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TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

iBULLET1N'NO.535

  

A. B. CONNER, DIRECTOR
COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS

NOVEMBER, 1936

DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE ‘
L I B R AI RY
Agricultura! 8t Mechanical Gailege of Texas
Cuiiege Station, Texas.

1 ree Fruit Varieties in North Texas

 

- ~-w - us":

AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS
T. O. WALTON, President

Tree fruit varietal investigations were begun at the Wichita
Valley Station with the setting of a large number of trees in
1926. This report includes the results of these investigations
through the year 1935. Apples and pears have proved un-
satisfactory because of susceptibility to cotton root rot. The
Moorpark apricot gives promise of being a worthy variety for
this section. Cherries have proved unadapted, having died from
natural causes without fruiting. Peaches and plums are the
most dependable tree fruits for this section. The success of
either depends to a great extent on the proper selection of
varieties. The outstanding limiting factor is lack of hardiness
to late spring freezes. A few varieties of both peaches and
plums of bearing age have missed fruiting only once in seven
years. The Dr. Burton peach has been outstanding in yields
and consistency of bearing.

CONTENTS

Page

Methods employed
Setting trees
Pest control
Cultivation
Irrigation

Apples

Apricots

Cherries

Peaches
Temperature relationships -_
Discussion of varieties

Pears

Plums
Discussion of varieties

Quince

Varietal recommendations

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BULLETIN NO. 535 NOVEMBER, 1936

TREE FRUIT VARIETIES IN NORTH TEXAS
L. E. Brooks, Horticulturist, Substation N0. 16, Iowa Park.

Fruit growing in this section of Texas dates back to the early settle-
ment of the land but has not as yet become very extensive. There are
some commercial orchards on the deep sandy soils along the Red River
and in the timbered sections of the northern part of the State, and some
of these have been very successful. Peaches make up the larger part of
the tree fruits in this section but plums are also grown. Considerable
fruit is hauled out by truck and one or two attempts have been made to
ship carload lots, but the greater part of the fruit crop is consumed
locally.

The life of peach trees on the heavier soils of the Wichita Valley and
surrounding region has been about ten years, while on the deeper sands
along the Red River and in the cross-timber sections it is much longer. In
the station orchard, which is on Yahola loamy very fine sand, nine-
year-old peach and plum trees are weakening rapidly and a few are
already dead. These losses are largely due to a combination of diseases,
mainly crown gall and cotton root rot, but adverse soil types or other
unfavorable environmental conditions tend to encourage these troubles.

Methods Employed

Setting trees: Land preparation consisted of breaking the soil to a
depth of six to eight inches and putting it into good tilth with disk harrow
and float. The land was marked and planted by the square method.
Twenty-two feet spacing was used, this being about an average between
the wider spacing recommended for apples and closer spacings recom-

_mended for some of the smaller type plums. The peach trees were

headed back to 12 to 18 inches. Apples and Dsars were pruned back to
a leader type ranging in height from 2 to 4 feet.

Pest control: An oil emulsion was used Whenever light infestations
of scale occurred. Regular invasions of a type of blister beetle which
attacks the flowering parts of late blooming plums were satisfactorily
controlled by shaking the beetles from the trees early in the morning
while it was still too cold for them to fly and then destroying them with
wooden paddles. It was found necessary to watch for the appearance of
these beetles very closely, because they come in large numbers and can
completely destroy the blossoms of a tree within a few hours.

Cultivation: The site for the variety orchards on this station was
infested with Johnson grass at the time the trees were set out, but with
close cultivation this was practically cleaned out by the end of the
fourth year. Since that time clean cultivation has been given and
random weeds have been kept down with a hoe. A three-section spring-
tooth harrow has proved a very good orchard cultivator.

Irrigation: The furrow method of irrigation was originally used in
this orchard but was never quite satisfactory because of too much slope

6 BULLETIN NO. 535, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

in the land, and a soil type that does not absorb water rapidly. Both
the downward and lateral movement of irrigation water in this soil are
very slow. The fall is about s to 1 per cent and allows a tremendous
run-ofi and waste of water as well as considerable washing of the soil.
Consequently, in 1933 the orchard was bordered for flood irrigation. By
use of the turning plow and V-drag, earth borders were thrown up at
intervals close enough to allow for not more than a five-inch fall between
borders. These borders were made sufiiciently high to force the water
over the entire area between borders. The basins include from thirty to
forty trees, depending on the amount of slope. Water is run into the
borders until the surface is covered. The surface is kept covered for
several hours, then drained. Filling and draining are done as rapidly
as possible- in order to make the distribution of absorbed moisture over
high and low area as nearly equal as possible. As irrigation water is
used in this district merely to supplement rainfall, the time and frequency
of application is very irregular. Winter irrigation is seldom if ever
necessary and summer irrigations vary from one to three or four appli-
cations during the season, depending upon the amount and distribution
of the rainfall and other factors such as wind, humidity, evaporation,
and temperature. Where the weather continues dry for a long period
during summer it is necessary to irrigate about every two weeks when
there is a heavy set of fruit, but less frequently when there is no fruit.

Apples

Attempts to grow apples under irrigation in these experiments were a
complete failure because of cotton roo_t rot, which fortunately is re-
stricted to certain areas, but is prevalent in the Wichita Valley. More
than two hundred trees including thirty-eight different varieties of apples
were set out in the variety test orchard on this station in 1926. A num-
ber of these varieties made good growth-the first year or two but all
were dead before reaching bearing age, and therefore no yield records
were obtained. The following are some of the varieties that made fair
showings before dying with root rot: Improved Bellflower, Early Har-
vest, Delicious, McIntosh Red, Helm, Black Ben, Senator, Paragon Wine-
sap, and Wealthy. Jonathan, King David, Arkansas Black, and both
strains of Delicious are said to be successful in Callahan County.

The 1930 census shows, in rouand numbers, 100,000 apple trees of
bearing age in North Texas, including the Panhandle. Approximately
one-fifth of this number is located in two widely separated counties-—
Callahan with 12,791 trees and Wheeler with 8,496 trees. The next
highest ranking counties are Grayson with 4,956 trees, Montague with
4,509 trees, and Gray with 4,182. This makes approximately one-third
of the total number of trees in these five widely separated counties.

Apricots

In 1926 and 1927 a number of apricot trees representing five different
varieties were set out in the variety test orchard on this station. A large
number of these trees died the first season, either from shock of trans-

TREE FRUIT VARIETIES IN NORTH TEXAS 7

planting or from lack of hardiness. Three trees of Moorpark survived
and have continued to thrive until they are among the largest trees in
the orchard at this time. These trees, set out in March 1927, bore their
first crop of fruit in 1932 and have had two light crops and one heavy
crop in the three seasons since. The-fruits of this variety are medium
to large in size and are of excellent color and qualitfy. They hang to
the tree until fully ripe, but the harvest period is prolonged because of
uneven ripening.’ The blooming period for the Moorpark is about the
same as for the earlier blooming peaches. This is a promising variety
for home planting. "

Three trees of the Nellie apricot were set o__ut in 1929. These have
made fair growth but are not nearly so vigorous as the Moorpark. The
fruits are small and unattractive and lack the quality of the Moorpark.
The trees have fruited the last two seasons but the yields have been
somewhat smaller than those of Moorpark. This lack of vigor and the
small size and unattractive quality of the fruit is due, at least in part,
to its greater susceptibility to the fungus disease commonly called shot
hole fungus. The blooming dates have averaged one to two days later
than for Moorpark.

