The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-12-22
NOTED GROWER OF.
FRUIT IN STRAITS
Leu Gin Gong Is Living As
Hermit In Florida
WINNER OF MEDAL
World Known Chinese Horticul-
turalist Specialized in Or
anges, Grape Fruit.
Associated Press Dispatoh-l

De Land, Fla. December Ale
su Gin Gong, internationally known
horticulturlst, president" Of a
Chinese Republic" and holder of
the Wilder Medal awarded by the
u. S. department Of agriculture, Is
at his home here dependent upon
the generosity of friends, feeble and
broken, with heavy mortgage upon
his home, which for many years
has been one Of the show places Of
central Florida
Friends in De Land are supplying
his sustenance and have TAX
en- charge of his business affairs in
the hope of clearing up his debts.
Leu resides on his estate with Fan
n.y." mare which for twenty years
has bean his pet and sole com
panion. He lives virtually the life Of
a hermit and during the last six
teen years has visited De Land. the
nearest town, but four times.
Leu has numerous horticulture &C.
complishments to his credit, but the
best known is the Leu Gin Gong
orange, perfected in 1887 by crossing
the Mediterranean Sweet and
Harris Lane varieties and for which
he received the Wilder medal The
tree of this variety viii thrive in a
climate too cold for others while
the fruit will remain on the tree
several years and maintain its max
imnm mount Of juice and flavor.
Investigated Grape Fruit
In 1890, Leu investigated the
grapefruit and produced a cross OF
the common Florida grapefruit and
the tri foliage orange. The fruit is
of superior quality and the tree can
frx.rn no 6ffaar dapTaNQ
lower temperature than ordinary
varities, Leu's last citrus develop
ment resulted In the perfumed
grapefruit, which win permeate a
house with an agreeable odor. it Is
a cross Of the pomegranate and
grapefruit
Leu also perfected the cherrx
currant in Massachusetts, cross
of the ordinary currant in Massa-
cheusetts, a cross of the ordinary
currant and the grape. In other
fields he produced an apple that rip
ened in July, late peach grown
under glass with the fruit ripening
in November, salmon colored
raspberry and q tomato plant that
grows to height of fifteen feet
Leu Born In China
Leu was born on farm near Can
SoAy SA44A&-1 IA AooSg 49, 49,
Francisco in March 1872 and went
to New England, where he was en-
pioyed by Solomon Buringhame OF
North Adams, Mass. He was adopt
ed by an unmarried daughter Of Mr..
Burlinghame's in 1874. Two years
later Leu was elected first "presi
dent" of the Chinese Republic" at a
meeting under large chestnut
tree In a cow pasture near North
Adams, held in connection with the
Centennial celebration to common
orate the one hundredth anniversary
of the signing of the Declaration
Of Independence R Chung. one Of
the members of the movement who
met with Leu, was ordered to China
with the news and to launch a
campaign. Chung died before he
reached China and the movement
ended there although some Of the
principles laid down by Leu are
now said to be incorporated in the
laws Of the present Chinese govern
ment
When Leu's foster mother died
the Burlinghame property near here
was left to him, and five per cent Of
the remainder Of the estate.