II 



POMOLOGICAL RULES. 



In the foregoing chapter I tried to point out the pressing need of 

 an agreed system of nomenclature for fruits and vegetables. I also 

 alluded there to the rules now in vogue, and ventured the guess that 

 not many persons knew of their existence. I am sure that many 

 otherwise well-informed horticulturists do not know what these rules 

 are ; and we all see too plainly that many of us who ought to be 

 most careful to maintain them are very careless in observing them. 

 It may not be considered wholly gratuitous, therefore, if I transcribe 

 here the rules adopted by the American Pomological Society to 

 govern the nomenclature of fruits. These are practically all the rules 

 we have ; they are fairly complete and satisfactory ; and, at any rate, 

 matters would be greatly improved if they could be generally en- 

 forced : 



1. The originator or introducer (in the order named) has 

 the prior right to bestow a name upon a new or unnamed fruit. 



2. The society reserves the right, in case of long, inappro- 

 priate, or otherwise objectionable names, to shorten, modify, 

 or wholly change the same when they shall occur in its discus- 

 sions or reports, and also to recommend such names for general 

 adoption. 



3. The name of a fruit should preferably express, as far 

 as practicable by a single word, the characteristics of the 

 variety, the name of the originator, or the place of its origin. 

 Under no ordinary circumstances should more than a single 

 word be employed. 



4. Should the question of priority arise between different 

 names for the same variety of fruit, other circumstances being 

 equal, the name first publicly bestowed will be given prefer- 

 ence. 



These rules possess the soul of wit, and are therefore fairly clear. 

 Still their various applications need to be carefully considered, and 

 some discussion of them may prove profitable. 