Cherries

Cherry production in North Texas has been limited to an occasional
tree in the back yard or home orchard. This limitation is due to soil
and climatic conditions. No attempt has been made to grow sweet
cherries on the Wichita Valley Station, but a number of trees including
five varieties of sour cherries were set out in the variety test orchard in
1926. All of these died before the end of the fourth year without
having produced any fruit.

Peaches

Of the deciduous fruit trees, the peach has been and continues to be
the most important in the state. General cultural practices have been

pretty well worked out. Dependable varietal information, however, is.

frequently lacking, inspite of its importance. This is partly because
new varieties are continually being introduced and because the same
variety often behaves somewhat differently in different sections. In
Texas Station Bulletin 39, published in 1896, R. H. Price reported on
over 160 varieties of peaches. The following were recommended for
the northern portion of the state: (early) Alexander, Mamie Ross,
Amsden, (Miss) Lolo, Amelia, Rivers, Tillotson, Yellow St. John, and.
Family Favorite; (medium early) Spottswood, Elberta, Thurber, Gen-
eral Lee, Cobler, and Curtis; (late) Mixon Free, Stonewall Jackson,
Columbia, Texas, Bilyeu, and Victoria, Not many of these are popular
today; several are hardly known.

The present test planting was made to determine the adaptability of
varieties to conditions in North Texas, with particular reference to the
weather. Each variety was represented by at least three trees, which was

8

BULLETIN NO. 535, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

considered suflicient for this purpose.

than this.

The data are presented in Table 1.

A number of varieties had more
Since bloom and harvest

dates depend upon weather conditions which vary from year to year,

FIG.
yield obt

VAR/E TY NA ME

E/be/"ra

Ear/y E/be/"ra-
Lare C ra Wford
Leona

Auyus fa

Sa/ way

Be/le of Georgia

Bonanza

Gov. Campbe/i

Henrierra
Hobson
Williams
Carpenfer
Chi/ow

Kai-re

Lizzie?

Smirh Indian
Beer June
Champion
Hi/ey

Raisin Cling
Du/ce

Grimes
Ma y f/o wer

Muiris Perfec rion

Triumph
Ear/y Wheeler
Alexander“

Dr: Barron

DATE OF LAST BLOOM

March
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1. Peach yields during 3 years of frost hazard expressed as per cent of
This is compared with date of last bloom.

0&2 I

TREE FRUIT VARIETIES IN NORTH TEXAS 9

the relative periods of bloom and harvest are given rather than a series
of dates for the duration of the experiment. Information on yield is
presented in a similar way. While a close comparison of yields is not
intended, the data do permit an estimate of the ability of a variety to
bear under the weather conditions obtaining during the period of the
test. Further information (such as the appearance of the fruit as grown
under the conditions of the test), which does not lend itself to presenta-
tion in tabular form, is included under a discussion of the varieties. In
addition, some pertinent varietal descriptive matter available elsewhere
is included for the convenience of fruit growers.

Temperature relationships: Partly because of a greater degree of
hardiness, and partly because of a later blooming date, some varieties
produce fruit under conditions that cause others to fail. Certain varieties
bloom more slowly and over a longer period of time, and because all
buds are not in the most tender stage of development at the same time,
are more likely to produce a crop. Studies were therefore made of all
peach varieties planted and calculations were made from the recorded
yields and fruit dates to determine which varieties can meet the frost
hazard. Figure 1 shows the relation between average yields of a number
of varieties to the average dates of last bloom for a three-year period-
1930-32-33—in which the frost hazard was an important factor. Yields
on this chart are shown in percentages, with the average yields for
1934-35——two years without frost hazard—treated as the 100 per cent
base. Yields are presented in this way in order to compare what the
varieties can do under unfavorable weather conditions with their record

without this hazard. For example: Elberta shows a 7 per cent yield,

which means that the average yield for that variety during the three
years with frost hazard was only 7 per cent of the average yield for the
same variety during the two years without frost hazard, this great reduc-
tion in yield presumably being due to the unfavorable weather conditions.
The 1934 crop only was used as the 100 per cent base for Alexander,
Triumph, and Williams, as the trees were either dead or nearly so in
1935. For Muir's Perfection the 1929 yield was used for the 100 per
cent base, as the trees were practically dead in 1934. For Mayflower,
only 2 years with frost hazard were used, as the yield records for 1930
were incomplete.

Raisin Cling and Dulce show relatively large yield percentages for the
frost hazard years, but it should be noted that these varieties havenever
been high producers. Smith Indian, although midseason in blooming
period, is apparently hardy in bloom and bears consistently in spite of
frost hazards. Hiley, although medium late in date of last bloom, has
shown considerable susceptibility to frost injury during the three years
of study. Champion failed to produce a crop only once during the three
years with frost hazard, but the yield percentage on the chart appears
small because of the extremely large yields in the frost-free years.

The range in average date of last bloom of the different varieties in
this study was 13 days—March 20 to April 2. It is significant that the

10 BULLETIN NO. 5.35, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

Table 1. Varietal diiferences in time of bloom, harvest period, and fruitfulness
0f peaches.
No. of crops from 3rd year on
Variety No. Year Bloom Harvest
trees set period period None ‘ Good to
to poor Medium very good
Alexander . . . . . . . . . . 6 1926 late early 2 3 2

Anna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 early early 4 2 1

Annabel . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium midseason 6 0 1

Augusta . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium late 4 1 2

Barbara . . . . . . . . . . .. 3 1926 medium late 3 e 2 dead in '34
Belle of Georgia. . . . . 3 1926 medium midseason 3 1 3
Belle of Georgia. . . . . 9 1927 medium midseason 4 0 2
Best June . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium early 2 1 4

Bonanza . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium very late 4 2 1

Carman . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium early 1 2 4

Carman . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 1928 medium early 1 1 3

Carpenter . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium midseason 4 1 2

Carrie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium very late 5 1 1

Champion . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium midseason 2 0 5

Chilow . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium midseason 5 0 2

Crosby . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1929 medium late 3 0 1

Dr. Burton . . . . . . . . . 5 1926 late early 1 1 5

Dr. Burton . . . . . . . . . 5 1927 late early 1 2 3

Dulce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 late late 6 1 0

Early Elberta . . . . . . . 3 1926 early early 7 O 0

Early Elberta . . . . . . . 3 1927 early early 4 0 2

Early Wheeler . . . . . . 6 1926 late very early 4 3 0

Early Wheeler . . . . . . 8 1927 late veryearly 3 0 3

Early Wheeler . . . . . . 17 1928 late very early 2 1 2

Elberta . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 1926 early midseason 5 1 1

Elberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 1927 "early midseason 4 0 2
Family Favorite. . . . . 5 1929 early midseason 2 0 2
Frank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 early late 5 0 2
Fredericka . . . . . . . . . . 4 1929 early late 2 0 2
General Lee . . . . . . . . . 3 1929 early midseason 2 1 1
Goodman’s Choice. . . 2 1926 medium late 5 1 1
Gov. Campbell . . . . . . 3 1926 medium midseason 5 1 1

Gov. Lanham . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium midseason 5 2 0

Grimes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium early 2 2 3

Handy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1929 medium late 2 0 2

Heath Cling . . . . . . . . 4 1929 medium late 2 0 2

Henrietta . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium very late 6 1 0

Hiley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium early 3 3 1

Hile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1927 medium early 4 0 2

Hobson . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 medium midseason 6 0 1

J. H. Hale . . . . . . . . . . 5 1927 medium midseason 5 0 2

Katie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium late 6 1 0

Late Crawford . . . . . . 6 1926 medium late 5 0 2

Leona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1926 early midseason 6 1 0

Leona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 1927 early midseason 4 0 2

Liberty . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 early midseason 6 1 0

Lizzie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium late 4 2 1

Mamie Ross . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium early 3 1 ’ 3

Mayflower . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 late very early 3 1 3
Minnie Stanford. . . . . 3 1926 early midseason 5 1 1
Minnie Stanford. . . . . 5 1927 early midseason 3 0 3
Motion's Cling . . . . . . 2 1926 early midseason 5 Dead '34

Muir's Perfection. . . . 2 1926 late midseason 2 0 3
Oldmixon Cling. . . . . 4 1929 medium late 2 0 2
Raisin Cling . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium very late 6 1 0
Ramsey . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium very late 5 0 1
Salwey . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium very late 3 1 3
Salwey . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1927 medium very late 3 0 3
Shalil, FPI 63850. . . . 3 1928 early late 3 0 2
Shalil, FPI 63851 . . . 2 1928 early late 4 0 1
Shalil, FPI 63852. . . . 2 1927 early late 4 2 0
Slappy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1927 early early 4 0 2
Smith Indian . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium late 4 0 3
Smith Indian . . . . . . . 5 1927 medium late 3» 0 3
Tarbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium late 5 0 2
Tardio Amarillo. . . . . 3 1927 medium very late 5 0 1
Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 \ medium midseason 6 dead '35

Tena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium midseason 5 2 . 0

TREE FRUIT VARIETIES IN NORTH TEXAS 11

Table 1. Varietal differences in time 0f bloom, harvest period, and fruitfulness
of peachesp-Continued.

 

No. of crops from 3rd year on
Variety No. Year Bloom Harvest
trees set period period None good to
i to poor Medium very good

Triumph . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 late early 4 1 2
Victor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 medium very early 5 dead '34

Williams Cling . . . . . . 3 1926 medium very late 4 1 2
FPI 32374. . . . . . . 1 1927 early midseason 4 0 2
FPI 35201 . . . . . . . . . . 3 1928 medium late 3 O 2

FPI 36485 . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 medium late 7 0 0

FPI 43124 . . . . . . . . . . 2 1928 medium late 3 O 2

FPI 55563 . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 medium late 5 0 2

FPI 55563 . . . . . . . . . . 3 1928 medium late 2 1 2

FPI 55564 . . . . . . . . . . 3 1928 medium late 3 0 2

FPI 55813 . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 early late 5 0 2

FPI 55813 . . . . . . . . . . 3 1928 early late 3 1 1

FPI 55885 . . . . . . . . . . 2 1929 medium late 1 1 2

FPI 55886 . . . . . . . . . . 2 1929 medium late 2 0 2

FPI 68352 . . . . . . . . . . 3 1929 medium late 2 O 2

FPI 68353 . . . . . . . . . . 3 1929 medium late 2 0 2

Definition of terms.
Bloom periods: _
Early——Average date of full bloom by March 20.
Medium—Average date of full bloom March 21 to 23 inclusive.
Late-Average date of full bloom March 24 or later.

Harvest periods:

Very early—-Up to June 15.

Early—]une 16 to July 15.

Midseason-July 16 to August 15.

Late—-August 16 to September 15.

Very late-—Sept. 16 and after.
latest blooming varieties, with the few exceptions mentioned in the pre-
ceding paragraph, are the best producers and show yields during the
frost hazard years of from 80 to approximately 200 per cent of the yields
for the same varieties during years without frost hazard.

In any consideration of weather relationships it must be remembered
that these vary with the locality. During some seasons there is insuffi-
cient cold even in the northeastern part of the state for normal leafing
and fruiting. This is not a factor in the Wichita Valley. For this
reason, the effect of 10W temperature is restricted here to the possibility
of injury to blossoms and young fruit.

Discussion of Varieties

Alexander: An old variety, the fruit is small to medium in size, as
grown on this station, dark red over green in color, and attractive in
appearance. Flesh is tender, juicy, sweet, and clings to the seed. It
ripens from June 10 to 30. While too" small and tender for a market
peach, it is recommended for home orchards because of productiveness
and consistency in bearing.
v Anna: This is said to be a seedling of Carman. The fruit is small to
medium in size, creamy white with bright red blush, and attractive in
appearance. It is a white fleshed freestone, ripening a few days ahead
of Carman, which it resembles, although not as productive as that variety.

12 BULLETIN NO. 535, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

Annabell: This has a large fruit, yellow with red blush. The flesh is
yellow, stained with red near the seed, free to semi-free, of dessert
quality. It ripens from August 5 to 15. It has been found to be a shy
bearer in our trials.

Augusta: According to Ramsey's Nursery catalog, this is a seedling
of Elberta. The fruit is large, yellow, with a dull red blush; freestone._
It is not as attractive but is equal in quality to, and is more productive
than Elberta. It ripens August 25 to September 5.

Barbara: This is a Stubenrauch variety with large spherical fruits,
yellow with a red blush. The quality is good, but the tree is only a fair
producer and was short-lived in this test. It should be given further
trial. It ripens September 1 to 15.

Belle: This well known peach was found to be a productive variety,
good for home and local market. It has fruited six years out of seven
with four good crops. It ripens July 25 to August 15.

Best June: This originated in Fayette CountyyTexas. The fruit is
large, light in color with red cheek-—an attractive freestone. The flesh
is white, streaked with red; sweet, juicy, and delicious. Too tender for
long distance hauling, ‘it is a’ fine peach for the home orchard. g It ripens
June 25 to July 10. It has fruited six years out of seven with five
fair crops.

Bonanza: This variety is of Texas origin. The fruit is medium in
size, wh_ite in color with light splashes of red, and fairly attractive. Flesh
is White, stained with red near seed; firm, sub-acid. It ripens late -
September 25 to October 15; a medium bearer.’

0 Carman: This peach grew from a seed planted by J. W. Stubenrauch
ofiMexia, Texas, in 1889. The fruit is small to medium in size, creamy
white splashed with red, not as attractive as Mamie Ross or Dr. Burton.
The flesh is white, streaked with red; tender, juicy, and sweet. It is
prolific, good for home and local market, but too tender for shipping.
It ripens July 1 to 15. It is recommended for its consistency in bearing
under adverse conditions.

