CULTIVATION OF FRUIT. d 



can not be truly determined. There is wanted a classification, particularly for apples and 

 pears, which will put it into the power of any one to determine the name of his fruit. A 

 good method of arrangement is not easily devised, except in large nurseries of fruit, where 

 the numerous kinds may be compared side by side, and their resemblance noted. Deeming 

 classification a matter of great importance, I have sought out, or have tried to seek out, 

 one which will supply, at least in part, what is so much desired. 



Before we can obtain a correct notion of a classification, it is necessary that we should 

 possess a knowledge of many individuals. In the classification of varieties, it is generally 

 supposed that a real basis for a classification is wanting ; that there is a gradation so close 

 and imperceptible that the lines of demarcation can never be drawn between them. This 

 notion is not entirely true : it is not true in its length and breadth. On the contrary, we 

 may be assured by observation, that in the separation of varieties there are spaces of mea- 

 surable length, through which our dividing lines may be drawn, and between which 

 there will be found individuals whose resemblance will show very marked affinities. 

 Species are evidently broken up into varieties under or by influences which are perfectly 

 analogous to what takes place in the breaking up of classes into families or orders. For 

 proof of the truth of this statement, look at what has taken place in the domesticated 

 animals : dogs and horses, the ox and sheep, swine, poultry, etc. etc. ; and even man 

 himself is an important instance. This law of the breakage of species is the more clear 

 and apparent, the higher the animal ranks in the scale of organization. Assuming the 

 latter assertion as true, and applying it to the vegetable kingdom, we see that fruit trees 

 having the analogies of some of the orders of the animal kingdom, may be expected, like 

 them, to break up into equally distinct kinds. Observation indeed shows this, and espe- 

 cially in those kinds which are susceptible of an indefinite multiplication. 



I do not, however, propose to carry to an extreme, views so much allied to those which 

 are purely speculative. All that I wish to show is, that varieties may be classed on prin- 

 ciples closely allied to those which are employed in classifying the main divisions of either 

 of the kingdoms of nature. It must be observed, in classifying fruits, that it is only an 

 artificial method : it is the only one which our present knowledge will enable us to use. 

 There is, however, discernable an attempt to create families among the varieties of fruits 

 This is clearly seen in the apples ; for instance in the spitzenbergs, pearmains and russets. 

 But, it is extremely difficult to put together these families; and hence, for the present, it 

 is probable we shall be obliged to employ an artificial instead of a natural method. 



There are two classes of characters which I believe may be employed for the division of 

 apples into convenient sections, viz, color and proportions. Color, though it often appears 

 changeful, fleeting and uncertain, yet in many cases may be relied upon for divisional 

 lines. In apples, red, yellow, green and gray are predominant. The yellow is a ground 

 color, upon which we frequently find red stripes implanted, or a blush of carmine or orange 

 painted. Upon the greens, we usully find a brown intsead of carmine or orange. A 

 yellow fruit rarely if ever varies, and becomes striped or red; and an apple with a blush 

 of carmine never changes this arrangement, so as to become striped with carmine. 



