Hume was a native of Ontario, and earned bachelor's and master's degrees before embarking on a career as a research botanist, horticulturalist and professor.

Hume returned to Florida to accept a position as the general manager of the Glen St. Mary Nurseries Company, a leading grower of citrus trees.

Hume continued to write and publish articles during this time, notably including The Cultivation of Citrus Fruits (1926),[5] which became a standard reference in the field.

During the early 1930s, He was one of the key researchers working on methods to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly infestation that was threatening Florida's citrus industry.

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.