Dirfjiculty of identifying Varieties of Fruit. 49 



Art. IV. Some, Remarks on the Difficnltij of identifying the Vari- 

 eties of Fruits. By 11. Manning, Esq. 



In examining the different pomological autliorities, for the purpose 

 of identifying our fruits, we immediately perceive that their descrip- 

 tions are so much at variance, that it is impossible to reconcile the 

 different names and synonimes with each other. The writers of 

 these descriptions, indeed, have in most cases seen only the fruits, 

 sent to them, perhaps from a distance, and by persons unacquainted 

 with pomology : whereas, no one should attempt a description, with- 

 out having seen the bearing trees, and critically examined the leaf, 

 the wood, and the peculiar growth of each tree. 



The French, the German, and the English languages are enriched 

 with many books on fruits, some of them of high excellence. For 

 deep research, and accuracy of observation, the old edition of Duha- 

 mel is certainly unrivalled among French works on this subject ; and 

 by all who have bestowed an}- attention upon horticulture, has inva- 

 riably been acknowledged as the standard authority. But it is sup- 

 posed that many of the fruits described by Duhamel, differ from 

 those of Germany and of the old English authors. A new edition of 

 Duhamel, which should include all the latter acquisitions to this de- 

 lightful science, was therefore anticipated with much gratification 

 by the lovers of pomology. I fear that their hopes have been, in 

 some measure, disappointed. The new edition (which is in the 

 possession of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society) is certainly a 

 superb work in external appearance, and especially superb in price. 

 It is elegantly printed, and the figures are executed with great splen- 

 dor. But I regret to observe, that in many instances, the editors 

 have deviated from the first edition, to which, on the contrary, they 

 should have strictly adhered, except in the case of fruits which have 

 been brought into notice since its publication. The high and long 

 established character of the original work, should have preserved it 

 sacred from all interpolations, or supposed amendments, however 

 specious. The new fruits should have been added separately ; and 

 in describing them, as well as the wood, the leaves, &;c., the editors 

 should have emulated the critical accuracy and precision of the great 

 author, whose labors they were endeavoring to render more exten- 

 sively useful to the modern public. But so far is this from being the 

 case, that many of the fruits appear to have been sent from distant 

 departments, and are sometimes described, and the names affixed, by 

 those who sent them ; and sometimes, being deemed by the editors 

 other and distinct varieties, have received new names. This is the 

 more surprising, as no one is ignorant of the bewildering variety of 

 shapes and colors frequently assumed by the same fruit, in different 

 soils and expositions. By a little caution, all these errors might have 

 been avoided ; but caution seems to be no attribute of the French 



