122 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



what amusing case of the present time may 

 be mentioned to enforce this statement. A 

 certain famous Western plant breeder has 

 originated many good plums, and the variety 

 which seems to be the best production in all 

 his life's work was named Free Silver, because 

 the man was an ardent advocate of the free 

 coinage of the white metal at a ratio of 16 to 

 i, and a loyal supporter of William Jennings 

 Bryan. Now, after this variety had been ad- . 

 vertised for about two years under this name, 

 and had been distributed to some extent, the 

 entire stock remaining in the hands of the 

 originator was bought up by one of the best, 

 most careful, and conservative nurserymen in 

 the United States. But this man is a rank 

 Republican and a gold-standard man from 

 start to finish. Whatever his horticultural 

 principles might be, his political principles 

 would not permit him to advertise, praise, and 

 circulate anything under the name of Free 

 Silver. So he unhesitatingly renamed the 

 plum, calling it Terry. Yet this man is a 

 high pomological official, and, more than any 

 one else in the country almost, interested in 

 upholding the rules. Unquestionably his 

 provocation was very great. 



