8 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY. 



Glossology. — By glossology, in distinetion from nomen- 

 clature with which it is often confused, is meant the names 

 applied to organs of plants and their modifications. While 

 there are comparatively few special technical terms' used in 

 describing horticultural plants, botanical terms serving for 

 most part, yet horticultural glossology is in a deplorable state. 



Specialists and laymen use terms loosely and interchange- 

 ably to the great confusion of hortictiltural descriptions. The 

 several uses of the common words, fruit, berry, flower and 

 leaf are good examples of a poor glossology. The general rules 

 observed in the glossology of botany are very applicable to 

 horticulture and should be followed as closely as possible by 

 horticulturists. These, condensed, are as follows: — 



Each organ or part should have a substantive name and 

 all modifications of organs should be called by adjective 

 terms. Each organ or modification ought to be known by but 

 one name, though in practice it is found that synonyms can- 

 not be avoided in all cases. A term should not be used with 

 two different meanings, thus : fruit shoiild not be Used to mean 

 the ripened pericarp which is the botanical meaning of the 

 word — and the edible product of a tree or bush which is the 

 pomological meaning. Double uses of words, as above, are 

 often unavoidable in general writings but in formal descrip- 

 tions terms can be held to their one special meaning. All 

 modifying names should be as precise as possible and should be 

 used as originally intended. It is only by experience, and the 

 use of a high degree of judgment, that a good descriptive 

 vocabulary may be acquired. 



PtrwcTUATioKT. — Practices in punctuating descriptions are 

 very diverse, greatly to the detriment of this phase of pomology. 



