North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["MARIE ASHTON" <bwoodtx@verizon.net>]

There are several editions of this book; at least 14 editions. It started in 1845 with the first edition which was attributed to A.J. Downing but much of the work was done by his brother Charles Downing. With each new edition more material was added until the last edition was twice as large as the first. A.J. Downing died in 1852 at the age of 37 but his brother Charles keep the revisions going and I am not sure but I believe that the last edition was around 1895. This book and its later editions were long held to be the authoritative work on growing fruit in America.

 

To see a reference to Charles (the real driving force behind this pomologial classic) link to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Downing_%28pomologist%29

 

I believe that there are three editions of this work in our NAFEX library.

 

Regards,

Richard Ashton

Oak Creek Orchard

www.oakcreekorchard.com

bwoodtx@verizon.net

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Jerrydana5@aol.com

To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 8:01 AM

Subject: [NAFEX] book question

My 91 year old dad recently gave me a book his father gave him, which probably his father gave him, about growing fruit. I wonder if anybody has heard of it.  It's titled The Fruits and Fruit trees of America or The culture, propagation, and management, in the garden and the orchard, of fruit trees generally, by A.J. Downing.  It does not say who the publisher is (!) but it was published in  New York in 1852.  The book is dedicated to Marshall P. Wilder, Esq,, the president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.    It's pretty interesting to read about apples (the main fruit I'm interested in).  There are many strange names I've never heard of.  There are many missing cultivars, like Red and Yellow Delicious, which were not around yet!

Has anybody heard of this book?    Jerry in southern Indiana

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

---

_______________________________________________
nafex mailing list
nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Reproduction of list messages or archives is not allowed.
This includes distribution on other email lists or reproduction on web sites.
Permission to reproduce is NEVER granted, so don't claim you have permission!

**YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO POST!**
Posts from email addresses that are not subscribed are discarded.
No exceptions. 
----
To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this page (also can be used to change other email options):
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex

File attachments are NOT stripped by this list.
TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES!
Please do not send binary files.
Use plain text ONLY in emails!

NAFEX web site:   http://www.nafex.org/