26 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY. 



AX ARTIFICIAL KEY. 



After reviewing tlie many systems of classifying apples, many 

 of them very elaljorate and the product of much painstalcing labor 

 and researcli, the writer offers the following conclusions: 



I. Tlie arranging of apples into families based on natural affinities 

 is a great aid to the memory. This is true of all s^'stems of natural 

 classifications. 



II. If all varieties of apples were sharply defined in their charac- 

 teristics the natural systems, as those of Diel and Lucas, would be 

 of easy application, if properly combined with an artificial classifica- 

 tion based on form, season, etc., as outlined by Lucas. But man}' 

 varieties present characteristics which are a mingling of two or more 

 classes, and these defy all attempts at close classification. 



III. It would be of considerable help to arrange apples as far as 

 possilile l>y groups named after the most typical representative of 

 that group. American pomologists now often speak of the Ben 

 Davis type or groui), being that well-known variety and what are 

 proljubly its numerous seedlings; the Fameusc t}'iie, comprising a 

 number of sorts with clo«c affinities to the mother variety; the Olden- 

 1jurg type, which is a very large one in the Xorthwest owing to the 

 wide popularity of that variety; the Hiliernal type, including a 

 nmiiljer of extra hardy Piussians. In Minnesota the numerous seedlings 

 of Wealthy now appearing show close affinilies to its parent. This 

 modern development of the natural classification idea merits further 

 study. 



IV. The marvellous development of commercial orcharding in 

 recent )-ears ]vd^ not been favoral)le to increase in number of varieties. 

 Conunercial fruil-gnjwers prefer the few of best scjrts rather than 

 a large assortment with few trees of a kind. Hence the ne("'d for 

 classification of varieties is not yet as apparent as in Europe where a 

 grealcr variety is demanded in the small specimen orchards. 



V. The belief of Downing that the classification of the apples 

 of the United States is impracticaljle, if not impossible, is prolialily 

 nearer to the truth than any l>elief to the contrary. It could be 

 done with the ajiples for any particular r(\n:ion with not too large an 

 area. On the other hand, the alphabetical or dictionary style of arrang- 

 ing descriptions is not serviceable when the name of the fruit in hand 

 is not kno"\vn. 



