![[Department of Plant Biology and Pathology]](http://njaes.rutgers.edu/_common/images/subheads/plantbiopath.gif "[Department of Plant Biology and Pathology]"){kind=small}
The first Emma Lausten Horticultural Symposium was held on April 4, 2005 at the Cook College Campus Center from 8:15 AM until 5:30 PM. The theme is “Working together to solve the problems of the NJ horticultural industries”. The symposium introduced the Horticulture Program at Rutgers University, a new initiative to integrate research, teaching and outreach in horticulture in the Garden State. The keynote speaker was Dr. Fred T. Davies, Jr. a Rutgers University graduate and a distinguished professor at Texas A&M University. A reception and dinner at 5:30 PM honored Dr. Norman F. Childers, professor emeritus at Rutgers University and Chair of the Horticulture Department in the 1950s and 60s.
Cook College and Rutgers Cooperative Research & ExtensionCook Campus Center, Rutgers University
April 4, 2005
| Dr. Fred T. Davies Jr. received his B.A. and M.S. degree in horticulture/plant physiology from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. He is currently a professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A & M University. His research program is focused on ornamental nursery crop physiology, mycorrhizal fungi and international agriculture. His laboratory group has authored over 100 research and technical publications. Dr. Davies received the Distinguished Achievement Award for Nursery Crops from the American Society of Horticultural Sciences (ASHS) (1989), L.M. Ware Distinguished Research Award-ASHS-SR (1995) and was named a Fellow of the ASHS (2003). |  |
| Dr. Davies (left) chats with Extension Specialist Jim Johnson before his address. |
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Dr. Norman F. Childers, Rutgers University Professor Emeritus and currently Courtesy Professor Emeritus at the
University of Florida
Horticultural Sciences Department, is an internationally
renowned pomologist. Dr. Childers is a prolific writer and publisher of authoritative journal articles and books
regarding Blueberry Culture, Modern Fruit Science (“the bible” of the fruit industry), The Peach – World Cultivars to
Marketing, Nightshades and Health, A Diet to Stop Arthritis: The Nightshades and Ill Health, Arthritis: A Diet To Stop It,
Nutrition of Fruit Crops: Tropical Sub-Tropical Temperature, Tree and Small Fruits, Mineral Nutrition of Fruit Crops:
Deciduous and Evergreen Tree and Small Fruits. His most recent publication is “The Strawberry – Modern Production Techniques”. |
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| Dr Childers has continued to support Rutgers horticulture as an advisor to the faculty and through his contributions to scholarships that support students in all fields of horticulture. He provided leadership to the American Pomological Society in the establishment of the Henrick Awards to encourage gifted students to specialize in pomology. Moreover, he served as the founding chair for the awards committee. In addition, he established the Norman F. Childers Graduate Student Awards program in the American Society for Horticultural Science. | Dr.Childers accepts the Emma Lausten Horticultural Award for Excellence in Horticulture: Teaching, Research, & Outreach. |