POMOLOGICAL REFORM. 



177 



of new sorts brought into notice ; and po- 

 mology will soon assume the character of 

 fi science. 



Along with this new order of things for 

 Xh.e future, something must also be done to 

 prevent continual perplexity and confusion 

 with regard to the past. That all pomolo- 

 gical works of the last thirty years have 

 not been written with the accuracy that has 

 characterised other branches of natural his- 

 tory, is greatly to be deplored. To attempt, 

 however, to remodel every thing that has 

 been done, to alter names extensively, and 

 to reconstruct the old with the same method 

 as we may do the new, would be a vain and 

 hopeless task. It would only make confu- 

 sion worse confounded. 



The best that can be done with the pomo- 

 logy of the past, is to select the latest and 

 most authentic work on either side of the 

 Atlantic, and establish these as the stand- 

 ard for the names of all fruits already 

 known and described. By doing this, we 

 shall at least secure uniformity, and some- 

 thing like stability in the names of the old 

 varieties. 



The London Horticultural Society^s Cata- 

 logue will, we think, by general consent, 

 be chosen as the standard Eu7-opea7i autho- 

 rity. The great and extraordinary facili- 

 ties enjoyed in that garden, and unceasing 

 devotion there to the subject, for many years 

 past, have given this work, though it is not 

 without defects, a higher character, in many 

 respects, than any other of foreign origin. 



In all matters relating to American fruits, 

 some American work, of well established 

 reputation, must also be taken as the stand- 

 ard. 



With the past thus to be settled by re- 

 ference to recognized authorities, as stand- 

 ards, and all action in the future controlled 

 by judicious established rules, we may hope 

 that this most interesting branch of horti- 

 VoL. II. 23 



culture, of so much general importance to 

 the country, will be relieved of the embar- 

 rassments that have so long surrounded it. 

 Impressed, as we are, wiih the importance 

 of this subject, we have addressed a circular 

 to several of our leading horticultural socie- 

 ties, in various parts of the country, asking 

 their attention to it, and suggesting such 

 rules as we believe, would, in a great de- 

 gree, cover the ground. We learn already, 

 that the matter will be likely speedily to 

 receive favorable attention, and we hope to 

 publish such Pomological Rules as shall be 

 adopted, in the next number of the Horti- 

 culturist. 



This subject is attracting the attention 

 of many intelligent horticulturists in various 

 parts of the country. The following re- 

 marks on the new seedling Ohio strawber- 

 ries, by Mr. Beecher, are from the Wes- 

 tern Farmer and Gardener : 



" We are about to have an immense in- 

 crease of seedlings. The process of origi- 

 nation is not difficult. Many amateurs are 

 already sending forth dozens of kinds. Are 

 these experiments conducted with any spe- 

 cial aim ? What are the faults of the old 

 kinds ? Are the new sorts bred with refe- 

 rence to certain desiderata ? The mere 

 fact that a kind is new, and large, and 

 good, does not entitle it to a name, and a 

 price of five dollars a dozen plants. There 

 is no special merit in raising very good 

 sorts. No straicberry ought to go forth, 2171- 

 less i7i sovte respect it is decidedly better than 

 established kinds. 



Our attention has been more especially 

 directed to this matter, by the recent report 

 of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, 

 upon seven seedlings of Mr. Burr's, Colum- 

 bus, Ohio. We should have been glad to 

 have had the report more explicit upon two 

 points, and if any of the gentlemen on the 

 committee will yet give us the information, 

 we shall feel obliged to him. 



First. Do the committee state on their 

 own knowledge, the habits of the kinds men- " 

 tioned ? Or, is it stated upon the testimo-- 

 ny of Mr. Burr, that one "bears well;') 



