Bradford pear

Note: In regard to Frederick Bradford (1887-1950) and the introduction of the pear, see W. E. Whitehouse, et al., "A New Flowering Shade Tree—The 'Bradford' Pear," American Horticultural Magazine, vol. 42 (1963), p. 151: "This ornamental pear honors the late F.C. Bradford, formerly horticulturist in charge of the U.S. Plant Introduction Station, Glenn Dale, Maryland, and was released recently by the Crops Research Division [of the U.S. Department of Agriculture] for trial as a shade tree." There is further detail in "U.S. Plant Introduction Station, Glenn Dale, MD," Maryland Historical Trust Inventory Form PG 70-54 (prepared in 1996; available from msa.maryland.gov): "One of the events that generated immense activity for the Glenn Dale station in its later history was the release of the Bradford pear in 1960. The tree was named for Frederick Bradford, the Superintendent of the station prior to J.L. Creech, by Dr. J.L. Creech and Dr. Whitehouse (Whitehouse was incidentally Bradford's brother-in-law). Bradford, who had lived in Cottage #1 (Building 32), had died at the station" (Section 8, page 40). On the role of J.L. Creech, see Angela L. Todd, "Biographies of the agricultural explorers of the USDA's Bureau of Plant Industry, 1897-1955: Part I, A-F," Huntia, vol. 14, no. 1 (2009), pp. 73-75.