388 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



IDENTIFICATION OF VARIETIES OF ORCHARD 



FRUITS. 



N view of the progress of our experimental work in fruits in the Prov- 

 ince of Ontario, and of a large number of varieties^new and old — 

 under test at our Experiment Stations, all of which must be described 

 with reference to their adaptability to Canada, it is important that we ' 

 duly consider the characteristic points and their proper descriptive 

 terms. Some years ago, Mr. H. E. Van Deman, then U. S. Pomol- 

 ogist, wrote a paper for the American Pomological Society, which we consider 

 of sufficient interest to students of Horticulture in Canada to reproduce in these 

 pages, as follows : 



All classification of natural objects may be said to be only approximately 

 correct and strictly arbitrary. The established rules for such classification are 

 frequently found to be unsuitable. The further we proceed with this classifica- 

 tion the more complex and difficult it becomes. It is easier to distinguish and 

 separate the natural orders of plants than the genera and species ; and when the 

 subdivisions of species are reached, even the most learned doctors disagree. At 

 this critical place and upon this treacherous ground the pomologist is obliged to 

 make his way. 



To be able to recognize every variety of our commonest fruits is utterly 

 impossible, even by the most experienced. However, by carefully studying 

 certain characteristics, and having a vast deal of experience with specimens 

 grown under different conditions of culture, soil, and climate, one may become 

 able to generally determine the names of varieties. To give in a sample way 

 my views of what may be the cardinal points in such identification, is the sub- 

 stance of the hope that inspired the present attempt. 



All will agree that certain characteristics of fruits are more constant than 

 others ; these known and we will have gained one point. To my mind, con- 

 sidering all classes, there is no one character so fixed as the form. This will in 

 the main prove true of all kinds, and as well of the immature as the fully devel- 

 oped specimens. Take the apple or pear before fully out of bloom and a differ- 

 ence of varieties may be noticed by their elongated, rounded, or irregular forrrs. 



To some persons all babies are alike, but not so to the nurse or mother. 

 So of the observant pomologist and his fruit. A Chenango the size of a marble 

 is not the shape of a Rambo, nor would a Vicar half so large be taken for a 

 Sheldon. Indeed it would not be hard to tell the difference between such 

 marked varieties even before their petals had expanded. A cluster of the com- 

 pactly formed Elvira grape could be told from one of Creveling, or even Con- 

 cord, when only large enough to be observed at all. With growth these peculiar 

 forms enlarge rather than change. Even starvation would not materially alter 

 their shape. Let this then be our main guide in identifying varieties. Of course 

 there are frequent, sometimes radical, variations from the typical forms, occur- 



