24 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



those specimens which fairly and fully pre- 

 sent the characters of the whole lot. 



Within reasonable limits, the larger the sam- 

 ple the better the notion which one can form 

 of the variety, and the more accurate the de- 

 scription which one can render. An entire 

 bushel basketful of apples or peaches is not 

 too many. Yet even from these one will 

 naturally choose a few specially well-formed 

 and typical specimens for critical examination 

 while making up his notes. Usually five to 

 eight such specimens, carefully selected, will 

 form the most convenient and satisfactory 

 basis of a description. 



The simplest and easiest way to make a 

 description is to draw it from a single speci- 

 men. If special care is taken to secure one 

 fruit which represents the variety fairly in all 

 points, such a method is not particularly objec- 

 tionable. Beginners may be allowed to fol- 

 low this plan for a time, but it should by no 

 means be permitted to come into customary 

 use. 



The descriptive value of a good picture is 

 very great indeed. This is recognized every- 

 where. Even the daily papers use pictures to 

 enforce their description of places and their 



