THE APPLE TREE 



NOTES ON THE STRUCTURE AND GROWTH OF ITS FLOWERS AND 



FRUIT— DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF FLOWERS AND 



SEEDS -THE USE WHICH CAN BE MADE 



OF TPIEM IN DESCRIBING APPLES. 



BY PROF. ^\■. J. BEAL, OF THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, LANSING. 



The structure and growth of the flowers and fruit of the apple tree is truly 

 a. poetic theme, but none the less of practical and scientific importance. How 

 could any-one fail to be enthusiastic, with good eyes, a small microscope, some 

 knowledge of botany, and a little time to spare among the apple blossoms? 

 The day was a fine one. The buzzing bees and wasps were industriously gather- 

 ing nectar "from every opening flower." Then, too, the thought that insects 

 were increasing our prospects for fruit the coming season by carrying pollen 

 from flower to flower to fertilize them, thus aiding in causing the fruit set. I 

 wondered if they kneAv what they were about. I wished I could tell them 

 they were welcome. 



An apple orchard. What a theme! what a place for study; how much we 

 have to learn. The noble apple has been fitly called the king of fruits. 



Now, let us look at the flowers of the lied Astrachan. A few weeks ago 

 each cluster of flowers was snugly tucked away in a single bud, termed a com- 

 pound bud, because it contained several flowers. Simple buds contain but one 

 flower, as the peach. 



As the dry bnd scales spread open, downy leaves unfold, and within these is 

 revealed five to eight (usually six) flower buds. All these were planned out 

 and started on a small scale last summer. By the side of each flower cluster, 

 at the base, comes out one or more joung branches, some of which, however, 

 never amount to anything. Each flower is raised on a stem of its own, vary- 

 ing in length according to the variety of the apple. The center flower opens 

 first, often a week or more, so it drops its petals, ceases to be a flower, and 

 ranks as a young apple by the time its circle of sister flowers are making their 

 best display. Such a cluster of flowers, having stems of about equal length; 

 the oldest or first developed in the center is called a cpne. 



Each young stem has on its sides, at the base, two little slender scales or 

 bracelets, which soon wither and fall off, leaving two little scars on the sides 

 of every apple stem. 



The part above the little young ajiple consists of four sets of organs, one 

 within the other. The outer is the calyx, the most showy part the corolla, 

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