

Without question, the most remarkable horticultural history book of this decade was released in late January, some fifteen years after its first edition astounded orchard keepers and agricultural historians everywhere. (with Edith Calhoun) Courtesy of Chelsea Green For many years he operated, along with his wife, Edith, Calhoun Nursery, which was a key resource for rare and regional apple varieties.Old Southern Apples by Creighton Lee Calhoun, Jr. Over the past three decades he has sought out many old-time Southern apples and has grown more than 550 varieties himself. Lee Calhoun lives in ChathamCounty, North Carolina, where he settled after a career in the military. In addition to A-to-Z descriptions of apple varieties, both extant and extinct, Calhounprovides a brief history of apple culture in the South, and includes practical information on growing apples and on their traditional uses.Ĭreighton Lee Calhoun, Jr. Illustrated with more than 170 color images of classic apples from the National Agricultural Library’s collection of watercolor paintings, Old Southern Applesis a fascinating and beautiful reference and gift book. Representing our common orchard heritage, many of these apples are today at risk of disappearing from our national table. This masterwork reflects his knowledge and personal experience over more than thirty years, as he sought out and grew hundreds of classic apples, including both legendary varieties (like Nickajack and Magnum Bonum) and little-known ones (like Buff and Cullasaga). Out of print for several years, this newly revised and expanded edition now features descriptionsof some 1,800 apple varieties that either originated in the South or were widely grown there before 1928.Īuthor Lee Calhoun is one of the foremost figures in apple conservation in America.


A book that became an instant classic when it first appeared in 1995, Old Southern Applesis an indispensable reference for fruit lovers everywhere, especially those who live in the southern United States.
