J. Russell Smith Orchard in Virginia

Of the 2,000 [persimmon] cultivars known in China, cuttings of 52, from the provinces of Honan, Shensi and Shansi, were brought into the United States in 1914. J. Russell Smith, an esteemed economic-geographer, collected a number of types near the Great Wall of China in 1925 and some of the trees still survive in his derelict orchard in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southern Virginia.

https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/japanese_persimmon.html
Morton, J. 1987. Japanese Persimmon. p. 411–416

Anyone from southern Virginia around here? Does this place exist? That would be amazing.

William

Here is an interesting book that he wrote.

http://www.archive.org/stream/TreeCrops-J.RussellSmith/TreeCrops_djvu.txt

William James wrote:

Of the 2,000 [persimmon] cultivars known in China, cuttings of 52, from the provinces of Honan, Shensi and Shansi, were brought into the United States in 1914. J. Russell Smith, an esteemed economic-geographer, collected a number of types near the Great Wall of China in 1925 and some of the trees still survive in his derelict orchard in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southern Virginia.

https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/japanese_persimmon.html
Morton, J. 1987. Japanese Persimmon. p. 411–416

Anyone from southern Virginia around here? Does this place exist? That would be amazing.

William

Best I could find out is that it was located in Front Royal, Va. I asked around a bit in small talk this past weekend at an orchard/nursery an hour or two south of there with tons of persimmons and although intrigued, none knew of what I was asking. I did some googling and haven't come up with anything. I love close enough that a weekend adventure is not out of the question.

Sent a message to the Front Royal, Va. historical society. We'll see what happens.
William

Keep me updated. It's beautiful up that way when the leaves change so I'd be interested in heading that way later next month for a little weekend excursion!

Very interesting to find this today, I have been following a similar line of research into locating surviving fragments of his orchard. I have sent requests to the organization hosting his archives, please pass on any info you find, and I will as well. Let me know if you want to team up for an expedition!

Alex

J Russell Smith came from Loudoun County near the village of Lincoln. The family still holds property on the top of the Blue Ridge on the Appalachian Trail above Round Hill, VA. Frannie Taylor, Lincoln, VA

Trees, Local History and Sustainable Farming
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Date/Time

Date(s) – April 12, 2015
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm



Goose Creek Friends Meeting in Lincoln, Virginia, presents “J. Russell Smith Day” on Sunday, April 12 at 4 p.m. at the Goose Creek Friends Meeting House in Lincoln.

Smith toured the world in the early years of the 20th century as a geographer for the University of Pennsylvania, and returned home with a mission to popularize tree crops as a means to retain rich native soils. At his nursery outside Round Hill, he collected and developed new varieties of native trees. His work is being rediscovered today by three local residents who plan to carry on his work. Join Alex Darr, Pete Walton, and Eliza Greenman for a discussion of this project.

Goose Greek Friends Meeting House is located at 18204 Lincoln Road, 20160.

http://www.loudouncoalition.org/events/trees-local-history-and-sustainable-farming/