THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
POMOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE. 
A Set of Rules Proposed by Prominent Horticulturists—Present 
Rules are Inadequate—Simple Names Advised—Forms of 
Names—Formal Citation — Priority—Suggestions as to 
What Constitutes Publication of a New Name. 
There has been a good deal of discussion of pomological 
nomenclature lately, and as a result the Horticulturists’ Lazy 
Club, of Cornell University,.has been trying to formulate a 
new set of rules adapted to present needs. These rules are 
published for general discussion, and in the hope that some¬ 
thing of the kind may be adopted by the American Pomologi¬ 
cal Society, the American Association of Nurserymen and 
the various state and district organizations. 
Following are the rules suggested : 
FORM OF NAMES. 
1. The names of a variety of fruit shall consist of one 
word, or at most of two words. 
(a) In selecting names, simplicity, distinctiveness and convenience 
are of paramount importance. Pitmaston Green Gage and Louise 
Bonne de Jersey are neither simple nor convenient. Gold. Golden, 
Golden Drop, Golden Beauty and Golden Prune, all given to different 
varieties of plums are not distinctive. 
(b) The use of such general terms as seedling, hybrid, pippin, 
buerre, damson, etc., is not admissible. 
(c) Nouns must not be used in the possessive form. McIntosh’s 
Red, Crawford’s Early, Bubach’s No. 5 , must be written McIntosh 
Red, Crawford Early and Bubach. 
The name of no living horticulturist should' be applied to a variety 
without his consent. 
( d ) Numbers are to be considered only as temporary expedients, to 
be used while the variety is under trial. 
(e) An author publishing a new variety should use the name given 
by the originator, or by the introducer, or else should choose the oldest 
discoverable local name, providing such name may be conformed to 
these rules without loss of identity. 
2. In the full and formal citation of a variety name, the 
name of the author who first published it shall also be given. 
(a) Names would then take such forms as the following : Summer 
Queen, Coxe or Sophie (J. W. Kerr, Cat. 1894 ); or America, Burbank, 
New Creations , 1898 , p. 5 . 
(b) It is expected that such citations of names will be used only in 
elaborate works on pomology, in scientific publications, or in cases 
where they are necessary for clear discrimination of synonyms. 
PRIORITY. 
3. No two varieties in the same group shall have the same 
name, and the name first published for a variety must always 
be used to designate it. All names subsequently published 
must stand as synonyms. 
(a) The term “group” as here used shall be held to designate the 
large general groups specified .by words in common language, such as 
raspberry, plum, apricot. 
PUBLICATION. 
4. Publication consists in the public distribution of a 
printed name and description, the latter giving distinguishing 
characters of fruit, tree, etc., or in the publication of a new 
name for a variety properly described elsewhere. 
(a) Such a publication may be made in any book, bulletin, report, 
trade catalogue or periodical, providing the issue bears the date of its 
publication, and is generally distributed among nurserymen, fruit 
growers and horticulturists. 
REVISION. 
5. No one is authorized to change a name for any reason 
except when it conflicts with these rules. 
TI 9 
COMMERCIAL APPLE GRAFTING. 
Two-year-old roots are not used for grafting if one-year-old 
roots can be obtained, says E. D. Smith, of Kansas, in Ameri¬ 
can Agriculturist. At lifting time all apple seedling roots are 
assorted into three lots. No. 1 contains all roots 16 in long 
and 3-16 in diameter at collar. No. 2 all broken roots and 
less than 3-16 in diameter that will make one graft. No. 3 all 
refuse roots. No. 1 will make more grafts per 1000 roots than 
No. 2, but the last will grow a larger per cent of those planted 
for there will be more collar grafts in those made from No. 2 
than No. 1 as root and scion will unite better at collar than 
below. Double worked trees are hardier than simple root 
grafts. That is, hardy tree roots grafted and top-worked, as 
for instance Duchess, root-grafted in the ordinary manner and 
then used for a stock upon which to graft a tender variety, as 
Maiden Blush. Simple top-working a seedling will not in¬ 
crease hardiness, for only comparatively few seedlings are 
hardy. Scions should be put away full length as cut from the 
tree, for there is less liability to become dry. When ready to 
graft, cut with slope and tongue ready to fit together, from 
100 to 300 scions ; cut them 5 to 6 in. in length and throw 
out on the table. Trim all side roots from a root ; cut slope 
and tongue at collar; select a scion as near as possible the 
same size as the root, crowd them together closely and cut off 
the root 2 in. in length. Repeat till the root is used up. For 
tying use No. 16 tidy cotton ; drop a ball into hot grafting 
wax. A long scion and short root is best, for then the joint is 
well below ground and the scion will throw out more roots. 
North of 40th parallel 75 per cent of the seedlings will winter- 
kill the first winter, hence the necessity of having the scion 
rooted. 
ENGLISH NURSERYMEN’S TROUBLES. 
The lateness of the present season, and the extraordinary 
drought, is causing the fruit tree nurserymen no small amount 
of trouble, says the Gardeners’ Chronicle, London, under date 
of October 15th. Tree planters occasionally favour the 
methods of the ancient gardeners, and desire to plant their 
trees upon or before a certain date. The trouble such cus¬ 
tomers may cause nurserymen this season may be gathered 
from the following letter which we have received from one of 
the largest growers in the trade :— 
According to the calendar, we should now be hard at work execut¬ 
ing orders for roses, gooseberries, currants, trees, and conifers, and 
even lifting some few pear and plum trees. But, alas ! the land below 7 
the surface crumb is as dry as a brick, making all this work impossible ; 
and meantime w r e are bombarded with letters such as—“ I am told that 
now is the very best time for removing the things I ordered “If you 
are unable to supply what I ordered, you should have said so at the 
time “ Unless my order is forthwith executed, please consider it can¬ 
celled, that I may be better served elsewhere.” Well, what for a remedy? 
Why, patience. Practically, the season is three weeks late, and as no 
fibrous roots can be got out of the hard soil, my kind friends, trust to 
your nurseryman to do his very best. Apples are yet in full growth, 
and practically a week’s heavy rain is wanted before lifting can be 
started. I send these few lines on behalf of myself and fellow nursery¬ 
men, as we, I feel sure, are only too anxious to do our best, and are 
not responsible w'hen the clerk of the weather and the calendar do -not 
agree. 
The letter is from George Bunyard, of the Royal Nurseries^ 
Maidstone, England. 
