Report of the Committee on Nomenclature. 125 



"2. That about all our American Horticultural Society can do is to second 

 that work by adopting the Pomological Society's revisions and suggestions, and by 

 urging upon all our members the observance of the rules of nomenclature of the 

 American Pomological Society, and especially by urging nurserymen to make 

 their catalogues as correct as possible in nomenclature; thus correctly educating 

 their patrons. 



" 3. That in other branches of horticulture we urge a similar reform ; that is, 

 among seedsmen and gardeners, that they reform their names, dispense with the 

 numerous synonyms, and abbreviate consistently. 



" 4. That we recommend to the Department of Agriculture to confer with the 

 committees on nomenclature of the various societies, and, with their aid^ prepare 

 a set of works describing accurately each distinct and well-known variety of fruit, 

 grain, vegetable, grass and flower, with the leading name, as the authoritative one, 

 and synonyms following, so that old varieties under new names could be easily 

 traced to their true position and correct name, upon some system of arrangement 

 similar to that of Downing's 'Fruits and Fruit Trees of America.' 



" 5. That the departmen! keep the work up to the times by supplements and 

 revisions, since the publication of such a work truly belongs to the general gov- 

 ernment, as no individual can afford to do it, such works being in demand by so 

 few that they yield the publisher no profits, and yet, as standards for reference, 

 they are highly important, aiding greatly in the prevention of frairid by dishonest 

 dealers in selling old varieties under new names. 



" 6. Such works should be kept in constant and sufficient supply by the depart- 

 ment, for distribution at cost, to meet all demands. 



" 7. Committees on nomenclature should secure the correct names and descrip- 

 tions of all new varieties, and report the same to their respective societies, and, 

 through them, to the Department of Agriculture." 



Being fully in sympathy with the foregoing suggestions of my associates, I 

 may indulge in a few remarks respecting the objects sought and the difficulties in 

 the way of their accomplishment. 



Aside from the enactment of the requisite rules for the control of nomen- 

 clature, doubtless the most effective means of advancing the desired object in this, 

 as in most similar matters, is to insist, even pertinaciously, upon adherence to such 

 rules in the discussion of varieties during the sessions of the Society, and to adhere 

 rigidly to their application in its published transactions. If, in addition to this, 

 nurserymen, and writers upon the subject, can be induced to apply such rules in 

 their catalogues and other publications, the object may be assumetl to be prac- 

 tically accomplished. It may properly be added that a society is doubtless better 

 with no rules whatever than, having them, omit their enforcement. 



The American Pomological Society is devoted exclusively to the work indi- 

 cated by its title, while the American Horticultural Society ostensibly covers the 

 entire field of horticulture, which, in the modern sense of that word, also includes 

 pomology; to which, in fact, its labors so far have been largely devoted. Since 

 the truth is obvious, therefore, that these two independent organizations can not 

 otherwise work effectively to the end suggested in Mr. Munson's first and second 

 propositions, it would seem necessary, if the information accumulated by each is 

 to be utilized, that there be not only an understanding effected between these 



