The First Hybrid. Fairchild Mule-1716

Howdy Folks:

The following is a book excerpt from, “The Brother Gardeners” Botany, Empire, and the Birth of an Obsession. by Andrea Wulf

I found it interesting and hope you do as well and maybe it is not too far off the SFG topics.

The Fairchild Mule – the first hybrid. Sweet William x Carnation

“On an early summer’s day in 1716, Thomas Fairchild went into his Hoxton garden, closed the door of his potting shed, and set in motion a chain of events so momentous that in time no gardener would ever think about plants in the same way again. At the time, it led Fairchild, a devout Christian, to live in fear of God’s wrath for the rest of his life...”

…”Alone in his potting shed, Fairchild placed a collection of flowerpots on the workbench. Some were planted with sweet Williams, others with carnations. Taking a feather, he drew its tip across the stamen of a sweet William…Then he gently brushed the stigma of a carnation with the feather, so that the dust-like pollen crossed from one flower to the other.”

And so begins the prologue of a most fascinating book on early gardeners. If you have an interest in how plants were developed this indeed is a wonderful read.

God Bless, Ward.

interesting!! thanks for sharing! logging in now to library loan request service. . . (cause i'm thrifty and don't buy books unless i wear out the spine, lol)

i've just requested it - i'm number 1 in queue !

http://seoipac.seo.lib.oh.us/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=G2677K786000P.2068&profile=lne&uri=link=3100006~!1596444~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab6053&menu=search&ri=3&source=~!horizon&term=The+brother+gardeners+%3A+botany%2C+empire+and+the+birth+of+an+obsession+%2F&index=PALLTI

book wardinwake suggested

can't wait to get it!

i have no idea what happened to make a quote occur.

i was trying to fix my link so others in ohio could request the book, too. but neener-neener, i get it first, *silly grin*