Seedlings obtained from fruit from CRC #255. This accession had seedling yellows which was removed by thermotherapy (Thermo 1176-14). (EM Nauer, 1986) Lue Gim Gong is described in TCI, Vol. I, pp 460: "This so-called Florida variety in all respects is indistinguishable from Valencia. In all probability, it represents a nucellar clonal budline of that variety and hence should be called Lue Gim Gong Valencia." Fruit compared to Olinda Valencia: Appears very similar if not identical. (EM Nauer, 06/1989)
The early history of 'Lue Gim Gong' is given in Glen Saint Mary Nurseries Co (1911) and Taylor and Gould (1913) (Note: Links to references are in the Citations). More biographical information on Mr. Lue is available from Wikipedia and West Volusia Historical Society. The early history of 'Lue Gim Gong' was filled with excitement and promise. Glen Saint Mary Nurseries Co (1911) stated that "The fruit has been known to hang on the trees, two, three and even four years in an edible state. There is no question but that this variety marks the beginning of a new era in late orange culture." This same reference makes note that 'Lue Gim Gong' won the Silver Wilder Medal in 1911, the first (and only) citrus fruit to do so. (Note: the only other citrus-related recipient is HB Frost in 1966.) Note, however, the comment made two years later.
Alas, the bloom was soon off the rose (or the orange blossom, as the case may be) for 'Lue Gim Gong'. By 1943, Webber (1943) stated that "The fruits not only are late but it is asserted that they may be held on the tree for several seasons. In California they drop little if held beyond their season of maturing, but apparently they dry out and deteriorateas rapidly as do Valencia...Lue Gim Gong is planted to some extent in Florida but there is no indication that it is superseding the Valencia...". By 1967, as noted by Hodgson (1967), it was "still planted to a limited extent in Florida".
Currently, 'Lue Gim Gong' is little planted in Florida (or anywhere else). According to Michael Kesinger, Chief of the Florida DPI Citrus Budwood Program (personal communication, 07/08/2008): "No Lue Gim Gong propagations have been made in the last five years. I did notice in 1996-1997 that 370 trees were propagated in Florida. We never considered Lue Gim Gong to differ much in maturity from normal Valencia lines. I recollect 20 years ago, a larger citrus grower tracking maturity data on Lue Gim Gong and Pope Oranges and I believe their conclusion was that there was no appreciable difference from regular Valencias. We have one registered selection at our new Chiefland greenhouses: LUE GIM GONG F-53-18."
Extensive descriptions of 'Lue Gim Gong' are available in Taylor and Gould (1913) and Webber (1943). Images are avalilable from the UC Riverside Citrus Variety Collection. (RR Krueger, 07/2008)