Peter Gideon Farmhouse
Encyclopedia
Peter Gideon was a farmer
near Excelsior, Minnesota
who was responsible for breeding apple
s that could withstand Minnesota's climate
. Gideon's farmhouse, now within the boundaries of Shorewood, Minnesota
, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Gideon moved to Minnesota in 1853, near Lake Minnetonka
, and experimented with planting pear, plum, cherry, peach, and apple seeds. After ten years of experimentation, the harsh Minnesota winters had killed off all of his trees except for one seedling crab apple tree. Instead of giving up, he sent back to Bangor, Maine
for seeds and scions
, and continued his experiments by grafting a scion onto the crab apple tree. From this experiment, in 1868 he selected a variety of apple that he named the "Wealthy", in honor of his wife. This experiment was successful, and in 1870, Colonel John H. Stevens
addressed the Minnesota Horticultural Society with these words:
Gideon later became the first superintendent of a University of Minnesota
agricultural experiment station established in 1878. The station was abandoned in 1889, when he retired, but in 1907 the Minnesota Legislature
established a fruit breeding farm between Excelsior and Chaska
. The fruit breeding farm later became the Horticultural Research Center, which is now part of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
. The center later developed the Haralson apple
, introduced in 1922. The Wealthy apple is genetically related to the Haralson, though it took DNA testing to rediscover this fact after extensive hybridization.
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
near Excelsior, Minnesota
Excelsior, Minnesota
Excelsior is a settlement on Lake Minnetonka in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,188 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
who was responsible for breeding apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s that could withstand Minnesota's climate
Climate of Minnesota
The climate of Minnesota is typical of a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. Minnesota's location in the Upper Midwest allows it to experience some of the widest variety of weather in the United States, with each of the four seasons having its own distinct characteristics...
. Gideon's farmhouse, now within the boundaries of Shorewood, Minnesota
Shorewood, Minnesota
Shorewood is a settlement on Lake Minnetonka in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 7,307 at the 2010 census. The city was incorporated in 1956. Its area was originally part of the larger Excelsior Township as were the nearby cities of Excelsior, Tonka Bay and Deephaven...
, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Gideon moved to Minnesota in 1853, near Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka is a lake in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Throughout its recorded history, the lake has been a resort destination. It is located west-southwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The lake is an irregular shape with numerous bays and islands which make up about of shoreline...
, and experimented with planting pear, plum, cherry, peach, and apple seeds. After ten years of experimentation, the harsh Minnesota winters had killed off all of his trees except for one seedling crab apple tree. Instead of giving up, he sent back to Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
for seeds and scions
Grafting
Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues from one plant are inserted into those of another so that the two sets of vascular tissues may join together. This vascular joining is called inosculation...
, and continued his experiments by grafting a scion onto the crab apple tree. From this experiment, in 1868 he selected a variety of apple that he named the "Wealthy", in honor of his wife. This experiment was successful, and in 1870, Colonel John H. Stevens
John H. Stevens
John Harrington Stevens was the first authorized resident on the west bank of the Mississippi River in what would become Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was granted permission to occupy the site, then part of the Fort Snelling military reservation, in exchange for providing ferry service to St. Anthony...
addressed the Minnesota Horticultural Society with these words:
Gideon later became the first superintendent of a University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
agricultural experiment station established in 1878. The station was abandoned in 1889, when he retired, but in 1907 the Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota Legislature
The Minnesota Legislature is the legislative branch of government in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is a bicameral legislature located at the Minnesota Capitol in Saint Paul and it consists of two houses: the lower Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate...
established a fruit breeding farm between Excelsior and Chaska
Chaska, Minnesota
As of 2005, there were 22,467 people and 8,194 households residing in the city. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 6,235 housing units at an average density of 454.1 per square mile...
. The fruit breeding farm later became the Horticultural Research Center, which is now part of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a horticultural garden and arboretum located about west of Chanhassen, Minnesota at 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, Minnesota...
. The center later developed the Haralson apple
Haralson (apple)
The Haralson is a cultivar of apple that is medium-sized and has a round-conic shape. It has a red color and large, moderately conspicuous dots. Haralson apples are crisp and juicy, having a tart flavor. They are good for eating, cooking, and are an excellent choice for pies...
, introduced in 1922. The Wealthy apple is genetically related to the Haralson, though it took DNA testing to rediscover this fact after extensive hybridization.