Pomology

Not just the study of hands, it would appear. ;)

As a native Washingtonian, I am particularly in love with Apples--tasty, crispy, and truly one of the most important foods in anyone's diet. Grown the world over, the apple is a native of (are you ready to be shocked?) Kazakhstan. Years and years (millennia) of careful cultivation took what was a tiny, tart, bitter fruit into the glorious apples we know today.

Of course, as a child, the only apples I remember in the store were the Granny Smith, Golden and Red Delicious (poorly named in my opinion). Then came the Fuji, Gala, Braeburn, and more. And, of course, today, there's the Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Cortland, McIntosh, Crispin, Macoun and more. Did you know, though, that the science of fruit studies (pomology) led to some beautiful artwork, funded by the American taxpayers. Regardez:

Ever eaten a Lilly of Kent? Neither have I. But I want to now.

And that's the point! The USDA's pomology archive in the National Agricultural Library is full of beautiful watercolors, detailing the variety of apples grown around the country. And that's not all. Pears, apricots, citrus, berries…

Thank GOD no one had a camera 100 years ago! Now I want to grow something.

In case you want to check out the USDA archive of watercolors, click here.