Alphonse Du Breuil

Alphonse Du Breuil or Dubreil (21 October 1811 – May 1890) was a French botanist and horticulturist. He was born and died in Rouen. In the Jardin des Plantes de Rouen he started the first school for the care of fruit trees. From 1853 he was professor of arboriculture at the Conservatoire des arts et métiers in Paris, and from 1848 was professor of agriculture at the École d'Agriculture. In 1848, he was professor of agriculture at the School of Agriculture and Rural Economy of the Department of the Seine-Maritime, as well as professor of arboriculture at the Jardin des Plantes de Rouen and in charge of the Primary Normal School of Rouen. He presented to the minister of agriculture and trade a draft decree for the teaching of horticulture which, however, remained unfulfilled. In 1853, he was a professor of arboriculture at the National Conservatory of Works and Arts Conservatoire des arts et métiers in Paris. He was charged by the Ministry of Agriculture to provide lectures on fruit growing for all district departments who desired them. He gave this course up until 1870. In 1867, he and Jean Darcel were made chief engineers of the Department of Bridges and Roads, responsible among other duties for the provision of gardens, footpaths, walkways and promenades in the city of Paris, along with responsibility for the municipal and departmental arboriculture for the whole city region of Paris. He was the founder of what was to become the Ecole Du Breuil. He retired in 1883. He died in Rouen in May 1890. Culture perfectionnée et moins coûteuse du vignoble, (Advanced and least expensive culture for the vineyard), Paris: Garnier, Masson, 1863. (This is a most comprehensive treatise on viticulture.) Les Vignobles et les arbres à fruits à cidre. L'olivier, le noyer, le mûrier et autres espèces économiques (Vineyards and cider fruit trees. The olive tree, walnut, mulberry and other economic species), Paris: Masson, Garnier, 1875. (An important course on agriculture.) Other Works: Amélioration des cidres, copie d'une lettre adressée à M.