The Ozark Premier Plum

Abstract

The Ozark Premier, now generally called Premier, came from a cross made in 1936, at the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station in Mountain Grove, Missouri. Its parentage is Burbank by Methley, and it is one of a great many similar crosses. No others resulted in a fruit of such size as that reached by the Premier. Many Premiers measure 2½″ in diameter. The skin is an attractive dark red covered by a blue bloom. Flesh is yellow, fine grained and sweet. Its quality is very good if eaten at the proper time. If allowed to hang on the tree too long it becomes very sweet with too little tartness to satisfy most people, especially the younger ones. It ripens over a considerable period of time, perhaps two weeks, and needs three of four pickings. Ripening date in Missouri is about August 1st.