FW: Pomological Watercolors
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- Subject: FW: Pomological Watercolors
- From: H*
- Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 19:56:56 -0400
- Importance: Normal
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ars-news@sun.ars-grin.gov
[o*@sun.ars-grin.gov]On Behalf Of ARS
News Service
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 10:00 AM
To: ARS News List
Subject: Pomological Watercolors
STORY LEAD:
Pomological Watercolors Depict Beauty and Detail
___________________________________________
ARS News Service
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Marcia Wood, (510) 559-6070, MarciaWood@ars.usda.gov
August 31, 2000
___________________________________________
A treasure trove of more than 6,000 splendid watercolors of
apples,
blackberries, cherries, grapes, persimmons and other fruits
is safeguarded
in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection. This array
of original
prints and related materials is one of the treasures of the
National
Agricultural Library, which is managed by USDA's
Agricultural Research
Service at Beltsville, Md.
The collection makes up one of the world's most unique
holdings of late
19th- and early 20th-century American botanical
illustrations. Described as
a "priceless but little known legacy for all Americans,"
many of these
beautiful drawings resulted from USDA scientists' need to
depict new
varieties that they had developed, or had gathered during
overseas
plant-collecting expeditions.
Many of the prints were featured in early USDA publications,
including
bulletins and circulars for farmers, as well as annual
reports. Today, the
drawings are a boon to horticulturists, historians, artists
and publishers,
according to Susan H. Fugate, head of special collections at
the National
Agricultural Library. Fugate said these specialists-- and
others--rely on
the illustrations as an invaluable source of information
about the history
of fruit culture in the United States.
Today, horticultural research continues to be a key part of
the USDA
research mission carried out by scientists in the
Agricultural Research
Service. For more information on ARS research programs that
impact
horticulture, visit the web page for ARS Crop Production,
Product Value and
Safety national programs at:
http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/programs/cppvs.htm
Examples of the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection can
be viewed at the
National Agricultural Library's website, located on the
World Wide Web at:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/speccoll/collect/water.html
In addition, 10 of the watercolors are printed in the
September issue of
Agricultural Research magazine.
___________________________________________
Contact: Susan H. Fugate, Head, Special Collections, ARS
National
Agricultural Library, Beltsville, Md., phone (301) 504-5876,
fax (301)
504-7593, sfugate@nal.usda.gov.
___________________________________________
This item is one of the news releases and story leads that
ARS Information
distributes on weekdays to fax and e-mail subscribers. You
can also get the
latest ARS news on the World Wide Web at
www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm.
* Feedback and questions to ARS News Service via e-mail:
isnv@ars-grin.gov.
* ARS Information Staff, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Room 1-2251,
Beltsville MD
20705-5128, (301) 504- 1617, fax (301) 504-1648.
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