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nafex - [NAFEX] Antique vs. Heirloom

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  • From: "Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>
  • To: NAFEX <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Antique vs. Heirloom
  • Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 07:43:34 -0700

I see two terms used in NAFEX fairly often that I'd like to get
clarification, or at least some sort of consensus on, "antique" and
"heirloom" varieties. To me "antique" refers to a variety that is 100 or
more years old and is propagated by asexual means - grafting, budding,
taking cuttings, etc. so it is identical to the original variety.
However, with "heirloom" I have always thought of that as a variety
propagated from seed. It usually refers to vegetables, but can refer to
perennials where the seedlings have a very strong resemblance to the parent,
such as the Door County apricot, which is commonly grown from seed. On the
other hand, it would be unlikely to find an heirloom apple, since very few
come true from seed.
What do others say about this?
-Lon Rombough





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