Volume 30 Number 2 Article 7 Pages: 71-71
Year 1976 Month 4
Title: A New Plum 'Sweetheart'
Author: L.L. McGraw
Citation
Abstract:
Rather than obtaining a patent on
this new plum I decided to give it to
the Men's Garden Club of Portland,
Oregon, an affiliate with the Men's
Garden Club of America.
I first noticed this pasture seedling
growing near Oregon City, Oregon,
on April 7, 1967, for there it stood
with terminals in full, attractive blossoms.
The medium-sized, attractive,
pastel-multi-colored with bloom, symmetrical
plums were roped on in inviting
fashion and on August 25th of
that year I sampled the first one.
My
expectations were rewarded with the
finest eating plum that I have had the
privilege to try.
Abundant juice of
saccharin sweetness, meaty, semifreestone,
beautiful golden flesh, aromatic
and delicious with just a faint,
lingering piquant flavor of Italian
prune . . . all of this pronounced a
winner.
My first reflections were that "it's
going to replace the 'Green Gage
Plum'.
After 8 years of testing the fruits,
and trying the variety on rootstock
combinations, I am more pleased
than ever.
The precocious tree is
moderately-vigorous, fairly insect and
disease resistant, bears dark greenabundant
foliage, limbs are uprightspreading
carrying fruits when most
other varieties are wiped out by frosts.
It has considerable spur-like growth.
Overcropping might be a fault, but
proper pruning and light thinning will
produce annual bearing and enhance
quality.
The blossoms are attractive,
large; most are a complete flower and
probably self-pollinated.
There is a limited amount of scionwood
for which a minimal charge
must be made of $1.50 per foot to
cover costs of handling and mailing.
We are a non-profit organization and
cannot sustain a profit but let us help
you to enrich the fruit gardens of
America.
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