Carpenter: This is a seedling of Chinese Cling originating in Texas.
The fruit is small, light in color with traces of red, and not very attrac-
tive. The flesh is white, stained with red near seed; fine-grained and
sweet. It ripens July 25 to August 15. Although it blooms fairly late,
it has been a shy bearer.

Carrie: A seedling of Frank originated by J. W. Stubenrauch. The
fruit is large, yellow with red blush, attractive. The flesh is yellow,
firm, and of good quality; clingstone. It ripens September 15 to 30.
It has been a shy bearer.

‘Champion: This is a medium to large wh_ite freestone, lacking in
uniformity of size and color under local conditions. It bears heavy crops
consistently. It ripens July 25 to August 15.

 

TREE FRUIT VARIETIES IN NORTH TEXAS 13

Chilow: The fruit is a medium to large, yellow clingstone; the flesh
is fine-grained and sweet. It often fails to fruit because of frost damage.
It ripens August 10 to 20. u

Crosby: The fruit is large, long pointed, greenish-yellow, freestone;
the flesh is yellow, rather dry, stringy and firm, but breaking down huick-
ly after harvesting. It is rather susceptible to brown rot; has fruited
two years out of four; ripens September 5 to 20.

Dr. Burton: This is a seedling grown by the late Dr. E. L. Burton of
Grayson County, Texas (Figure '2). It is a large white freestone,

FIG. 2. Seven-year-old Dr. Burton peach tree with branches bending under
heavy load of fruit——1934.

splashed and mottled with red, almost as large and attractive as Early
Wheeler; firmer in flesh than, and superior in quality to Mamie Ross.
The creamy White flesh is streaked with red, especially along the suture.
It has a rich butt_ery flavor, is firmer, and will stand more handling than
Carman, Mamie Ross, and others of the white freestone group. It ripens
June 25 to July 20. It is leading all others in yields and is recommended
for its consistency in bearing.

Dulce: This is a yellow freestone, medium to large in size, and attrac-
tive. It ripens September 20 to October 10. It has been a light bearer.

Early Elberta: The fruit is medium large in size, has a rich yellow
skin with a red blush, and is rather attractive in appearance. The flesh
is bright yellow, fine-grained, tender and sweet. It is a freestone and
ripens June 25 to July 15. It blooms rather early and over a short
period of time, which may account for its being a light bearer.

Early Wheeler. A seedling of Chinese Cling, this was originated by
E. W. Kirkpatrick, McKinney, Texas, about 1900. The fruit is very
large and attractive in appearance. The color is white with a bright red
blush. It is a clingstone with firm, rather tough flesh that is not of
highest quality except for culinary purposes. It is one of the best com-

14 BULLETIN NO. 535, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

mercial peaches for this section because of its attractiveness and shipping
qualities. It blooms late and over a long period of time, is hardy, and
bears consistently, having missed fruiting but once in seven years of
bearing age, although it is not a heavy bearer. The Early Wheeler has a
conspicuous fault——the seeds split severely when maturing during rainy
weather.

Family Favorite: Originated in Fannin County, Texas, this variety is
a seedling of Chinese Cling. The fruit is small, round, greenish-white
splashed with red; unattractive; freestone. The flesh is greenish-white
stained with red near seed. It fruited only twice in four years; ripens
August 1 to 20.

Frank: This is a large clingstone peach of the Stubenrauch group.
The varieties, Barbara, Frank, Fredericka, Katie, Liberty Lizzie,
and Tena, are presumably the result of a cross between Elberta and
Bell’s October. The parents were budded on the same stock and this
was grown in an isolated spot accessible to bees. The skin of Frank is
yellow with a dull red blush. It is attractive in appearance and of ex-
cellent quality. The flesh is firm, juicy, and sweet. Although this
peach has made splendid records in other parts of the state, it has not
borne well at this station, having produced only two full crops in seven
years of bearing age. The Frank ripens August 25 to September 5.

Fredericka: This is another Stubenrauch variety. The fruit is large,
round oval, and yellow with a red blush; the flesh is yellow, stained
with red at the pit, medium in texture, slightly stringy, and sweet. It is
good for home and market. It had some fruit each of four years since
reaching bearing age with two full crops; it matures September 1 to 20.

General Lee: As grown on the station, the fruit is large, roundish-
oblong, creamy white with red splash, attractive; the flesh is white,
stained with red near the pit, firm, fine-grained, juicy, and sweet. It has
fruited three years out of four with two fair crops; it ripens August 5
to 20. The tree is large with dense foliage.

Golden Queen (FPI 68353): From New South Wales. Fruit spherical,
medium-in size, yellow, clingstone; flesh yellow, firm, fine-grained, mildly
sub-acid; fruited four times with two good crops in four years; ripens
August 25 to September 15. "

Goodma-n’s Choice (FPI 55549): This peach was obtained from
New South Wales, Australia, by the Bureau of Plant Industry. It is
considered by Australian nurserymen to be their best yellow clingstone
peach. The fruit, as it grows on this station, is small to medium in
size; yellow in color with red blush; firm of flesh, and rich in flavor when
fully ripe. It has proved a shy bearer at this station, having produced
only two full crops in seven years of bearing age. It ripens August 15
to September 10.

Governor Campbell: This peach is a clingstone, medium to large in
size, greenish white in color with red cheek, fair in quality. It has been
a poor bearer at this station. It ripens August 1 to 15.

TREE FRUIT VARIETIES IN NORTH TEXAS 15

Governor Lanham: This peach originated at Austin, Texas. The
extra large fruit is yellow with red splashes and very attractive. The
flesh is yellow and clings to the seed. The quality and flavor are good.
It has produced only two medium crops in seven years of bearing age.
It ripens August 1 to 15.

Grimes: This is possibly a seedling of Mamie Ross. It originated in
Anderson County, Texas. The fruit is of medium size, greenish-white
in color splashed with red. The flesh is creamy white streaked with red,
fine-grained and sweet. The quality is only medium. It is a clingstone.
The Grimes starts blooming fairly early but blooms over a long period
and is rather ‘hardy, having missed only two crops out of a possible seven.
It ripens July 5 to 25.

Handy: The fruit is small to medium in size, pale yellow with some
red; the flesh is yellow, red near seed, fine-grained, firm, tart. It fruited
twice in four years; ripens September 1 to 15.

Heath Cling: This is possibly the oldest named American peach. As
grown here the fruit is small to medium in size, roundish, with deep
cavity, white, unattractive. The flesh is white stained with red at pit,
fine-grained, juicy, sweet, clingstone. It is good for culinary purposes
only. There were two crops in our years. It ripens September 1 to 20.

Henrietta: The fruit is a medium-sized, attractive, yellow clingstone.
The flesh is firm and sweet. It has been a shy bearer. It ripens Septem-
ber 10 to October 5.

‘Hiley: The red-and-white fruits are of medium size, attractive in
appearance, and medium in quality. The flesh is white, stained with red
near pit, firm enough to ship, but the skin is rather tender and breaks
easily; it is freestone. It has fruited six years out of seven, with four

r.
good crops, and ripens July 1O to 25.

