 After his permanent successor, J. Hillis Miller, was selected in 1947, Hume continued his work in agriculture, and was later named chairman of the administrative committee of the Inter-American Institute of Agricultural Sciences.Clemson University awarded him an honorary doctor of science degree in recognition of his achievements in agricultural science.Hume retired from the University of Florida faculty on June 30, 1949, but he continued to write and publish major books and journal articles on his favorite horticulture topics, including citrus fruits, azaleas and camellias.