H. Harold Hume

On August 20, 1906, prominent horticulturist Hardrada Harold Hume joined the Glen Saint Mary Nurseries staff. Hume received his master’s degree from Iowa State University, after which he worked at the Florida Agricultural Experiment station for five years, in the North Carolina Department of Agriculture for two years, and as Professor of Horticulture at the University of Florida. Over the course of his career, Hume authored many books on horticulture, including The Cultivation of Citrus Fruits,¹ Gardening in the Lower South,² Hollies,³ Citrus Fruits and Their Culture,⁴ Camellias in America,⁵ and Azaleas and Camellias.⁶

He dedicated Citrus Fruits and Their Culture to Taber and wrote many of his works while employed by the nursery. Hume’s “scientific knowledge was invaluable in guiding the company’s horticultural progress, and he assisted the acquisition of new and commercially profitable varieties, thereby furthering the already considerable reputation of the company.” ⁷ In addition, Hume's “presence at the nursery significantly escalated the horticultural leadership of the company.” ⁸ Hume became president of the nursery upon Taber’s retirement in 1920 and worked there until he joined the University of Florida's staff in 1930. ⁹