valley. A 
seedling was selected and bud wood was taken therefrom. Several trees 
growing in a test plot for a commercial orchard located near Monson, in 
Fresno County, Calif., were grafted-over using bud wood taken from the 
selected seedling and the grafted-over trees have been carefully watched. 
Comparisons of fruit taken from the grafted-over trees and the seedling 
confirm that the new variety of nectarine tree is distinct by virtue of 
coloring of the fruit and dates of ripening, which dates tend to be later 
than that of the patented Red Grand variety. 
SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY 
The fruit of the new variety is generally uniform and colors during the 
later part of the first week in August and becomes fully ripe between the 
third and fourth weeks of August, when grown under conditions normally 
found in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The fruit of the new 
variety tends to ripen later than the Red Grand variety and is 
characterized by a strong red color over a moderate orange, the strong red 
coloring spreads from a substantially solid covering near the base of the 
fruit to blotches of strong red coloring near the apex. The fruit has a 
long harvest period and keeps well on the trees.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The following is a detailed description of my new variety with color 
terminology being in accordance with the Nickerson Color Fan, obtainable 
from Munsell Color Company, Baltimore 2, Md., except in instances where 
terminology having generally accepted meaning is employed. 
Parentage: Seedling grown from a seed of an open pollenated Red Grand 
variety of nectarine tree, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,060. 
Propagation: Maintains its distinguishing characteristics through asexual 
reproduction. 
Locality where grown and observed: 
Near.--Reedley, County of Fresno, Calif. 
TREE 
Branches: 
Size.--Medium. 
Surface.--Smooth. 
Color.--Strong yellow green 5 GY 6/8. 
Leaves: 
Size.--Medium to large. 
Length.--7 inches. 
Width.--1.4 to 1.8 inches. 
Shape.--Lanceolate, acuminate tip. 
Color.--5 GY 4/3 moderate olive green. 
Marginal form.--Crenate. 
Glandular characteristics.--Prominent, mostly reniform, usually two found 
on base of leaf and one to two found on stem. 
Petiole.--0.5 inches in length and 0.1 inches in thickness. 
Stem glands: Large and reniform, usually two found on the base and 0 to 3 
found on stem. 
Flower: Similar in size, shape, color and dates to the patented Red Grand 
variety of nectarine tree. 
FRUIT 
Maturity: Colors during the later part of the first week in August and 
becomes fully ripe between the third and fourth weeks of August. 
Size and shape: 
Uniformity.--Generally uniform, globose. 
Transverse diameter, in suture plane.--2.2 inches. 
Transverse diameter, at right angles to suture plane.--2.4 inches. 
Form: Generally symmetrical. 
Suture.--Generally shallow with slight depression beyond pistil point. 
Ventral surface.--Rounded, slightly lipped. 
Stem cavity.--Generally rounded with suture showing to one side. 
Base.--Oblate. 
Apex.--Indented. 
Pistil point.--Slight depression beyond pistil point. 
Skin: 
Thickness.--Medium. 
Texture.--Smooth. 
Tendency to crack.--Slight to none. 
Color.--Strong red 5 R 4/12 over moderate orange yellow 10 YR 8/10. The 
strong red color tends to comprise a solid covering near the base and 
changes to blotches of strong red coloring spreading over yellow near the 
apex of the fruit. 
Flesh: 
Color.--Brilliant yellow 5 Y 9/9. 
Pit well.--Dark red, 2.5 R 3/9. 
Juice.--Good. 
Flavor.--Good, slightly tart. 
Aroma.--Good. 
Texture.--Meaty. 
Fibers.--Few. 
Ripening.--Generally evenly. 
Eating quality.--Good. 
Stone: 
Adherence to flesh.--Tenacious, adheres to flesh. 
Fibers.--Short and prominent. 
Size.--Medium, average size 1.4 inches in length, 0.9 inches in width and 
0.6 inches in thickness. 
Form.--Generally elliptical, slightly oblique, having rounded sides. 
Hilum.--Oval. 
Dorsal edge.--Thin, prominent grooves extended from hilum to apex and of a 
length generally longer than the ventral edge. 
Ventral edge.--Groove extended from hilum to apex, interrupted at 
midportion by grooves extended across the surface of the stone. 
Surface.--Grooved and ridged toward apex end, and pitted toward base end, 
ridges generally are small and grooves generally are shallow. 
Color.--Dark red, 2.5 R 3/7. 
Splitting tendency.--None. 
Use: Shipping. 
Keeping quality: Very good. 
Shipping quality: Very good. 
Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the described 
characteristics as a result of the growing conditions in Fresno County, 
Calif., in the central portion of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be 
understood that variations of the usual magnitude in characteristics 
incident to growing conditions, fertilization, pruning and pest control 
are to be expected.