General info
Pioneers coming to Pennsylvania found an abundance of fruit growing wild and grown by the Indians: apples, peaches, plums, grapes, raspberries, blackberries, dewberries, cranberries, gooseberries and blueberries. It is believed that the peach was brought to this country by the Spaniards when they visited Florida in 1565. The Indian was evidently responsible for its wide spread since the peach was a prized fruit. Early settlers found many wild growing peach trees. Most of American fruit production was founded on varieties discovered growing wild. In early times fruits were grown primarily for drink (wines, brandy, cider) and frequently to feed livestock. Only occasionally were they eaten. The beginnings of American grape growing were in Lancaster County in Southeastern Pennsylvania. From 1740 to 1840 Philadelphia was the center of scientific learning in America and held undisputed leadership in horticulture. Three men are largely responsible for Pennsylvania's horticulture: Benjamin Franklin, John Bartram and Richard Peters. Franklin was instrumental in the founding of the Philadelphia Society for the Promotion of Agriculture in March 1785, the first agricultural organization in America. From it, the first horticultural society was organized in 1827, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Bartram was the first American Botanist and established the first botanical garden in America in 1728. Richard Peters was a judge and Philadelphia lawyer. He was primarily responsible in bringing about government recognition of agriculture and recognizing the importance of instruction and research in Agriculture. Institutions: The land at Longwood Gardens dates back to William Penn who gave a grant of land to George Peirce in 1700. His property was purchased by Pierre S. du Pont in 1906 for his personal use as a country estate. Pennsylvania State University, College of Agriculture at University Park. This university was founded in 1855 as the Farmer's High School. In 1863, after the passage of the Morrill Act, it was designated as the "land grant college" of the Common wealth. The university consists of 16 campuses with the main campus located at University Park. Total student enrollment is about 50,000 with about 25,000 on the main campus. The College of Agriculture provides instruction in the sciences which underlie agriculture, conducts research under the Agriculture Experiment Station and extension through the Agricultural Extension Service. Organisations / Institutes:
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Last updated: Mon Dec 22 18:18:00 NFT 2003