Herold graduated from the Agricultural College Hohenheim in 1925, worked at a grape breeding station in Naumburg 1926-1928 and in 1928 became the head of a grape breeding station in Weinsberg, which during his early years was called Württembergischen Anstalt für Rebenzüchtung und Rebenpfropfung and from 1947 Staatliche Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt für Wein- und Obstbau (LVWO).
The ensuing fires were too much for the local brigade to handle; help had to be called from places such as Gronau, Lauffen am Neckar, Untereisesheim, Schwaigern and Weinsberg, among others.