52 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY. 



Fifth, That we may place the facts we acquire regarding the 

 varioiis forms in positions where we can more easily find and 

 make use of them. 



Warder, one of our great pomologists of a half century ago, 

 declared that "Classification is the great need of American 

 Pomology." But little has been done since Warder's time and 

 the need has become increasingly urgent since then as our fruit 

 lists have become more extended. 



How Shall We Classify ? — There are still two methods of 

 classification in use in the sciences — ^the natural and the artifi- 

 cial. For most part these are quite distinct and are especially 

 so in their Avorking machinery, though their chief end, that of 

 arrangement, is the same, and they are combined somewhat in 

 their minor working devices. The whole trend of the preced- 

 ing discussion has been to show the nature and the high value 

 of the natural system of classification. The alternative to a 

 natural system is a purely formal, artificial and arbitrary classi- 

 fication such as is found in the old botanies and fruit books. 



ARTIFICIAL Classifications. — Artificial classifications select 

 one, or a few, points of resemblance or difference and assemble 

 the forms according to these without reference to other char- 

 acters, the chief end being convenience and facility. The com- 

 monest of the artificial systems in horticulture is the alpha- 

 betical arrangement of varieties. In botany the sexual system 

 of Linnaeus, in which plants are assembled in classes according 

 to number of stamens and in orders according to number of 

 pistils, is the best example. In horticulture we have classifica- 

 tions founded upon season, or size, or flavor, or color, or shape, 

 etc., or combinations of several of these. Any of these are too 

 uncertain and variable taken alone or in less number than all to 