Hobson: This is a seedling of Mamie Ross grown by E. W. Kirk-
patrick, McKinney, Texas. It is sometimes listed as Improved Mamie
Ross. It is a white, semi-cling peach with red cheek, firm flesh, and sweet
flavor. It has been a? poor bearer at this station, having fruited only
four years out of seven with one fair crop. It ripens July 15 to August 5.

J. H. Hale: The fruit is large, round, yellow with red cheek, very
attractive; the flesh yellow, stained with red near seed, firm, sweet, and
of good flavor; good for both dessert and canning; freestone. Hardier
than Elberta, it has fruited four years out of six, and two were excellent
crops. Quality and fruiting records have placed the J. H. Hale above
other yellow freestone varieties as a commercial variety for this section.
It ripens July 25 to August 15.

Katie: This is a Stubenrauch variety. The fruits are large with
yellow skin and red cheek. The flesh is yellow, firm, and of good quality
and flavor. It is a freestone that yields much better than, Elberta, but
the trees are apparently not as strong as Elberta. It is a worthy variety
that should be given further trial. It ripens August 25 to September 15.

16 BULLETIN NO. 535, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

Late Crawford: The fruit is a large freestone with yellow skin that is
splashed with red. The yellow flesh is stained with red at the pit,
stringy, and not very firm when ripe; the flavor is tart. It is very sus-
ceptible to brown rot and breaks down quickly when ripe or after re-
moval fom the tree. It has produced only two good crops in seven years.
It ripens August 10 to 25.

Leona: This is a large yellow freestone peach that is brighter in color
and with less red than Elberta or J. H. Hale. The flesh is sweet and
firm and is stained with red near seed. Superior in flavor and dessert
quality to Elberta, it will not stand as severe handling. It has been a
poor bearer at this station, having produced only two fair crops in seven
years. It ripens July 10 to August 1.

Liberty: A Stubenrauch origination. The fruit is a large yellow
clingstone of good quality, but has proved a poor bearer at this station,
having fruited only three times in seven years and none of these was a
heavy crop. It ripens July p20 to August 10.

Lizzie: This is another Stubenrauch variety. The fruit is similar to
Frank but is a freestone; the quality is good. It has fruited four times
in seven years, with three fair crops. It ripens September 1 to 10.

~ Mamie Ross: This peach originated with Capt. A. J. Ross in Dallas
County, Texas. It is probably a seedling of Chinese Cling. The fruit is
medium to large, white with red blush, and is attractive. The flesh is
tender, juicy, and sweet; semi-cling. It is very prolific and is recom-
mended for its consistency in bearing. It is too tender for shipping but
is excellent for home and local market. It ripens July 1 to 20.

Mayflower: The fruit is small to medium in size; the skin red over
greenish background; the flesh white with red veins, juicy, and sweet.
The quality is only fair and the fruit is too tender for anything except
home use. The Mayflower blooms late, is hardy in bloom, bears con-
sistently, and is the earliest peach to ripen. For these reasons, it is
recommended as one of the most desirable varieties for the home orchard
in this part of the state. It ripens May 25 to June 10.

Minnie Stanford: This is a clingstone, medium to large in size, with
a yellow skin with red blush; attractive. The flesh is firm, juicy, and
of the very best quality. It will stand handling, but has proved a very
poor bearer at this station, having fruited only three years out of seven
with but two fair crops. It ripens July 20 to August 5.

Motion’s Cling: This peach was introduced from New Zealand by the
Bureau of Plant Industry. The fruit is a yellow clingstone of medium to
large size; the flesh yellow, firm; the flavor rather flat; the tree weak.
It fruited only once. It ripens July 25 to August 10.

p Muir’s Perfection: Also a U.S.D.A. introduction from New Zealand.
A small freestone peach, white, splashed with red; flesh white, stained
with red near pit, mildly acid. Althoughprolific, the trees are short
lived. It is good for home orchard. It ripens July 30 to August 15.

TREE FRUIT VARIETIES IN NORTH TEXAS 17

Oldmixon Cling: One of the oldest American peaches. The fruit is
small to medium in size, roundishwith prolonged tip, creamy white with
blush of red; the flesh creamy white, stained with red at pit, firm,
slightly stringy and sweet, clingstone. It has fruited three years out of
four with two full crops. ~

Pullar’s Cling (FPI 68352): From New South Wales, Australia.
Fruit nearly round, small to medium in size, yellow with red blush;
flesh firm, yellow, slightly red at pit; fruited four times with two fair
crops in four years; ripens September 1 to 20.

Raisin Cling: This variety evidently has Indian blood. The fruit is
of medium size, white, splashed with red; the flesh white streaked with
red, juicy and sweet. It has been a fairly consistent bearer but the
trees were not strong and yields have been light. It ripens September 10‘
to October 1.

Ramsey: This peach originated with a Mr. Ramsey in Montague County,
Texas. It is medium to large, white, clingstone; its flesh firm, juicy,
but not of the best flavor. The trees are short-lived and yields light.
It ripens September 10 to October 1.

Salwey: The fruit is large, round, yellow with red blush; freestone
when fully ripe. The flesh is yellow, slightly stained with red at pit,
firm, and sweet. The tree is hardy and vigorous, starts blooming fairly
early, but blooms over a long period, and the bloom is hardy. It bears
consistently, maturing later than other peaches of its type, and so ex-
tending the peach season. It ripens September 25 to October 10. It
should be in every home orchard and is a good commercial peach.

Shalil Seedlings: These varieties were introduced from the North-
west Province, India, by the Bureau of Plant Industry. (FPI 63850)
The fruit is small in size, oval, light yellow; the skin tender, easily sepa-
rating from the tender flesh, which is mealy and not very sweet; free-
stone; the seed light in color. It fruited only two years out of five;
ripens August 10 to September 1. This variety is recommended as being
nematode resistant.

(FPI 63851): Somewhat similar to No. 63850 but sweeter and with,
flesh slightly stained with red near pit. It is semi-cling; the seed are
much darker in color; it ripens a few days earlier. It is also reported
to be resistant to nematodes.

(FPI 63852) : Fruit medium in size, yellow, clingstone, of fair quality.
This is a shy bearer but is suggested for trial as a stock, because of its
resistance to nematodes.

Slappey: This peach is a yellow freestone with red cheek; its flesh
yellow, tender, and sweet; of high quality. It ripens with Early Elberta
and is similar to this variety in appearance and fruiting habits. It is not
very hardy, having produced only two full crops in six years.

Smith Indian: This peach is small to medium in size, has mottled
reddish-brown skin, the white flesh being heavily streaked with red. It.
is firm, juicy, and tart. This clingstone is in demand for sweet pickles.

l8 BULLETIN NO. 535, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

It is a consistent bearer of good crops and so is recommended for the ’
home orchard and local market, Its faults are small size and suscepti-

bility to brown rot. It ripens August 25 to September 15.

Tarbell: The fruit is large, round, pale yellow; the flesh yellow with
a trace of red near seed, firm, sweet, and of good flavor. It has fruited
only four years out of seven with only two good. crops. It ripens
August 20 to September 5.

Tardio Amarillo: A seedling of the Spanish variety by the same name.
Grown at the F.P.I. gardens in Chico, California. The fruit is small,
round, golden yellow with a reddish tinge; the flesh yellow, stained red
near pit, juicy, and of fair flavor and texture. It has fruited three
years out of six. It ripens September 10 to 25..

