Herbert John Webber
Encyclopedia
Herbert John Webber was an American
plant physiologist
who was born in Lawton, Michigan
and grew up on a farm in Marshalltown, Iowa
, originally wanting to be a lawyer. In 1889 he graduated from the University of Nebraska. For the United States Department of Agriculture
he investigated orange
diseases in Florida
(1893–1897) and from 1889 to 1907 had charge of the department's plant-breeding investigations. He served as professor
of experimental plant biology at Cornell
(1907–1908), where subsequently he was acting director
(1909–1910 and Professor of Plant Breeding (1910–1912) in Cornell University
's New York State College of Agriculture. In 1912 he went to the University of California
to be director of the Citrus Experiment Station, dean
of the Graduate School of Tropical Agriculture, and professor of plant breeding
. With Swingle
he originated citrange
s, a hardy citrous fruit, by hybridization. He retired from active service in 1936.
Herbert J. Webber coined the word “clone” in 1903 and was the first to use it to describe a colony of organisms derived asexually from a single progenitor. Webber’s contribution to “a more exact expression to our thoughts” found quick acceptance among scientists.
He was on the editorial board of the famous work The Citrus Industry which is now in public domain.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
plant physiologist
Plant physiology
Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
who was born in Lawton, Michigan
Lawton, Michigan
Lawton is a village in Van Buren County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,859.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
and grew up on a farm in Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
, originally wanting to be a lawyer. In 1889 he graduated from the University of Nebraska. For the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
he investigated orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
diseases in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(1893–1897) and from 1889 to 1907 had charge of the department's plant-breeding investigations. He served as professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of experimental plant biology at Cornell
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
(1907–1908), where subsequently he was acting director
Supervisor
A supervisor, foreperson, team leader, overseer, cell coach, facilitator, or area coordinator is a manager in a position of trust in business...
(1909–1910 and Professor of Plant Breeding (1910–1912) in Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
's New York State College of Agriculture. In 1912 he went to the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
to be director of the Citrus Experiment Station, dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Graduate School of Tropical Agriculture, and professor of plant breeding
Plant breeding
Plant breeding is the art and science of changing the genetics of plants in order to produce desired characteristics. Plant breeding can be accomplished through many different techniques ranging from simply selecting plants with desirable characteristics for propagation, to more complex molecular...
. With Swingle
Walter Tennyson Swingle
Walter Tennyson Swingle was an American agricultural botanist who was born in Canaan, Pennsylvania and moved with his family to Kansas two years later. He graduated from the Kansas State Agricultural College in 1890, and studied in Bonn in 1895-96 and 1898...
he originated citrange
Citrange
The citrange is a hybrid of the sweet orange and the trifoliate orange. The purpose of this cross was to attempt to create a cold-hardy citrus tree with delicious fruit. However, citranges are generally bitter....
s, a hardy citrous fruit, by hybridization. He retired from active service in 1936.
Herbert J. Webber coined the word “clone” in 1903 and was the first to use it to describe a colony of organisms derived asexually from a single progenitor. Webber’s contribution to “a more exact expression to our thoughts” found quick acceptance among scientists.
He was on the editorial board of the famous work The Citrus Industry which is now in public domain.