METHODS OF WORK IN SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 91 



interested in other studies of plants, for botany and pomology 

 are always in close touch. 



The pomologist must have thorough familiarity with the 

 terminology of systematic botany, gained only by study and 

 experience, to describe without doubts as to meanings of words 

 and to choose the most accurate and illuminating terms. Even 

 so, much that he sets down is but an expression of personal 

 judgments and not records of exact facts. This must always 

 be kept in mind in interpreting the descriptions of another. Is 

 the quality good or best ? Is the flavor tart or mild ? Is a grape 

 foxy or musky? Is a fruit large or very large? Is the bloom 

 light or heav}^? The answers are largely personal opinions 

 which carry weight in accordance with the pomological reputa- 

 tion of the describer. 



137. Pomological nomenclature. — Classification presupposes 

 nomenclature. Names of plants are names of groups; to group 

 is to classify; naming is classifying. Classification and nomen- 

 clature go together in systematic pomology, and are so intimately 

 connected that neither subject can be considered alone. Some 

 systematists seem to deal only with names, and thus have 

 brought systematic work in the natural sciences in disrepute. 

 Controversies over nomenclature there have always been and 

 alwaA's will be, most of which arise from attempts to make hard 

 and fast rules that will cover all cases, and because the rules of 

 some codes are retroactive. These faults, when marked, instigate 

 the making of new codes. In horticultural plants, also, the 

 names of varieties have money value to introducers of novelties, 

 so that rigid rules which are retroactive may cause serious finan- 

 cial loss. Unfortunately the nomenclature of pomologj^ has 

 never been governed by a code which the majority of pomologists 

 would recognize. 



In the United States by common consent pomologists in ex- 

 periment stations and agricultural colleges have for many years 

 used the codes of nomenclature adopted from time to time by 

 the American Pomological Society. Nurserymen and fruit- 

 growers who follow any code also recognize that of the American 

 Pomological Society as the authority, but many workers in the 

 fruit industries are a law unto themselves in the matter of plant 

 names with the result that there is much confusion in pomologi- 



