Plum tree, "Gar-Belmont"

#The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Plum Tree, hereinafter denominated varietally as "Gar-Belmont" and more particularly to a plum tree which produces fruit which are somewhat remotely similar in their external appearance to the fruit produced by the Aleta Rose Plum Tree, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,231) and the Early Gar Rose Plum Tree, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,453), but which is distinguished therefrom and characterized principally as to novelty by producing semi-freestone fruit which have a very dark red and attractive skin color and a pale yellow flesh color and which further is ripe for commercial harvesting and shipment approximately June 1 through June 10 under the ecological conditions prevailing in Fresno, Calif., the subject variety being ripe for commercial harvesting and shipment approximately two or three weeks before the Aleta Rose Plum Tree, and approximately five days after the Early Gar Rosa Plum Tree at the same Fresno County location.

#As with all produce, the time of harvesting of plums greatly influences the price which they may bring at market. Fruit which can be marketed earlier, or in some instances later, than other well known commercial varieties can command greater prices when they are brought to market when competition is at a minimum. It is therefore desirable to provide a plum tree bearing fruit which have the commercially aesthetic appeal such as that presented by the Aleta Rose Plum Tree or alternatively the Early Gar Rosa Plum Tree, but which is ripe for harvesting and shipment approximately June 1 through June 10 under the ecological conditions currently prevailing in Fresno, Calif.

#The present variety of plum tree was discovered as a chance open-pollinated seedling of unknown parentage developed from seeds which the inventor had procured from open cross-pollinated test trees which were then growing on his Ranch No. 1 which is located on the corner of Kings Canyon and Fowler Avenues in Fresno, Fresno County, Calif. The chance open-pollinated seedling, which was discovered in 1973, was noted at that time to have desirable characteristics and the inventor marked the subject tree for future observation. After evaluating the fruit produced by the chance open-pollinated seedling over a number of growing seasons, the applicant asexually reproduced the new variety by removing bud wood from the chance seedling, in 1977, and grafted this bud wood into existing mature plum trees or alternatively into Marianna rootstock. This first asexual reproduction which took place at the applicant's Ranch No. 10 which is located on the corner of Fowler and Belmont Avenues, in Fresno, Calif., resulted in progeny being produced which appeared to possess the same distinctive characteristics as the original chance seedling.

#The accompanying drawing is an illustration by photographic reproduction of several mature fruit of the subject variety sufficiently matured for harvesting and shipment, a twig bearing typical leaves displaying the upwardly and downwardly disposed surface colors thereof, and two fruit of the subject variety divided in the axial plane to illustrate the flesh and stone characteristics, all of the subject variety.

#Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of plum tree, the following has been observed under the ecological conditions prevailing at the orchard of the inventor which is located on the corner of Belmont and Fowler Avenues in Fresno, Calif. All major color code designations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also employed occasionally.

#Generally:

#Size.--Large as compared with other common plum cultivars growing in the San Joaquin Valley of central California.