This is the last of our caption of MSHS feature article , which range in Northern Gardener during 2016 , our 150th day of remembrance yr .
In 1908 , just a year after MSHS had persuaded the University of Minnesota to sum a fruit breeding and examination farm to its horticulture section , Leon C. Snyder was born . How fitting that the University ’s expertise in intrepid horticulture would grow at the same sentence as one of its most influential proponents .
Today more than 5,000 types of industrial plant prosper at theUniversity of Minnesota Landscape Arboretumand the U ’s plant - breeding program has developed more than 100 cold - hardy fruit , vegetables , shrubs and perennial .
Such was not always the case .
In 1878 , MSHS set up the Minnetonka Fruit Farm and several research stations to evolve fruit motley for cold climates . The farm was sold in 1889 , and there was no primal inquiry site until the Fruit Breeding Farm was established . The first new fruit assortment developed there was introduced in 1914 . More terra firma was purchased , more new assortment were introduce , and by 1931 , the farm had grown to 230 acres .
Snyder , meanwhile , was spring up up in Michigan , studying in Washington and teaching in South Dakota . In 1945 , the University hired him as an telephone extension horticulturist . Later , he led the gardening section and was superintendent of the farm . From 1953 to 1970 , the academic stave doubled and the Fruit Breeding Farm grew into the Horticultural Research Center .
In 1954 , Snyder started the Woody Landscape Breeding Program , planting more than 600 varieties of trees and shrub at the farm . Four days later , MSHS , the Men ’s Garden Club of Minneapolis and the Lake Minnetonka Garden Club grease one’s palms 160 acres near the farm and give them to the University for an arboretum , which Snyder channelize from its gap in 1970 until 1976 .
Under his direction , the botanical garden expand its site ( to 630 land ) and setting , adding a visitor centre , research edifice ( now describe for Snyder ) and a horticultural research depository library . A long - time member of MSHS , Snyder serve well on the plug-in of directors from 1958 to 1976 . He also wrote a weekly newspaper publisher column , answer questions on a monthly radio show and helped to conjure four nestling .
After his demise in 1987 , Jane McKinnon , an extension service horticulturist at the University , write :
“ He taught both in scientific words and with dirt - defile hands . From his pencil on a notepad came scholarly publications ; with sharp pruning shears he showed students how skills are hone … By his lesson , he create visions of voiced lawns , benignant tree , and smart blossom for those demand inspiration and encouragement . ”
— Julie Jensen
