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Jesse B. Norton
 Jesse
B. Norton, 61, internationally known plant pathologist associated with
the Imperial County Agricultural Department, died of a heart ailment on
June 8, 1938 in a San Diego hospital.
He originated the "Washington-series" of
asparagus which included 'Mary
Washington'[2]
and 'Martha Washington', the later a variety grown widely in western
districts. He also assisted in the development of the 'Virginia Savoy'
spinach[2]
as well as a mildew-resistant type of cantaloupe.[1]
 Early
in his career, Norton was brought to Cornell University from the United States Department
of Agriculture in
1907 by Dr. Herbert J. Webber. He was made an assistant professor with
responsibility for small grain breeding, specializing in oats. One example
of his breeding work at Cornell led to the
introduction of 'Cornell Welcome' oats, which was introduced after his
departure in 1909.[3]
After working at Cornell for one year, he returned to the U.S.D.A.
Later, in 1920, he left the U.S.D.A and went to work for the Coker Seed Company, Hartsville,
South Carolina.[3]
Dr. Norton had an illustrious career, and
was a prominent figure in the development of blight resistant lettuce
grown in California producing districts at the time of his death.[1]
References:
-
Obituary of Jesse B. Norton, The Chicago
Packer, 18 June 1938.
-
"112 Superb Varieties
for Market Gardeners," Francis C. Stokes Seed Company, 1926.
-
"Evolution of Plant
Breeding at Cornell University: A Centennial History 1907-2006,"
by Royse P Murphy with Lee B. Kass, 2011.
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