I just finished reading Michael Pollan's "Botany of Desire" and he includes a section on the apple and the real story behind Johhny Appleseed. He was a mixture of hippie and mystic who planted apple seeds for the colonists to make applejack with and meet their homesteader's quota with. He discusses all the heirloom varieties grown to optimize shipment to England, flowering time, different purposes, etc.
Pollan mentioned a place in Geneva New York called the Plant Genetic Resources Unit run by Dr. Phillip Forsline http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/site_main.htm?modecode=19-10-05-00 that grows all kinds of wild apples from Kazakstan where apples originated. They are the archive site for plant germplasm in the U.S. Pollan was able to wander around looking at apples that looked like olives, forsythia, potatoes, Brazil nuts, and golf balls. As someone who has grown up around apples that lives in New York state you probably would really get a kick out of visiting. Plus they will let you take some seeds home as long as you report back if the trees produce fruit with desirable qualities. I'd love to visit this place if I was close by.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-01 11:11 pm (UTC)Pollan mentioned a place in Geneva New York called the Plant Genetic Resources Unit run by Dr. Phillip Forsline http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/site_main.htm?modecode=19-10-05-00 that grows all kinds of wild apples from Kazakstan where apples originated. They are the archive site for plant germplasm in the U.S. Pollan was able to wander around looking at apples that looked like olives, forsythia, potatoes, Brazil nuts, and golf balls. As someone who has grown up around apples that lives in New York state you probably would really get a kick out of visiting. Plus they will let you take some seeds home as long as you report back if the trees produce fruit with desirable qualities. I'd love to visit this place if I was close by.