Tena: Originated by Mr. Stubenrauch. The fruit is medium to large
in size and similar to Elberta in color but brighter. The flavor is better
than that of Elberta. The flesh is yellow, stained with_red near the seed,
firm, freestone. It has fruited five years out of seven, but only two have
been fair crops. This is a promising commercial peach that should be
given further trial in this area. It ripens July 30 to August 10.

Triumph: The fruit is small, with dark red skin that is usually
pubescent, and flesh that is tender, juicy, and sweet. It is the earliest
yellow peach; a freestone when fully ripe; rather susceptible to brown
rot; hardy in bloom and a consistent bearer. It should be in every home
orchard. It ripens June 20 to July 15.

Victor: This peach is reported to have originated with a Mr. Bass of
Bass, Texas. It is of unknown parentage. The fruit is medium in size,
round; the color creamy white with bright red blush; the flesh creamy
white, juicy, and with a distinctive flavor. The tree is weak and a poor
bearer. It ripens June 1 to 20.

Williams Cling: This peach originated in the yard of H. M. Williams,
Austin, Texas. The fruit is medium in size, yellow with a dull red blush,
clingstone; the flesh firm and juicy; the flavor fair. It fruited four years
out of seven with two very heavy crops. It ripens September 20 to
October 5.

FPI 32374: This peach originated at the U.S.D.A. Experiment Station
at San Antonio, Texas, among a lot of plants grown from seed obtained
in Mexico by G. Onderdonk. The fruit is of medium size, yellow with
dull red blush; the flesh firm, sweet, and of good flavor, and clingstone.
It has made two full crops in six years of bearing age and ripens Aug-
ust 1 to 20.

FPI 35201: An introduction from Yunnan, China. The fruit is a
golden yellow clingstone, firm in texture, and sweet; it has fruited four
years out of five with two full crops, and ripens August 2O to Septem-
ber 10.

FPI 36485: An introduction‘ from India. The fruit is small, yellow;
flesh yellow, medium firm, clingstone; pit large; the tree large and

TREE FRUIT VARIETIES IN NORTH TEXAS 19

vigorous but not productive. It produced a few fruit two years out of
seven; ripens August 10 to 20. \

FPI 43124: Introduced from New Zealand. The fruit is nearly
round, pointed, small to medium in size, yellow with touch of red; the
flesh yellow, sweet, and mealy; clingstone. It has fruited four years
out of five but with only two full crops. It ripens August 15 to Sep-
tember 5. ' l

FPI 55563: From Spain. Fruit medium to large in size, yellow with
red blush; flesh yellow, firm and sweet, clingstone; medium bearer;
somewhat tender to frost in Spring; fruited five times with two full
crops in seven years; ripens August 25 to September 10.

FPI 55564: Grown from seed obtained at Valencia, Spain. Fruits
small to medium in size, round, yellow with red blush; flesh yellow, firm
and of fair flavor; fruited four years out of five with two full crops;
ripens August 30 to September 10, ’

FPI 55813: Fruit small to medium in size, yellow with red cheek;
flesh yellow, firm, juicy and of good flavor, freestone; fruited four years
out of seven with two full crops; ripens August 15 to 30.

FPI 55885: Introduced from Yunnan, China. Fruit small, round,
reddish in color; flesh reddish, juicy and with cherry'-like flavor, cling-
stone; fruited some each of four years since reaching bearing age with
three fair crops; good for home orchard; ripens August 20. to September
5. This peach has been recommended for trial as a nematode resistant
stock.

FPI 55886: Similar to No. 55885. Very prolific. Recommended as
being resistant to nematodes.

Pears

Of 17 varieties and strains of pears set out on this station in 1926,
only a few small trees remained in 1935, the majority having died from
root rot and other causes. Very few fruits were harvested and little
merit has been shown by any variety under local conditions. Insuflicient
varietal data were obtained from these tests to warrant recommendation.
However, in localities where pears are grown successfully, the Keifer,
Bartlett, and Garber are popular varieties.

Pear growing in North Texas holds about equal rank with apple grow-
ing, according to the 1930 census. The distribution of the two fruits in
North Texas is much the same; both being widely scattered. Cooke
County with over 12,000 bearing trees, which was approximately 1/8 of
the total in this North Texas area in 1930, is the leading county in pear
production in this section and is second only to El Paso. Dallas County
follows with 9,000 trees. Grayson and. Montague counties rank third
and fourth in North Texas with 7,000 and 6,000, respectively. Cooke
County with the six neighboring counties of Montague, Wise, Parker,
Denton, Dallas, Grayson, and Fannin contain approximately 50 per cent
of the bearing pear trees in this area. This would indicate that the
concentration of pear production is a little farther east than for apples.

2x0 BULLETIN NO. 535, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

Pear trees do not require as fertile soil as apple trees. They seem to
do best on a clay 10am or a sandy loam with a clay subsoil. The soil
must have good drainage. On poor soil growth is slow but the trees
are considered to be hardier and more able to withstand diseases and
other troubles. L-ike apples, the main limiting factor to pear growing
in this irrigated valley as well as other parts of North Central Texas,
especially the blackland section, is its susceptibility to cotton root rot.

Plums

Plums rank second to peaches in importance among the tree fruits in
this section of the State. They are grown practically everywhere peaches
are grown, but not to the same extent commercially. On the average, in
this valley, plums are practically as hardy as peaches. They show more
variation in blooming period, some varieties starting with the earliest
blooming peaches while others bloom after the latest blooming peaches
are through. Some varieties, such as Kernuco and Minco, and some of
the cherry-plum hybrids, bloom after peaches are practically through.
Incidentally, all of these except Kernuco are among the most consistent
bearers of all the plums tried on this station.

The same cultural care was given the plums as the other tree fruits.
The planting distance was the same as for peaches. This might have
been closer for some of the smaller type trees such as the cherry-plum
hybrids.

As with peaches, a plat of three trees was considered sufficient to give
the information desired. Most of the data are presented in Table 2.
Additional information is included in the discussion of varieties. While
there is considerable variation among varieties, yields in general were
not as satisfactory as with peaches.

FIG. 3. A 5-year-old American plum tree. This picture was taken three
weeks before harvest, at which time 98 pounds of fruit were secured.

