Generic return type

public class Execution {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println(max(2, 5, 6, 7));
        System.out.println(max("apples", "lost", "chicken", "tots"));

    }
    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> T max(T a, T b, T c, T d){
        T m = a;
        if(b.compareTo(a)>0){
            m = b;
        }
        if(c.compareTo(b)>0){
            m = c;
        }
        if(d.compareTo(c)>0){
            m = d;
        }
        return m;
    }

}