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Harison, George Folliott
Discussion id : 65-444
most recent 19 MAR 19 SHOW ALL
 
Initial post 29 JUN 12 by odinthor
A full treatment of the life of George Folliott Harison will be found in the book *Gardener's Tribute* (1949), pp. 68-82, by Richardson Wright. He indeed was an attorney, not (as formerly thought by many, including myself) a cleric at Trinity Church, New York. Introduction of 'Harison's Yellow' through nurseryman Thomas Hogg is speculative (but likely). It is possible that 'Harison's Yellow' was actually bred or found by G.F. Harison's father Richard Harison, but then passed along to Hogg by the son after the father's death.
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Reply #1 of 1 posted 19 MAR 19 by CybeRose
It is interesting to find that old mysteries can be solved through research ... even when different solutions emerge. For instance, a writer in American Gardening 19: 392 (May 21, 1898) got his information about Rev. Harison from the old man's granddaughter. She seems not to have been aware that old George was a bachelor, according to Wright.

Leonard Barron (1901) weighed in by warning against the double r, then compensating by doubling the s. He
acknowledged the granddaughter while rejecting the "Rev.". Along with the others, he repeated the error that 'Hogg's Yellow' was a synonym for 'Harison's Yellow.' In fact, 'Hogg's Yellow' and 'Hogg's Straw-colored' were seedlings from 'Harison's Yellow'. Hovey (1845) listed these three together, as well as 'Persian Yellow' and 'Williams' Double Yellow'.

C. M. Hovey (1883) wrote of his travels in search of Camellias, "About 1830."
"Returning home, on my way I accidentally became acquainted with the late Mr. P. Dunlap, then gardener close to New York. He, too, had some fine seedlings, and he introduced me to an old sailor and neighbour, Capt. Harrison, who had a most beautiful double white, more exquisite than alba plena, a perfect gem to-day. This same Capt. Harrison also raised the yellow Harrison's Rose, which I believe some English rosarians consider to be about the most beautiful and valuable hardy or yellow Rose extant. So you see we do raise some good things in America, or, perhaps I should say, did so fifty years ago."

I cannot locate a "P. Dunlap", but have found a "Thomas Dunlap", seedsman. His 1852 catalogue lists:
Harisonii, Austrian Briar Rose, free golden yellow, semi-double and immense bloomer 1.50 (std) .50 (dwf)

The correct spelling is not proof, of course, but suggests that this Dunlap knew the real Harison.

BTW, Hovey reported that Harison generally knew the seed parent of his Camellias, but neglected the pollen parent.

Prince (1846) wrote, " Rosa Harrisonii, or Harrison's Yellow, was raised from seed by the late Geo. Harrison, Esq., of New-York, from whom I received the first plant he parted with, in exchange for a Camellia Aitoni, which I had just then imported at an expense of three guineas."

I have found that Prince imported an assortment of Camellias, including "Aiton's large single red camellia, $15" and was advertising them in The New England Farmer in October of 1829, and later.
Karl
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Discussion id : 77-985
most recent 3 MAY 14 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 3 MAY 14 by CybeRose
American Rose Annual 22: 42 (1937)
I have what seems to be a beautiful double white Harison's Yellow which was found in a wild state in the timber near here. It is an exact duplicate of Harison's Yellow in habit of growing and in its new, very thorny reddish canes. It appears to be an escaped hybrid of R. spinosissima, the Scotch rose, to which Harison's Yellow is sometimes assigned.

American Rose Annual 28: 8 (1943)
Farther down the list we come to "Harrison's White--rose within rose, 25 cents." What has become of this latter hybrid bearing Mr. Harison's name is hidden in the yeasty mists of American rose history. I haven't encountered it anywhere outside this Prince catalogue of 1844, and I've no intention of rousing it from a century of somnolent obscurity.

Magazine of Horticulture 3: 125 (1837)
Mr. Harrison's white variety has but one fault, and that is its shy blooming; we had remarked this in a plant in our possession, but supposed it arose from ill health, until he informed us himself that it was a spare bloomer. Some of his other new kinds are in the vicinity of Boston, and will probably bloom next season. Another year will undoubtedly produce many new sorts.
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