Step by step
Robert Thompson was the Curator of the Fruit Department at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chiswick garden. He was a well-known Pomologist.
Pomology is botany of fruit. Pomologists study, breed and cultivate all fruit plants, shrubs and trees.
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Begin by asking: What fruits do you most like to eat? Do you know how or where it grows? In groups, pupils name and sort images of different fruits grown in the UK (e.g. Do they grow on trees?)
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Establish the simple rule that firm fruits (e.g. apples, pears, plums) tend to grow on trees and are called ‘top fruit’, whereas smaller, juicy fruits (e.g. berries and currants) tend to grow on smaller shrubs or plants and are called ‘soft fruit’.
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Introduce pupils to Pomologists: fruit experts who make detailed observations about different fruit cultivars and record their observations for future reference. Show pages from “Fruits proved in the Garden, Apples” Vol II and IV. Robert Thompson, the Curator of the Fruit Department at the RHS Chiswick garden, recorded these observations between 1827 and 1831.
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Each pupil chooses an apple and carefully cuts it in half, putting one half aside. They should then place the remaining half onto the surface of the paper, stalk pointing downwards, and draw round the apple to create its outline.
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Pupils use their senses to make and record their detailed observations about the apple’s size, colour(s) and smell. They can then take a bite to observe its texture and flavour.
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Pupils give the other half of their apple to someone else so they have chance to observe and compare at least two different cultivars.
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Pupils present their observations to the class or group. How were the apples similar or different? Did any of your observations surprise you? What questions would you like to ask a pomologist about growing apples?