INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. XI 



country various attempts have been made, the latest 

 and best being those of Mr. Hogg, to reduce the 

 classification of some fruits at least to something like 

 a system ; but the difficulties are enormous, varieties 

 being so numerous, while the differences between 

 them is so trifling; and while the present general 

 ignorance on the subject prevails, the evil is likely 

 not only to continue but to increase, because worth- 

 less varieties are needlessly multiplied, and fresh 

 names continually given by persons unacquainted 

 with those already bestowed. Some judgment on 

 this point may be formed from the fact that the 

 catalogue of the Horticultural Society recorded some 

 years ago as many as 897 varieties of apples, many 

 of them with numerous synonyms (the Golden Pippin 

 alone bears sixteen different titles) , yet, says Glennie, 

 " a good judge will discriminate each, and recognize 

 the new varieties which are continually * arising." 

 Still it is much to be desired that, without burdening 

 the memory with such a load as this, some broad 

 marks of distinction could be discovered in every 

 fruit, which would enable any one who chose to devote 

 a little attention to the subject to assign at once any 



