MAN WHO MADE THE TOMATO

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 36, 6 November 1920, Page 7

MAN WHO MADE THE TOMATO

TRANSFORMED THE "LOVE-APPLE" INTO A LUSCIOUS FRUIT. , Mr. Adam Duncan, Follow of the Rovnl Horticultural Society, ivho died a few j weeks ago at Hillingdon, Middlesex, a-ed ! 80, was very largely responsible for The I introduction of tlio tomato as an edible ! fruit. The mmnto had long before, when Known as the Lovo Apple, been grown purely for dccorativo purposes. To Mr. Duncan hybridisation was an exact science, and by its aid be evolved from the irregular, crinkled, woolly toninto tho smouth-skinned, globular, luscious fruit now so popular. . Early in the 'eighties Mr. Duncan lookup the chrysanthemum and became prominent among those pionoiSrs whose pa-I'if-nce and skill evolved from the' comparatively little flower of that time tho large and feathery bloom of to-da.v. The son of n Banffshire crofter farmer, he started earning his own living herding cattle among the mountains at the age of oight.. ITo spent: only two periods . of three months each at school duriii" winters' too severe for cattle-grazing, the school being the village cobbler's shop.