In 1887, Prestele was appointed as the first artist for the newly createdDivision of Pomology.
Identifying these new stocks became essential not only for botanists but for the fruit producers as well as.
It was not uncommon for competitors to sneak into a rivals nursery at night and steal cuttings.
Between them they created nearly half of the collection.
William Henry Prestele himself painted over one hundred.
The entire collection has been recently digitized and is availableonline at USDAs website.
On the left is Yankee variety of apples, (artist: Amanda Almira Newton).
On the right is the Willow variety of apples, (artist: Mary Daisy Arnold).
Right: Concord variety of grapes, (artist: Deborah Griscom Passmore.)
The collection also included paintings of diseased fruit.
Pictured above is the Rome variety of apples.
Artist: James Marion Shull.
Left: Tsuru No Ko variety of persimmons, (artist: Amanda Almira Newton).
Right: Tanaka variety of loquats, (artist: Amanda Almira Newton.)
Right: Indian tamarind, painted by Amanda Almira Newton
