435 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



known that any detailed description is unnecessary. Judged by the 

 highest standards, however, it cannot be considered a completely 

 satisfactory production. Such descriptive works should belong to 

 one of two categories : the popular work in simple language for the 

 amateur or the detailed technical work for the expert. " The Fruit 

 Manual " falls between these two. Too detailed and technical for the 

 average amateur, it is not systematic enough to pass into the highest 

 standard. HOGG was too much inclined to treat his fruits as museum 

 specimens. His references to the tree are few indeed, and many 

 things go to show that his study of the fruit commenced with its arrival 

 in the fruit-room rather than with its development on the tree. A 

 small point in confirmation may be quoted. In describing the stems 

 of apples he often refers to a " knobbed " stem or to an " extraordinarily 

 thick and fleshy " one. This character is constant in certain apples, 

 but by no means in all the varieties in which he describes it. A closer 

 acquaintance with the tree itself would have shown that, when the 

 central or " king " blossom of a truss is set, the stem is always much 

 more stout and fleshy and the basin shallower than in those cases 

 where a flower from the side of a truss is set, in which case the stem 

 is always longer. Another fatal error was that HOGG sometimes made 

 his descriptions from a single fruit sent him by a correspondent. This, 

 it is hardly necessary to say, is against all the rules of accurate descrip- 

 tion, and the fact that he did not realize it throws a doubt on all 

 his work. Another criticism must be passed on his lack of system in 

 description. A character will be mentioned in one fruit and omitted 

 in the next. It is evident also that some of the fruits he included 

 had never been seen by him, as certain descriptions are borrowed 

 without acknowledgment from other writers. Notwithstanding these 

 faults, there is much to be thankful for in the " Fruit Manual," and 

 an especially good feature is the careful historical notes after each 

 variety. HOGG gathered together a huge amount of information, and 

 stands out as the greatest pomologist of his time. One can only 

 regret that a little more care and system were not applied, for they 

 would have made the " Fruit Manual " worthy to stand by the best 

 systematic works of any country. 



The most recent pomological work of any extent is the " Hereford- 

 shire Pomona." This was edited by Dr. HOGG and Dr. HENRY GRAVES 

 BULL, and published in 1876-1885 (3 vols. 410.). The text is by Dr. 

 HOGG, and is taken practically word for word from the " Fruit Manual." 

 The introductory chapters upon the history and lore of the apple are 

 by Dr. BULL and are of much interest, especially such parts as relate 

 to the West Country. The coloured plates are very good. A con- 

 siderable number of fruits is shown on each plate, generally without 

 foliage. This book is valuable for its records of more modern fruits 

 which are not elsewhere figured. 



This list comprises all the most important descriptive works 

 published in this country. Of cultural works there has never been 

 so great an output as, for instance, in France. Of the older writers 



