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Prof's Vision Bears Fruit
LEGEND HAS it that Sir Isaac Newton's initial theories about gravity came about in 1666 while sitting under his famed apple tree. Now that tree has come to York - or at least part of it. Three semi-dwarf rootstock trees - with grafted cuttings from Newton's original tree - were planted on the Petrie Science Building's north quadrangle in October. Newton's tree is an old variety, probably originating in France. Known as the "Flower of Kent", it produces pear-shaped fruit (smaller than today's apples) and grows 10-12 metres high. "The trees are genetically traceable to the family home of Isaac Newton and the site of the legendary falling apple," said Robert Prince, Dean of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Science. Offspring of Newton's original tree exist in several UK locations, including the University of York, and in an arboretum in Nebraska. But this is the first successful planting in Canada, says Prince. Earlier efforts by Canada's National Research Council to transplant Newton's tree were thwarted because of Ottawa's extreme winters. Prince says the York trees should flourish because they're protected. Prince, who was instrumental in bringing the trees to York, began his apple odyssey 10 years ago while on an exchange visit with the University of York in the UK. There he met Newton scholar Richard Keesing who, in addition to writing extensively on Sir Isaac and the history of the tree, had helped provide genetic material to Nebraska. Biology Professor Emeritus Michael Boyer was also instrumental in the project.
Illustration:Matt Mays |
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