PRINCIPLES OF CLASSIFICATION 135 



and several others all much like Ben Davis 

 in all their principal qualities. 



It will be seen at once that the arbitrary 

 method of classification is the easier to use. 

 It is easier to study varieties for agreements 

 or disagreements in one character than in 

 many characters. The arbitrary classification 

 is also easier to make, as well as easier to 

 use. Any natural classification is extremely 

 difficult with any kind of fruits, but especially 

 so with apples, pears, and strawberries. In 

 fact, with these fruits it is practically impos- 

 sible to make a natural classification cover- 

 ing more than a few specially well-defined 

 groups. 



The natural method of classification, how- 

 ever, is the better for all reasons, except that 

 of convenience. It is more scientific if that 

 adjective permits of comparison than the 

 arbitrary method, because it shows more of 

 the facts of relationship. Fruits which re- 

 semble each other in several particulars are 

 certain to be more closely related, in the 

 majority of cases, than those which resemble 

 only in one particular. The natural method 

 is, therefore, the one toward which the ambi- 

 tious pomologist always strives, but the arti- 



