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Sam Van Aken: The Tree Of 40 Fruit

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"The Tree of 40 Fruit" is as magical as it sounds.

Sam Van Aken, artist and Syracuse University professor, uses what is known as the grafting technique to grow a tree that bears 40 different kinds of fruits.

Simply put, the process involves taking out a branch from a tree and inserting it into a slit of the branch of the "working tree". It will then be wrapped with a tape until it completely heals for a certain time frame. Come spring time, the "working tree" blossoms into several hues of pink and purple. Then when it's summer time, it bears numerous stone fruits like peaches, nectarines, cherries, apricots, plums, and almonds.

The impressive concept originated back in 2008 when Van Aken chanced upon an abandoned orchard holding varieties

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