TREE FRUIT VARIETIES IN NORTH TEXAS 21

 

Table 2. Varietal differences in time of bloom, harvest period and frnltfulness
of plums and prunes.
No. crops from 3rd
year on
N0. Year Bloom Harvest
Variety trees trees period period Poor Good
bloom None to to
med- very
ium 800d
Abundance(1) . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1927 midseason . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Advance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 early very early 2 5 0

Advance(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1927 early very early 2 3 . . . . . , ,

Alpha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 midseason early to mid 2 4 1

America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1928 midseason mid to late 2 2 1

America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1929 midseason mid to late 1 1 2

Best’s Hybrid . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 early midseason 5 1 1

Bilona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1927 early midseason 2 4 0

Bruce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 midseason very early 2 4 1

Burbank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 midseason midseason 2 5 0

Burbank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1929 early to mid midseason 1 3 0
Compass Cherry. . . . . . . . . 3 1926 late midseason 2 5 ~ 0
Compass Cherry. . . . . . . . . 5 1927 late midseason 1 4 0
Compass Cherry . . . . . . . . . 4 1929 late midseason 0 4 0

Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 midseason mid to late 3 2 2

Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1929 midseason mid to late 0 4 0

Gonzales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 early midseason 2 5 0

Hanska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1928 midseason midseason 2 3 0

Happiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 early midseason 2 5 0

Italian Prune(3) . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 late . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kernuco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1926 late midseason 6 1 0

Kernuco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1928 late midseason 2 3 0

May Beauty . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1926 early early 3 4 0

May Beauty . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1927 early early 3 3 0

Marianna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1928 midseason midseason 2 3 0

Methley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 early early 5 2 0

Methley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1927 early early 4 2 0

Milton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1928 late early to mid 1 4 0

Minco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1926 late very late 3 4 0

Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1928 late mid to late 2 3 0

Munson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1929 early to mid early 0 3 1
Omaha. . . . . 5 1929 midseason very late 0 3 1
Opata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1926 late midseason 0 4 3

Opata (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1927 late midseason 0 4 1

Opata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1929 late midseason 0 2 2

Papagone Prune . . . . . . . . . 1 1926 late . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 0

Red June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1928 midseason early to mid 2 3 0

Santa Rosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 / 1926 early midseason 4 3 0

Sapa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1926 mid to late midseason 0 5 2

Sapa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1927 late midseason 2 4 0

Sapa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1929 mid to late midseason 0 2 1

Sharp’s Early . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ‘i 1926 early early to mid 5 2 0

Shiro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1926 midseason midseason 3 4 0
Spinosa x Domestica
FPI 32670 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1926 late late 6 1 0

FPI 38282 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1926 midseason midseason 6 1 0

FPI 47935 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1926 early early 5 1 1

Sultan . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 early early tomid 4 2 1

Tragedy Prune . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 early midseason 5 2 0

Waneta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1928 late mid to late 2 0 3

Wickson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1926 early midseason 5 2 0

Wright's Early . . . . . . . . . . 1 1926 early early 6 1 0

Yellow Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1926 early midseason 4 1 2

(1) Dead 1932.
(2) Dead 1935.
(3) Dead 1934.
(4) Dead 193$.

Harvest periods:
Early—Up to June 15.
Midseason—June 16 to July 15.
Late-After July 15.

Definition of terms
Bloom periods:
Early——Up to March 18.
Medium—-March 19 to 24.
LateeMarch 25 and later.

22 BULLETIN NO. 535, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

Discussion of Varieties

Abundance: The trees as grown on this station were weak and died
without having fruited.

Advance: The fruit is small to medium in size, red with many con-
spicuous dots; flesh yellow, watery, clingstone. It will not stand much
handling when ripe. The variety fruited five out of six years with two
fair crops. Ripens May 25 to June 1.

Alpha: The fruit is small to medium in size, roundish, purple; flesh

greenish yellow, tender, juicy, fine-grained, sweet. It fruited five years

out of seven with two full crops. Ripens June 5 to 20.

America: It is of medium size, round, yellow with currant-red cheek;
flesh yellow, juicy, firm, tart, clingstone. It fruited three out of five
seasons, ripening July 1 to 10. It is recommended for home and com-
mercial orchard (Figure 3).

Besflsllybrid: From New Zealand. The fruit is small to medium in
size, heart-shaped, greenish yellow; flesh greenish yellow, juicy and of
fine flavor. It produced two full crops in seven years of bearing life.
Ripens June 15 to July 1.

Bilona: This variety is said to have originated with a Mr. Biles of
Roanoke, Texas. The fruit is small, round, coloring red long before
ripe; flesh firm, yellow, tart, semi-cling, distinctive flavor. It fruited
four years out of six with two full crops. Ripens July 1 to 10.

Bruce: This is a hybrid originated by A. L. Bruce of Donley County,
Texas. The fruit is small to medium in size, red, roundish oval; flesh
tender, juicy and fine grained but not of high flavor. It ripens early but
unevenly and the fruit falls as fast as they ripen so that no large amount
of ripe fruit can be harvested at any one time. It is a consistent bearer
but crops are often light. Harvest dates range from May 23 to June 5.

Burbank: The fruit is medium to large, round conic, mottled red
over yellow; flesh yellow, tender, firm and sweet when fully ripe, cling-
stone. It produced fruit five years out of seven with three crops. Ripens
June 25 to July 15.

Compass Cherry: A cherry-plum hybrid. It is small in size but larger
than the true cherry; round, red in color; flesh ryellow, firm, tart. It
blooms late and bears consistently. The tree is not as hardy as Sapa and
Opata. It is recommended for home and market; ripens June 20 to
July 1.

Gold: The fruit is medium to large in size, round, yellow; flesh light
yellow, firm, juicy, tart, clingstone. It fruited four out of seven seasons
with two heavy crops. Ripens July 1 to 15. It is recommended for
home and commercial orchards.

Gonzales: This is a chance seedling found in Gonzales, Texas, and

introduced by F. T. Ramsey in 1897. The fruit is medium to large,

round-conic, red skin; flesh light red, juicy, tender, mild; trees not

TREE FRUIT VARIETIES IN NORTH TEXAS 23

strong. It fruited five out of seven years-—all light‘ crops. The fruit
falls before fully ripe and breaks down\ quickly after harvesting. It
ripens June 15 to 25.

Hanska: The fruit is medium in size, roundish oblate, red with heavy
bloom; flesh firm, reddish-yellow, semi-cling. It produced three medium
crops in five years of fruiting life.

Happiness: A chance seedling found by Joseph Breck in 1899 and
introduced by F. T. Ramsey. The fruit is medium to large in size, mot-
tled red over green, roundish; flesh greenish red, juicy, fine-grained,
tender; too soft for shipping. It ripens June 15 to 25. It fruited five
years out of seven with only one full crop. The fruit falls before fully
ripe and breaks down quickly after removal from the tree.

Italian Prune: The fruit is small to medium in size, long oval, dark
purple with heavy bloom. The tree is weak and has not matured a crop,
although it has set some fruit two or three years. The fruit falls before
maturing.

Kernuco: Introduced by the Kerr Nursery, Sherman, Texas. The fruit
is small, round, red over yellow; flesh yellowish, firm and tart. This
variety is one of the latest to bloom but has been a shy bearer. Ripens
July 1 to 5.

May Beauty: Medium in size, bright red; flesh tender, juicy and
sweet; blooms early. It has fruited four years out of seven but has had
only one light crop. Ripens June 1 to 15.

Marianna: First grown as a seedling in the orchard of a Mr. Fitze,
Marianna, Polk County, Texas. Fruit is small to medium, roundish,
bright red with thin bloom; flesh yellow tinged red, firm, tart, clingstone.
It has fruited three out of five years with two good crops; ripens June 15
to 25.

Methley: Introduced from South Africa by the Bureau of Plant
Industry, U.S.D.A. The fruit is medium in size, round, dark red; flesh
dark red, firm, fine texture and flavor. It has had two good crops in
seven years. Ripens June 5 to 10.

