1879] REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 2$ 



in bearing, and declares authoritatively that the name is French 

 and should be pronounced, — Hornay ! 



Your Secretary has been impressed with its strong resem- 

 blance to the Northumberland, and would not doubt their 

 identity, did not the Hornet occasionally offer a larger berry 

 and appear more tenacious of its foliage. 



Should this matter seem to have claimed too much attention, it 

 must be borne in mind that you were incorporated to " improve 

 " the science " of Horticulture ; whereof an exact and definite 

 Nomenclature must ever constitute a significant feature. No 

 Society can afford to encourage spurious genera or species. 

 You declined to do so, heretofore, in a flagrant instance. * There 

 cannot be too much caution, although future precise observation 

 should determine it to be needless among Raspberries. 



The matter of a correct Nomenclature has been referred to 

 incidentally. But can its actual importance be exaggerated.? 

 How many of the Members of this Society pause to consider 

 what a card means, inscribed — " For name .? " — or how much 

 anxiety and positive labor such requests impose. Whatever 

 self-interest or prejudice may be disposed to allege against any 

 of your other Committees ; — none have been moved by " envy, 

 "hatred or malice," (from which, here as elsewhere, " Good Lord 

 deUver us!") to challenge the competency of your Committee 

 on Nomenclature. Your Secretary, at least, from an official 

 observation of almost twenty years in duration, can attest to 

 the close devotion ot that Committee, with its membership 

 changed but by death, to their more than usually thankless 

 task. You are solicited to plant a Pear-tree named Fondante d' 

 Automne. Precise nomenclature assures you that such Roses 

 will smell as sweet if called Belle Lucrative. You are told that 

 the Brockworth Park is one of the best Pears recently intro- 

 duced ; and the proof of that pudding makes you acquainted 

 with the Bonne de Zees, — of approved character and without 

 cause for change of name. An illustration of the general sub- 

 ject maybe drawn from the subjoined letter, written by one 

 who has no superior as a Pomologist, and who will perhaps par- 



* In the case of the so-called " Main, Grape." 



4 



