Pomology, the science of fruit breeding and production, has been an important area of research since the early years of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). During the mid-1800s, farmers were expanding fruit orchard programs in response to growing markets. At the same time, horticulturists from the USDA and agricultural colleges were bringing new varieties to the United States from foreign expeditions, and developing experimental tracts for these fruits. In response to this increased interest and activity, USDA established the Division of Pomology in 1886 and named Henry E. Van Deman as chief pomologist. An important focus of the division was to publish illustrated accounts of new varieties and to disseminate research findings to fruit growers and breeders through special publications and annual reports.

The introduction of new varieties required exact representations of the fruit so that plant breeders could accurately document and disseminate their research results. Since the use of scientific photography was not widespread in the late 19th Century, USDA commissioned artists to create watercolor illustrations of newly introduced cultivars. Many of the watercolors were used for lithographic reproductions in USDA publications, such as the Report of the Pomologist and the Yearbook of Agriculture.

Today, the collection of approximately 7,700 watercolors is preserved in NAL's Special Collections, where it serves as a major historic and botanic resource to a variety of researchers, including horticulturists, historians, artists, and publishers. Selected images from the collection are also on permanent exhibition on the first floor of the library.

The exhibit presented here consists of approximately 300 images of fruit watercolors. All of the fruit varieties featured in the exhibit were introduced and described in the Report of the Pomologist between 1886 and 1900. The actual watercolors of the varieties may not have been completed until sometime after the report publication. The exhibit selections are arranged under the common fruit names listed below and by the USDA artist.

In 1886, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the Division of Pomology to oversee the collection and distribution of new varieties of fruits, and to disseminate information to fruit growers and breeders. Since the use of scientific photography was uncommon at the time, the USDA commissioned artists to create technically accurate illustrations of newly introduced cultivars. In 1887, William H. Prestele was appointed artist for the Division of Pomology. Henry E. Van Deman, division chief, explained the importance of Prestele's appointment in his 1887 Report of the Pomologist:

"Up to August 1, when Mr. Prestele took his place here, there was no one to make drawings of fruits which were being daily received for study and comparison...but since then a part of the drawings have been made in India ink, and others have been reproduced in water-colors, all in the most skillful manner, showing the natural size, shape, and color of both exterior and interior of the fruit, with the leaves and twigs characteristic of each. These are invaluable for comparison and reference, and a portion for publication."

Over the years, other artists were also assigned to the division and their watercolors were used for lithographic reproductions in USDA publications and as scientific documentation of research results. The collection of approximately 7,700 watercolors was housed at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., but is now a part of NAL's Special Collections. Today, this important collection is accessed by researchers for such reasons as tracing the characteristics of early varieties, studying the results of scientific research, and analyzing introductions from early plant exploration expeditions.

Several of the artists most closely associated with the pomological watercolor collection are listed below with their years of active service to the USDA. Each artist is linked to a table listing a selection of his or her fruit watercolors. All of the varieties featured in this exhibit were introduced and described in the Report of the Pomologist, which was published annually from 1886 to 1900. The actual watercolors of the varieties may not have been completed until sometime after the report publication.

Morelli, P. L. 1987. Index to the United States Department of Agriculture pomological watercolor collection. Westport, CT: Meckler Corp; Cambridge, England: Chadwyck-Healy Ltd. An index to the microfiche copy of the watercolor collection--entries are arranged alphabetically by genus, species and cultivar.

The National Clonal Gerplasm Repository, Corvallis, Oregon, (NCGR-Corvallis) is collaborating with NAL's Special Collections in an ongoing project to identify and scan watercolors of the fruit crops preserved at the Corvallis Clonal Repository. The images scanned to date can be accessed through the NCGR-Corvallis.

White, J. J., and E. A. Neumann. 1982. The collection of pomological watercolors at the U.S. National Arboretum. Huntia 4(2):103-23.

Wood, M. 2000. Pomological watercolors: a wealth of beauty and detail. Agricultural Research 48(9):12-13. (Also available online through the ARS.)