Milton: The fruit is small to medium in size, oval, red with con-
spicuous russet dots; skin tough; flesh yellow, fibrous, medium tender,
tart, clingstone. It has fruited four out of five seasons with two fair
crops. Ripens June 1O to 15.

Minco: This is a seedling of Wayland fertilized by Miner, originated
by T. V. Munson. The fruit is small to medium in size, roundish-oval,
bright red with distinct dots and light bloom; flesh yellow, firm, juicy,
tart unless very ripe. It fruited four years out of seven with three good
crops. It blooms late, ripening August 5 to 10.

Monitor: The fruit is large, roundish-oblong, red over green with
purple bloom; skin tough; flesh greenish amber, medium firm, stringy,
juicy, and tart. It produced three light crops in five years, and it ripens
July 15 to 20.

».

24 BULLETIN NO. 535, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

Munson: According to Munson’s catalogue, this variety originated
with W. B. Richardson of Lufkin, Texas, from a seed of Normandf
crossed with America or some similar variety. The fruit is large, roundp,
yellow; flesh juicy, tender, sweet, will not stand handling when fully?

ripe. It fruited each of four years since reaching bearing age with three
fair to good crops; recommended for home orchard. It ripens June 5 
to 15. 

Omaha: The fruit is medium in size, nearly round, dark red with i
light purple bloom; skin tough; flesh is yellow, firm, juicy, and tart. The ‘
fruit is susceptible to sunscald. It fruited each of four seasons since’
reaching bearing age. Ripens August 1O to 20. Recommended for this
section.

Opata: Originated by N. E. Hanson of the South Dakota Experiment
Station; a cross between Golden and Prunus Besseyt (Sand Cherry).
The fruit is of medium size, roundish, reddish purple; flesh green, juicy,
fine grained, and sweet. It blooms late and bears consistently, having
fruited seven consecutive years with six good crops. It is recommended
for home and local market. Ripens June 15 to 25.

Papagone Prune: The weak trees have never fruited.

Reagan: This is said to be an offspring of Wayland crossed with:
America, introduced by the Texas Nursery in 1907. The fruit is large,
red, "late. The trees died when young and did not fruit on this station.

Red June: The fruit is medium in size, heart-shaped, red; flesh light
yellow, stringy, tender, sweet. It produced three light crops in five years.
Ripens June 10 to 20.

Santa Rosa: The fruit is large, round, suture distinct, dark red with
conspicuous dots and thin bloom; flesh reddish amber, firm, stringy and
sweet. It fruited three years out of seven. Ripens June 1O to 15.

Sapa: This is another of Hansen’s cherry-plum hybrids—-a cross be-
tween Sultan and a Sand Cherry seedling. The fruit is medium in size,
a little larger than Opata as grown on this station, dark purple, heavy
bloom; flesh purplish red, tender, medium firm, tart with a pleasant
flavor, freestone. It fruited seven consecutive years but did not have
as heavy crops as Opata; ripens June 15 to 25. The tree is smaller and
more compact than that of Opata.

Sharp’s Early: This was introduced from New Zealand by the Bureau
of Plant Industry. It is said to be a seedling of Botan. The fruit is
medium sized, dull red over green, round-cordate; flesh greenish, fine
grained, medium firm, sweet. It is a shy bearer with only two crops in
seven years. Ripens June 1 to 10.

Shiro: The fruit is medium to large in size, round-conic, dull yellow,
light bloom; flesh yellow, almost transparent, very juicy, sweet, cling-

stone. It fruited four years out of seven with two fair crops. It ripens

June 15 to 25.

TREE FRUIT VARIETIES IN NORTH TEXAS 25

Sultan: The fruit is large, round, dark red, thick bloom; flesh reddish
yellow, stringy, firm, juicy, sweet. It fruited three out of seven years
with two fair crops. The fruit will stand shipping; ripens June 10 to 18.

Tragedy Prune: The fruit is small to medium in size, roundish-oval,
dark red and purple in color; flesh yellow, juicy, tender, sweet. It fruited
two years in seven with only one fair crop; ripens June 25. The tree is
short lived.

Waneta: This is one of Hansen’s hybrids said to be a cross of America
with a Japanese variety. The fruit is large, roundish, dark red; flesh
yellow, firm, and of good quality; skin thick, medium tough. It has
produced three good crops in five seasons. Ripens July 5 to 15.

Wickson: The fruit is very large, heart-shaped, dark red over yellow;
flesh amber yellow, coarse, firm; flavor flat although rather sweet; cling-
stone. The tree is weak and the fruit does not mature evenly nor color
very well. It ripens June 15 to 25. It fruited only twice in seven seasons.

Wilson’s Early (FPI 47935): This is a hybrid plum from Russia. The
fruit is medium in size, round-flattened, dark reddish-purple; flesh yel-
low, firm, tender, fine-grained, sweet. It would stand shipping; ripens
evenly and clings to tree. It fruited two full crops in seven seasons;
ripens about June 1.

Wrightfs Early: Introduced from New Zealand by the Bureau of
Plant Industry. A red skin plum of small to medium size, said to belong
to the Japanese group. It is a weak tree that has produced only a trace
of fruit on this station.

Yellow Iowa: The fruit is medium to large, roundish oval, green with
conspicuous white dots until fully ripe when it becomes a clear yellow;
flesh tender, juicy, tart, rather flavorless; ripens very unevenly. It sets
a heavy crop almost every year which is lost because of shattering before
maturity- Ripens June 15 to July 5.

FPI 32670: Introduced from Russia, it is said to be a hybrid between
the Green Reine Claude and the Sloe. The fruit is of medium size,
flattened in shape, purple and green; flesh very firm, slightly astringent
and with good keeping quality. There was one light- crop in seven years.
Ripens July 15 to 20.

FPI 38282: A hybrid plum from Shantung, China. Fruit golden yel-
low, with red blush, medium in size; flesh firm, yellow. It fruited only
one year in seven; ripens June 20 to 25.

Quince

Three varieties of quince were set out for trial in the station orchard
in March 1926. These were De Antequera, Meech, and Orange. All died
the first and second seasons except De Antequera, which, though small
and shrubby in growth and often damaged by winter injury, survived
until 1935, when it was grubbed out to give space for more promising
crops.

26 BULLETIN NO. 535, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

VARIETAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Apple: Only where cotton root rot is not prevalent. Delicious, Early
Harvest, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, and King David.

Apricot: Moorpark.
Cherry: Hybrids only—Compass Cherry.

Peach: (commercial): Early Wheeler, Dr. Burton, Fredericka, J. H.
Hale, Salwey. (Home): Alexander, Best June, Carman, Champion,
Dr. Burton, Early Wheeler, Fredericka, Grimes, J. H. Hale, Katie, Mamie
Ross, Mayflower, Salwey, Smith Indian, and Triumph. These varieties
recommended on productiveness and consistency in bearing.

Pear: Not recommended except where cotton root rot is not prevalent.
Bartlett, Garber, and Keiffer.

Plum: America, Burbank, Compass Cherry, Gold, Munson, Omaha,
Opata, Sapa, and Waneta.

Quince: Not recommended.