The Association of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, at its Knoxville meeting in January, 1889, appointed a committee to devise methods for co-operative work in horticulture, and especially in testing new varieties of fruits and vegetables. This committee called a meeting of Station horticulturists at Columbus, Ohio, in June, 1889, for consultation. At this meeting a committee on the nomenclature of vegetables was appointed, « consisting of L. H. Bailey, E. S. Goff and W. J. Green. The report of that committee, together with the rules for nomenclature formulated by them, are presented herewith.

Report Of Committee

The committee believe that all interests will be subserved and that dignity will be secured, by simplicity and good taste in the nomenclature of kitchen-garden vegetables. To this end they have formulated a series of rules on the naming of vegetables.

Reform in this department of horticultural nomen clature should be prosecuted as vigorously and successfully as it has been in the nomenclature of fruits at the hands of the American Pomological Society. The committee are confident that brevity, accuracy and good taste in the naming of vegetables are perfectly compatible with the purposes of trade, and therefore solicit co-operation in this work not only from all writers upon horticultural topics, but also from all dealers in seeds and garden supplies.

A name is bestowed upon any plant solely for the purpose of designating it; it is not the province of a name to describe the plant. AU description is properly a part of the text. This description should present a characterization of the variety, rather than a mere list of adjectives intended to catch the eye. The committee desire to suggest that a variety never be described under a name which is accepted as a synonym ; if the synonym is used as a leader, it should stand only for the purpose of making a reference to the proper name; as, Ivory Ball - see White Apple.

Rules

The name of a variety should consist of a single word, or at most, of two words. A phrase, descriptive or otherwise, is never allowable; as, Pride of Italy, King of Mammoths, Earliest of All.

2. The name should not be superlative or bombastic. In particular, all such epithets as New, Large, Giant, Fine, Selected, Improved, and the like, should be omitted. If the grower or dealer has a superior stock of a variety, the fact should be stated in the description immediately after the name, rather than as a part of the name itself; as, "Trophy, selected stock".

3. If a grower or dealer has procured a new select strain of a well known variety, it shall be legitimate for him to use his own name in connection with the established name of the variety; as, Smith's Winnigstadt, jones's Cardinal.

4. When personal names are given to varieties, titles should be omitted; as, Major General, Queen.

5. The term hybrid* should not be used, except in those rare instances in which the variety is known to be of hybrid origin.

6. The originator has the prior right to name the variety; but the oldest name which conforms to these rules should be adopted.

7. This committee reserve the right, in their own publications, to revise objectionable names in conformity with these rules.

* A hybrid is the product of true species. There are few, if any, instances of true hybrids among common garden vegetables. The union of varieties gives rise to a cross.