Malus domestica Beach
1911
Step into the early 1900s USDA, where botanical illustrator Ellen Isham Schutt was on a mission to paint every fruit in America. These luscious red orbs are the 'Beach' apple, a variety sent to her by a grower in Emery County, Utah, as noted in the handwritten script at the bottom. Schutt’s incredible attention to detail—the tiny speckles on the skin, the soft highlight showing its roundness—wasn't just for beauty; it was vital science to help farmers identify the best crops. It’s a gorgeous reminder that even government documentation can be a stunning work of art.
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