Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
2
(a)
(b)
Figure 2.21
(a) Ernest Wilson who collected in South East Asia (source: Wikimedia Commons); (b)
Kolkwitzia
amabilis
collected by Ernest Wilson (reproduced with permission from 'Cillas')
Wilson's main objective was to collect the dove tree
(
Davidia involucrata
). He arrived in China in 1899 and
set off for Hubei province where he stayed for two
years, collecting almost 400 species that included
(in addition to
Davidia
),
Acer griseum
(paper bark
maple),
Actinidia deliciosa
(kiwi fruit),
Berberis julianae
,
Clematis armandii
,
Clematis montana
,
Ilex pernyi
,
Jasminum mesnyi
and
Primula pulverulenta
.
On his second China visit in 1903 in the area around
Szechuan province, he collected the Regal lily
(
Lilium regale
) and was seriously injured by a rock
fall. His other collections included the yellow poppy
(
Meconopsis integrifolia
- his main target species),
beauty Bush (
Kolkwitzia amabilis
),
Rosa willmottiae
and the bush
Sinowilsonia henryi
.
Recent plant hunters
. In the early twentieth century,
Frank Kingdon-Ward collected in the China/Himalayas
area, while in the second half of the century, collectors
such as Peter Cox, Peter Hutchinson, Roy Lancaster
and many others have continued the plant-collecting
tradition (see companion website: www.routledge.
com/cw/adams, for other plant hunters as well as a
summary of the origins of RHS-recommended plant
species and, where available, the names of their
collector).
World trade in horticultural plants
Home grown
About
93%
of the world's 2.4 billion tonnes of fruit
and vegetables are bought and used in their country
of production. In this way, costs of transport are
reduced, use of local resources and manpower is
encouraged and produce arrives at the shop in as
fresh a condition as possible. An attitude of 'home
grown' is generally accepted by society and by
governments as being an environmentally sensible
method of production.
Wilson subsequently collected in China (1907, 1908
and 1910) and Japan for the Arnold Arboretum,
Boston, USA. His extended time in Japan (1911-1916)
led to the collection of over 50 ornamental cherry
cultivars. In 1917-1918, he turned his attention to
Korea and Formosa (Taiwan), during which time 50
cultivars of azaleas ('Kurume' azaleas) were sent to
America from Japan. Further explorations followed
in 1921 to Australia, New Zealand, India and South
America, and East Africa. He was appointed Keeper of
the Arnold Arboretum in 1927.
Wilson and his wife were killed in the USA in an
automobile accident in 1930.
Over 100 plants introduced by Wilson have received
the First-Class Certificate or Awards of Merit of the
Royal Horticultural Society of London.
Exporting
In spite of the 'home grown' situation mentioned
above, there is a large-scale movement of horticultural
produce around the world involving diverse types of
plant material and each with their individual transport
storage requirements (such as temperature, humidity
and air-cleansing controls) to ensure healthy arrival at
their destination.
