Rio Oso Gem We do not dispute that Rio Oso Gem is the finest fruit of California, and can be the finest flavored of all peaches. A seedling of J H Hale, and source of the name "gem" to describe orange-fleshed, purple at pit, fairly acid, dense peaches of late summer. Performs rather better than Hale in coastal counties, and is self-fertile. But there are shortcomings: fruits are wedge-shaped, irregular along the suture, subject to doubling, require repeat thinning. Our stock is latent mosaic virus infected, as are those of all other nurseries, which reduces vigor but increases productivity. There is no peach like it nonetheless. Late August. 750 hours. On Lovell.
