Richard,
I seem to vaguelly remember National Geographic reporting about a dig at a
monestary.  The did was in the garden and when the earth was disturbed many
of the seeds still in the ground began to grow.  Some of the species were
recognized, and some were not.  This is a little off of your subject, but
interesting none the less.
Sorry for the vague reference.  If I can find the article I will send it
on.  Stacey
----------
> From: RICHARD H KIMMEL <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject:
> Date: Friday, November 07, 1997 8:44 AM
>
>      Greetings Comrades-
>
>      Does anyone out there know of seed banks, historic demonstration
>      projects, or sites (Williamsburg??) that specialize in preserving or
>      propagating 19th-century varieties of agricultural plants and
animals?
>
>      I am interested because of research I have done on icehouses from
>      VA-NC Piedmont plantations and farms.  These were used into the 20th
>      century but I don't have much historic information on what went into
>      the icehouses.  I have seen some general references to varieties
>      (species?) but most of the diaries and informants don't mention
plants
>      by species or variety. So, I don't know if different varieties were
>      selected with a view toward differing preservation techniques.
Also,
>      if anyone has information which indicates that icehouses were used
for
>      anything other than household production, I would like to know that,
>      too.
>
>      Also, is anyone else out there documenting volunteer plants on
>      historic sites and putting seeds in banks. I have seen volunteer
>      grapes and pears on historic sites and I wonder if they are
varieties
>      that are lost today.
>
>      Richard Kimmel
>      [log in to unmask]