View source for Thomas, John Jacob 1810-1895

'''John Jacob Thomas''' was a pomologist, writer, and rural economist. It has been said that he was "one of the three pomologists who may be said to have created the science in this country (the others being [[Barry, Patrick 1816-1890|Patrick Barry]] and the elder [[Downing, Charles 1802-1885|Downing]])." This evaluation would seem to be somewhat exaggerated but undoubtedly his editorials in ''The Cultivator'' and ''The Country Gentleman'' for nearly 60 years had a profound influence on American agriculture. His reputation rests also to a large degree upon his book ''The American Fruit Culturist'' first published in 1846. The book was popular for many years and in 1867 it was republished in a different style, the material nicely arranged and rewritten. A so-called "twentieth" edition revised and enlarged by William H.S. Wood appeared in 1897. Undoubtedly these editions had an outstanding influence on fruit culture for 50 years.

[[Category:9. 19th Century A.D.]]