[Herbalist] oranges and Soap wort- and apples

[Christine Seelye-King]

There is a really good book that talks a lot about apples and their origins
along with a few other select plants.  It is called "The Botany of Desire"
by Michael Poullan.  He follows four crops and talks about how man has
changed them and vice-versa.  He traces apples from their origin in
Khazakstan and also talks a lot about heirloom orchards to preserve types.
Did you know that an apple never breeds true from the seed?  Each apple has
5 seeds and a potential for 5 different varieties to grow from them.
Anytime you have a mass produced apple, Granny Smith, Delicious, Rome, etc.,
they are all grafted or clones.
Fascinating stuff.
Christianna