Legends of the Fruit World, Past and Present

General Fruit Growing
21

Elwyn Meader & George Darrow, both of whom I had the honor or visiting at their farms. Many of the others have already been mentioned, but I would also add S. A. Beach, main author of “The Apples of New York” and U. P. Hedrick, who put together the other various fruits “of New York.” These volumes describe the fruits and are lavishly illustrated.

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22

I would nominate the collaborative team that created the PRI apple breeding program, which was one of the earliest to develop disease-resistant apple varieties, particularly scab-resistant. Goldrush is one example of the many varieties they developed. PRI stands for Purdue-Rutgers-Illinois. Their infusion of resistant germplasm into North American apple breeding was a significant development that is still short of realizing it’s full potential. Organic apple growers, in particular, have benefited enormously from their work.

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23

True, Jules Janick’s mind is like a horticulture encyclopedia, his life is incredible.

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24

Those in the PNW owe gratitude to the late Dr. Bob Norton who worked nearly 30 years at the Washington State University Mount Vernon Research and Extension Center. He was a tireless advocate and fruit growing promoter. I had the honor of learning bud grafting from him on Vashon Island where he later lived.

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25

I would recommend Dr. Edward J. Wickson, Professor of Horticulture in the University of California system from 1879 until his retirement in 1921. An early promoter of Luther Burbank’s experimental varieties, he is credited as one of the authors of Burbank’s, “His Methods and Discoveries”. The author of many books on growing fruit in California, his “The California Fruits and How To Grow Them” stands as a vital reference today.

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26

Let’s not forget Henry Morton who saved many Limbertwigs and other old apple varieties he found growing on old homesteads in
the Smoky Mountains

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27

If you count tomatoes, I would add Criag lehoullier, the dude behind Cherokee Purple tomatoes and many of the dwarf tomato projects tomatoes

Or james claypool, the guy who made a lot of the american persimmons people use today https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://growingfruit-images.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/5/d/5dd996b34c32dafbc698a6a079cd6e2b46925ec1.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiMw6e_-LSJAxVYFVkFHTIRA-oQFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw25MxRA5s_hhyM36DR_Otie

Obligatory Tom Spellman, who helped popularize backyard orchard culture.

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