Cultivar 466: Stoddard

Stoddard is an Americana plum from Iowa. John Wragg & Son of Waukee introduced it in 1890 after it originated on the farm of B. F. Stoddard in Buchanan County. South Dakota sources treated it as a notable hardy native plum of the northern plains and kept it on recommendation lists, though often with some caution about where it fit best. [S2] [S3] [S1]

The fruit was described as very large, nearly round, showy, and of good quality. South Dakota observers said it resembled Hawkeye but was a little earlier and darker red. A. Norby called it large, about one and three eighths inches across, but less attractively colored and only fair in quality. Mr. Haralson compared it with J. B. Rue in both tree and fruit and called it a good keeper and a very promising variety. [S2]

Its season ran late for its region. Station records gave ripening dates of September 12 in 1903 and September 15 in 1904. Norby reported September 4 in 1902, and another note placed it as early as August 25. Sources disagree on how early it ripened, but they agree it was later than some competitors for that latitude. It was also regarded as a keeper, which added to its value. [S2]

Tree reports are mixed but useful. Station trees planted in 1896 were said to be in excellent condition, and one account called the tree of good habit and abundantly productive. Other reports called it a light cropper, while Norby still reported a good crop, and one South Dakota note said the tree showed signs of weakness. The fruit was considered productive enough and quite free from pockets. Despite below average dessert quality, it was valued as a market plum because its large size and appearance brought high prices. [S2] [S3]

Hardiness appears respectable but not first rank within the Americana group. One South Dakota report said it was not as hardy as most Americanas, and another said it was hardy there but would not stand as far north as De Soto or Wyant. A Manitoba note adds that young trees were sometimes killed back from the top when one or two years old. Even so, Stoddard remained recommended for trial in Minnesota and parts of South Dakota. Earlier South Dakota guidance included it among choice native plums expected to make long lived, hardy, fruitful trees when worked on northern native plum stock. [S2] [S3] [S1]

In broader context, Stoddard belongs to the Americana plum group rather than to a recorded named cross. The surviving sources here do not give direct parentage, but they place it firmly in the northern native plum tradition that prairie growers and experiment stations were trying to sort, test, and improve. Its repeated appearance in trial lists, market notes, and photographic plates suggests it was remembered less for exceptional eating quality than for being a large, saleable, regionally useful variety that helped define what a hardy market plum could be on the northern plains. [S2] [S3]

Summary source basis

• S1: A Study of Northwestern Apples
• S2: Plums in South Dakota
• S3: Fruit Culture

This summary currently draws chiefly from Plums in South Dakota, with 2 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“Originated on the farm of B. F. Stoddard in Buchanan county, Iowa.”
— ^[1]

“Mr. Haralson noted: resembles the J. B. Rue both in tree and fruit; a good keeper; a very promising variety.”
— ^[1]

“Fruit is showy and of good quality.”
— ^[1]

“Rather late for this latitude.”
— ^[1]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• No direct breeding_cross claim text yet.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• Stoddard, Americana.Plums in South Dakota, p40
• Stoddard, Americana.Plums in South Dakota, p40
• Stoddard, Americana.Plums in South Dakota, p40
• PLUMS. District No. 7—... For trial: Olson, Stoddard.A Study of Northwestern Apples, p18

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context