re: #390 oaktree

I think it was in Poulan’s _Botany of Desire_ (read this book!) that he pointed out an interesting fact about the famous Johnny Appleseed. The seeds he planted were collected from cider mills. And apple seeds are a heavy genetic mixing from the parent pollen and flower; e.g. seeds from a good “eating apple” will probably not produce a tree that grows good eating apples. The apple industry is aware of this and grafting is the key for keeping well-liked apple breeds in production.

So the seeds (and seedlings) that Johnny was planting and growing were essentially not going to be good for eating and pie. About all they would be good for was squeezing for cider. Which could then easily be allowed to ferment into “hard cider”. So Johnny was essentially guaranteeing that the American frontier would have a ready alcohol source on hand.

All correct except it’s Pollan, and one should always include the Amazon/lgf link when recommending books!