146 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



POMOLOGY AS A STUDY. 

 By R. Lewis Castle, F.R.H.S. 



Pomology has been too frequently regarded as if it were necessarily 

 narrowed down to a consideration of the mere description and classifica- 

 tion of fruits. Interesting and important as these sections undoubtedly 

 are, yet the subject is worthy of being treated upon a much broader basis. 

 One of the leading authorities has defined pomology as the " science of 

 fruits ; a treatise on fruit trees ; the cultivation of fruits and fruit trees." 

 This offers ample scope, as it practically includes the whole range of 

 subjects in any degree connected with the fruits grown in this country. 

 Especially suitable to the objects of the present notes is that part of the 

 definition which refers to the "science of fruits," meaning a knowledge 

 of fruits acquired by investigation and inquiry conducted upon scientific 

 principles, namely, in a logical, systematic, and accurate manner. Con- 

 sidered in this light pomology constitutes one of the most interesting and 

 important of the departments in scientific and practical horticulture, and 

 one which should command the fullest attention of all who are concerned 

 in the production of the fruit crops of this country. In one section of 

 pomology alone, namely, that dealing with the origin and history of 

 cultivated fruits, there is a wide field for investigation in the geographical 

 distribution of plants and the development of organic forms. Conducted 

 in the same thorough and elaborate manner as Alphonse de Candolle 

 pursued the subject, it becomes almost a science in itself, and certainly is 

 most absorbing to any one who has once entered upon it. To do justice 

 to this would require a treatise, and it is only referred to here because the 

 principal object is to indicate the direction in which both pleasure and 

 advantage can be obtained by an extension of pomological study on a 

 broad foundation. There are many problems concerning the origin of 

 cultivated fruits which have never yet been solved, and perhaps never will 

 be ; but numerous matters connected with plant life of less interest and 

 less importance have received a far larger share of attention. 



In short the whole phenomena of plant life, growth, and reproduction 

 are involved in a full study of pomology, and it will be the purpose of the 

 following notes to indicate some of the directions in which investigators 

 may find both pleasure and profit. For those of an experimental turn 

 of mind there are abundant subjects worthy of being attacked on the 

 most approved scientific methods, and in addition to confirming or 

 extending what has already been attempted or accomplished fresh experi- 

 ments could be undertaken in many directions. Well-conducted inquiry 

 of this kind cannot be too widely extended, or treated under too great a 

 variety of conditions ; in fact it is only by such means that reliable 

 conclusions can be arrived at and substantial addition made to general 

 knowledge. In the present paper the following divisions are adopted in 



