56 SYSTKMATir POMOLOGY 



at the end, as in tlie Early Straw Ix'rry apple; lipped when the 

 flesh forms a i)r()t ubei-ancc undei- wliich the stem is inserted, 

 as in the Pewaukee antl Clayton apples; bracicd, as in the Ex- 

 celsior Crab. The stems of i)ears are often set ol)li(iuely as in 

 Beurre Clairgeau ; or are crooked or curved as in Howell. The 

 stems of some pomes have distinguishinj/ colors; those of others 

 are pubescent. In some pears, as in l^ergamot d'Esperen, there 

 are bud-like ])rotuberanees on the stem. 



87. The cavity. — The depression in the base of the apple in 

 which the stem is set, called the cavity, offers several marks 

 which usually enhance the value of a description. The cavity 

 is especially characteristic in apples. It varies greatly in depth 

 and may be deep, medium., or shaJlow. In breadth, it may be 

 hroad, medium, or narrow. The bottom may be obtuse, acumi- 

 nate, or acute. Sometimes the sides are furrowed, ribbed, angu- 

 lar, compressed, or oblique. The words regidar and irregular 

 are often definitive. The skin in the cavity is usually more or 

 less russet ed but may be smooth; not infrequently it is wrin- 

 kled, ivcived, plaited, or there are radiating lines, rays, or 

 streaks. The color markings of the cavity are usually char- 

 acteristic and may consist of special stripings of red, russet, 

 green, or yellow. These must be noted. Some varieties of 

 apples and pears have cavities more or less prominently lipped, 

 a condition described under the stem, a characteristic usually 

 determinate. 



88. The basin. — The depression in which the calyx is set at 

 the apex of the fruit, therefore opposite the cavity, is called 

 the basin or may be spoken of as the blossom, end; or, together 

 with the calyx, is known as the eye, an inexact and unneces- 

 sary term the use of which should be discouraged. The basin 

 is as important as the cavity in identifying pome-fruits and 

 should have the same critical study in making a description. 

 For most part it is described by the same terms as for the cavity. 

 The skin in the basin is less often touched with russet and 

 other peculiar color-markings than the cavity, but is more often 

 wrinkled, plaited, folded, or corrugated. Not infrequently there 

 are fleshy protuberances about the calyx called mammiform ap- 

 pendages, as in some crab-apples. Sometimes the five ribs along 

 the sides of the apple end in knobs about the basin in which case 



