193 
George Russell and his Famed Lupins 
The Russell Lupines represent 20 year’s 
work of a little known gardener, whose 
name is likely to become a by-word amongst 
flower lovers the world over. 
Having tried, with no little success, grow- 
ing the various subjects which fall to the 
lot of every gardener, this young man of 60 
who had little theoretical knowledge, but 
had learnt a great deal from a keen study 
of nature, decided to devote the rest of his 
life to a definite object, and some old- 
fashioned blue and white Lupines exhibited 
at York Gala in 1911 fired his imagination. 
His Start in Improvement 
He made a start by buying plants of 
every known variety and writing to all corn- 
ers of the world for seed. When they 
flowered, he must have felt that long life 
was promised or he would never have had 
the courage to carry on with such unpro- 
mising material. 
A start had to be made somewhere and 
he decided to eliminate all but one or two 
of the better types and so he continued 
year after year, feeling he was making pro- 
gress, but more often than not, realising 
he would be an old man before his dreams 
came true. 
The patience of the fisherman is quoted 
as something rather wonderful, but it pales to 
insignificance besides that of George Russell 
who, when past three score years and ten 
carried on, although it meant waiting from 
June to June for nature to disclose the 
secrets of his work. 
At last in 1925, at an age when most 
people are satisfied with an armchair in 
the corner, results began to come; a better 
type of flower, colors not seen before, and 
Mr. Russell knew that success was around 
the corner, the years had not been wasted! 
The Russell Lupin Recognized 
People began to talk and from 1932 on- 
wards, the road alongside the allotment 
where they were grown became the Mecca 
of gardeners in June, when the plants were 
in flower. 
Trade growers made tempting offers but 
they were allowed to admire, but Mr. Russ- 
ell was not yet satisfied. 
He was making his living as a jobbing 
gardener. Money was of little importance 
and for a long time he could not make up 
his mind to distribute them and from 1930 
onwards, he had been receiving offers, 
which would have tempted many who were 
much better placed in regards to the com- 
forts of the world; $250.00 for one plant, 
$250.00 each for many others and $50.00 
for a thimbleful of seed from an enthusias- 
tic American. He refused them all, includ- 
ing a Royal Gardener and many bigwigs 
of the Seed and Nursery trade! He was 
not yet ready. 
At last, realizing his attitude sevoured 
of ‘the dog in the manger,” he decided 
his joys would be increased by sharing with 
others. 
When making arrangements for the dis- 
tributation, financial reward was not the 
first consideration. He wanted the strain 
associated with his name, and to turn it 
to account in building a career for a boy 
who, for some years, had helped him in his 
work. When eventually it was agreed that 
the Bakers should have the privilege of 
taking over the future development and 
distribution, it was conditional on the boy 
being given an opportunity of continuing the 
work he, too, had grown to love. 
Public Recognition 
The least sensitive observer of this new 
strain of Lupines will surely be conscious 
of the great boon which Mr. Russell’s de- 
votion and perseverance has bestowed upon 
the world. In almost any walk of life, art, 
industry, an equally notable achievement 
would have brought public recognition and 
honors but Mr. Russell, then well over 80 
years of age, justifiably proud of a task well 
done, still remained the old gardener of 
York, who does a job here and there where 
needed. 
