
author
1875–1965
A pioneering horticulturist and educator, he helped shape Florida’s citrus and subtropical fruit industries while also building a long career in higher education. His books and bulletins reflect a practical, hands-on approach to growing pecans, citrus, and other Southern crops.

by H. Harold (Hardrada Harold) Hume
Born in Russell, Ontario, in 1875, Hardrada Harold Hume became a Canadian-born American horticulturalist, professor, and university administrator whose work was closely tied to the development of agriculture in the South. He studied at the Ontario Agricultural College and later earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Iowa State College before moving into botanical and horticultural research.
Hume is especially remembered for his work in Florida, where he joined the agricultural faculty at what became the University of Florida and built a reputation as an authority on citrus and subtropical fruits. He wrote extensively for growers, producing practical books and publications on topics such as citrus culture and pecans, and he was later recognized by the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame.
Alongside his writing and research, Hume also served in university leadership, including a term as interim president of the University of Florida in 1947 to 1948. He died in 1965, leaving behind a body of work valued for its clear, useful guidance and its lasting influence on Southern horticulture.