[nafex] FW: Pomological Watercolors

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

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From: "ARS News Service" <isnv@ars-grin.gov>
To: "ARS News List" <ars-news@ars-grin.gov>
Subject: Pomological Watercolors
Date: Thu, Aug 31, 2000, 7:00 AM


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.