Lue Gim Gong
(1860-1925)

Died aged c. 65

Lue Gim Gong, born in China in 1860, became an American citizen in 1877. Due to poor health he settled in DeLand. Using pollination techniques learned in China, he developed an apple that ripened a month ahead of other varieties and a tomato plant that grew in clusters. By watching bees, he learned to cross pollinate citrus, and crossed the Harts Late Orange with Mediterranean Sweet varieties to produce an orange that bears his name. He also produced a grapefruit able to withstand colder temperatures and stay on the tree longer. In 1911 the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded him the Silver Wilder Medal for his work in developing citrus. Lue Gim Gong died in 1925.

OpenPlaques

Lue Gim Gong (Chinese: 刘锦浓; pinyin: Liu Jǐnnóng; August 24, 1857 – June 3, 1925) was a Chinese-American horticulturalist. Known as "The Citrus Wizard", he is remembered for his contribution to the orange-growing industry in Florida.

DbPedia

Wikidata Wikipedia