Thomas Fairchild (gardener)

Thomas Fairchild (* 1667, † 1729 ) was an English botanist and gardener. Its official botanical author abbreviation is " Fairchild. ".

Life and work

Fairchild was the first botanist, of which it is known that he made experiments with plant hybrids. To 1717 he brought pollen from the Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) to the punch of a carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus ) and thus generated a then horticulturally used hybrids.

In addition, he was one of the first botanists who were concerned with the urban ecology. In his book, The City Gardener (1722) reports on the art of gardening in the city. The work is among other things of importance, because Fairchild is the first time pointed to the recreational function of the gardens, where he realized even then that the air pollution in cities is also therefore a negative impact on the living environment of the people, because many plants affected by the smoke effects or be harmed. He reports, for example, that the gardens on the Thames were less affected by pollution than those in other parts of the city.

From his observations he derived a list of plant species that can be used in the gardens of London and also respect those anthropogenically altered site conditions. He also pointed out that certain heat- loving plants grow better in sheltered areas within the city and especially bear fruit, as in free, open to the top sites and gives in his book on this specific indications.

The following list of The City Gardener shows some of the plants he recommends for cultivation ( indefinite fields are marked with cf ):

  • Evergreen trees and shrubs: European holly (Ilex aquifolium), ivy ( Hedera helix ), Common boxwood ( Buxus sempervirens), big-leaf privet ( "Italian Evergreen Privet ", Ligustrum cf ovalifolium ), holm oak (Quercus ilex) and True laurel ( "common bay", cf Laurus nobilis).
  • Flowering trees and shrubs: (. Spec Laburnum ) (. Cytisus spec) (. Spec Jasminum ) Lilac (. Syringa sp ), laburnum, Bins broom ( spartium Junceum ), Yellow bubble bush ( Colutea arborescens ), Geißklee, jasmine, Viburnum (Viburnum opulus ), Rosa × centifolia, apples (Malus ), pear (Pyrus communis ), True vine (Vitis vinifera ), Hardy Passionflower ( Passiflora incarnata ), black locust (cf. Robinia pseudoacacia), elm (Ulmus spp.), Linden ( Tilia ), Black Mulberry ( " mulberry " cf Morus nigra ), True fig ( Ficus carica ), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), plane ( spec Platanus. ), Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), sour cherry (Prunus cerasus), almond (Prunus dulcis ), currants ( " currant ", Ribes spp.) and Japanese honeysuckle ( Lonicera japonica).
  • Flowers: beach thrift (cf. Armeria maritima ) (for Beetumrandungen ), Turk's cap lily (Lilium martagon ), the type of sunflower Helianthus multiflorus, Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus), Norfolkeibisch ( Lagunaria patersonii ), asters, Burning Love (cf. Aster spp.) ( Lychnis chalcedonica ), Bellflower (Campanula spp.), Italian Sußklee ( Hedysarum coronarium ), Spring Iris (Iris verna), daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.), monkshood (Aconitum spp.), saffron ( Colchicum spp.), valerian ( Valeriana sp. ), feverfew ( Tanacetum parthenium ), carnation (Dianthus spp.) and country (Dianthus caryophyllus ).

What is remarkable about this list that a number of non- domestic European plants are listed, which were probably imported for horticultural purposes, as well as the fact that, for example, a number of fruit trees are called, Fairchild garden that is attributed also a useful function.

Fairchild led a gardener association, the Catalogus Plantarum published in 1730 to: Catalogus Plantarum, Tum tum Exoticarum Domesticarum, quae in Hortis haud procul a Londino Sitis in Venditionen propagantur. A Catalogue Of Trees, Shrubs, Plants, and Flowers, Both Exotic and Domestic, Which are propagated for sale, In the Gardens near London ... by a Society of Gardeners. London: Printed for the Society of Gardeners. This book is one of the first plants to books, the color plates with Pflanzendartstellungen attached, and in the numerous garden plants of American origin are presented. This will also contain information on the cultivation and care. The work was a born in Nuremberg by John Miller (1715-1780), when Johann Sebastian Müller and acting in London botanist issued.

Swell

  • Michael Leapman: The ingenious Mr. Fairchild the forgotten father of the flower garden. London 2000, Headline Book Publishing
Ligustrum ovalifolium Aster (genus) International Plant Names Index Integrated Authority File
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