More than 6,000 highly detailed watercolors of apples, blackberries, cherries, grapes, persimmons, and other fruits are part of the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection. Located at the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, MD, the collection is a treasure trove of late 19th- and early 20th-century American botanical illustrations. Many of these priceless but little-known drawings illustrate varieties that early USDA scientists either developed in their own fruit-breeding programs or collected on overseas expeditions. Farmers learned of the new varieties through USDA bulletins or other publications in which the prints appeared. Today, the collection serves as an important reference for horticulturists, historians, artists, and publishers. The National Agricultural Library is part of the Agricultural Research Service.

National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD
Susan H. Fugate, (301) 504-5876, sfugate@nal.usda.gov