134 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



very unlike in most other characteristics ; and 

 conversely we would discover that many va- 

 rieties, though strikingly alike in the majority 

 of their characters, had been separated into 

 distinct groups by our arbitrary method of 

 classification. 



To illustrate the natural method of classi- 

 fication among apples we may refer to the 

 fairly well-recognized Fameuse group. This 

 includes Fameuse (Snow), Mclntosh, Shi- 

 awassee, Sweet Fameuse, Louise, Green Fa- 

 meuse, and others all having certain points 

 of resemblance. They are usually red (but 

 not always) ; they have tender skin, soft, ten- 

 der, very white flesh, with pinkish markings 

 running through it, a peculiar flavor and 

 aroma, and a medium early season of ripen- 

 ing. The Fameuse group, therefore, is 

 founded on natural resemblances. In deter- 

 mining these resemblances the apples are 

 considered in all their characters, not in 

 some single one. 



Persons who are not familiar with apples of 

 the Fameuse group may understand this 

 point better by calling up the Ben Davis 

 group. This consists of Ben Davis, Gano, 

 Black Ben Davis, Beach (Apple of Commerce), 



