Швейцария-Америка шарапшысы Герман Ягер

Swiss American viticulturist

Hermann Jaeger (March 23, 1844 – c. May 17, 1895) was a Swiss American viticulturist, honored as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor for his part in saving the French wine industry from the phylloxera root louse pest.

Hermann Jaeger was born on March 23, 1844, in Brugg, Switzerland, the sixth child of Charles and Mary Custer Jaeger. His father was a farmer and merchant and his mother had half siblings who were the grandchildren of Swiss educator, Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. Jaeger was educated in public schools until the age of sixteen and then served an apprenticeship at a dry good store from 1860 to 1863. In 1863 he worked at a wine business near Lake Geneva. In 1864, Jaeger emigrated to the United States, arriving first at the port of Norfolk, Virginia. In 1865, he settled on a 40 acre farm near Neosho in Newton County, Missouri. Shortly afterwards, his brother John settled on an adjoining 40 acre property. They merged their farms and in 1866, they planted their first vineyards. One of his most notable hybrids was Jaeger 70, which became an ancestor of many of today's hybrid grapes. The eastern cuttings he used in his hybrids unintentionally introduced downy mildew, a potentially devastating blight on vineyards. In response, he developed a solution of sulfur, iron sulfate, and copper sulfate which he applied as a spray on his vines. The treatment was successful and he was acknowledged as a pioneer in the application of chemical sprays to control crop disease.