622 FIBRO-VASCULAR SYSTEM OF THE APPLE, 



apple, it first spreads out into the cavity containing the seeds and 

 thus the "pips" or seeds are the first to be supplied with the 

 nutritive fluid. But very striking evidence is also afforded that 

 the development of the seed influences the growth of the fleshy 

 receptacle, for when only some of the ovules are fertilised and 

 produce seeds, it is found that the apple is rathei- one-sided. The 

 seedless portion does not grow so rapidly as the other, because 

 the vessels conducting the food-materials are not so luxuriantly 

 developed. Thus the position of the bundles in the wall of the 

 the core, their direct communication with the seeds, and their 

 sparing development when no seeds are formed, all point to an 

 essential relationship between the two. 



But there may be overgrowth or irregular growth as well as 

 undergrowth in the apple, according to the nature of the season. 

 Under certain conditions of heat or moisture, the supplies coming 

 from the roots and the leaves, together with those manufactured 

 by the apple itself, will produce abnormal growth, especially 

 when transpiration is not active, and the water accumulates in 

 the cells. A well-balanced ration is just as necessary for the 

 healthy plant as for the healthy animal, and whatever disturbs 

 the equilibrium will tend to produce a disordered nutrition. 

 Even the keeping quality of fruit is affected when the specimens 

 are overgrown. Beach and Clark* in their Bulletin (m "New 

 York Apples in Storage," remark that — "It is a matter of 

 common observation that specimens that are very large for the 

 variety do not keep as well as those of medium size and firmer 

 texture. This is remarked by several cold-storage men. Such 

 fruit may be produced on young trees, or on mature trees making 

 excessive growth, or carrying a light crop. ' 



Vascular bundles in relation to each other. 



The primary vascular bundles in the apple, just as in other 

 portions of the tree, do not remain isolated and disconnected, 

 but, by the anastomoses which take place, particularly towards 

 the periphery, there is continuity throughout. The entire system 



* New York Agricultural Experiment Station. Bulletin 248, 1904, 



