425 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A finely illustrated work based on DITTRICH'S book was published 

 later, entitled " Deutsches Obstcabinet in naturgetreuen fein-colorirten 

 Abbildungen . . . zu Dittrichs systematischem Handbuch. . ." (4to., 

 Jena, 1855-6-7-8). This is a very valuable book. The plates are a 

 little rough, but are all well drawn. Apples are shown in section as 

 well as the whole fruit. The core is generally drawn separately, as 

 are the seeds. In the section dealing with peaches, leaves and flowers 

 are added. A notable feature is the excellent series of cherries and 

 nuts, the latter having nowhere as far as I have found been so well 

 illustrated in colour. The text is occupied only with references to 

 the plates, and does not supplant DITTRICH'S own descriptions. 



There is some difficulty as to the different editions of this work. 

 The first is probably dated 1853-60, but as I have never seen this I 

 quote above from the edition in my possession, which is probably 

 the second. 



There are two other systematic pomologists whose works were 

 published about this time who deserve mention. The first is F. W. 

 HINKERT, Principal of the Pomological School of Weyhenstephan. His 

 work consists of three octavo volumes and was entitled " Systematisch- 

 geordnetes Handbuch der Pomologie " (Munich, 1836). It describes 

 all hardy fruits in a clear manner, and is a work which, if not 

 indispensable, is a desirable occupant of a pomologist's library. 



DOCHNAHL'S work, " Der sichere Fiihrer in der Obstkunde," was 

 published in four small octavo volumes. The first (1855) describes 

 1263 apples ; the second (1856) 1050 pears ; the third (1858) is devoted 

 to stone fruits, and the last (1860) to nuts and small fruits. By a 

 careful system of abbreviation an enormous amount of information 

 was compressed into these small volumes, each of which can be put 

 into the pocket. A great feature is the careful synonymy, which forms 

 a valuable guide to other literature. All fruits are classified, and in some 

 cases the system is original. The descriptions are of necessity somewhat 

 brief, but the work as a whole is invaluable for reference. 



In 1859 the publication of the classical " Illustriertes Handbuch der 

 Obstkunde " was begun under the joint editorship of JAHN, LUCAS, 

 and OBERDIECK. This work contains without doubt more descriptions 

 of fruits than can be found in any other publication. It consists of 

 eight volumes. A general index was published with the eighth 

 volume in 1875. The plan of the work is to give an outline 

 drawing of each fruit with a full description ; and while the earlier 

 volumes deal with one kind of fruit only, e.g. vol. i., apples, vol. ii., 

 pears, later issues take all fruits so as to bring it up to date. It would 

 be difficult to overrate the importance of this work in the history 

 of German fruit culture, both for its value as the standard work of 

 reference for the old varieties and for the publication of accurate 

 descriptions of the new ones. Three supplementary volumes must be 

 added to the nine mentioned above : a list of additions and corrections, 

 " Zusatze und Berichtigungen zu Bandeni.undiv.," by J. OBERDIECK, 

 1868, a supplementary volume on pears by LUCAS and OBERDIECK, 



