18Y6.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



309 



have very distinct recollections of frequently ex- 

 perimenting with the fruit, principally, I must 

 confess, to see whether it was good for anything 

 at all to eat, and feel sure that my general im- 

 pressions regarding its characteristics are cor- 

 rect. 



[Because an apple is part sour and part sweet, 

 is no evidence that it was produced by grafted 

 buds. It is known that the Rhode Island Green- 

 ing will be sometimes sweet, and sometimes 

 Bour. We know now that buds can be united, 

 and the result is the blending of characters, 

 forming a new individual kind — a true hybrid — 

 but the experiments so far made do not favor 

 the idea, that two distinct characters can be 

 made to run along separately in one tree, so that 

 the flowers, fruit, and so on, on some branches 

 shall be of one sort, and on other branches 

 of another. We know of no experiments which 

 prove anything like this. — Ed. G. M.] 



FRUIT VARIATIONS. 



BY T. T. LYON, PLYMOUTH, MICH. 



I enclose you an account of a deformed speci- 

 men of Carolina June apple, which was brought 

 in as a curiosity at a recent meeting of the South 

 Haven Pomological Society. 



The specimen is one of six apples, which were 

 exhibited attached to the branch upon which 

 they grew. The other specimens were of the 

 usual form, and all were of the usual color of 

 this variety. I add an outline of one of them 

 also for comparison. 



In color and flavor the abnormal specimen is 

 not distinguishable from its fellows. Its core is 

 slightly deformed nearest the stem, which is very 

 short ; and the usual fibrous connection of the 

 stem and core is entirely dissevered. The larvae 

 of the codling moth had attacked the calyx and 

 core, which possibly may have increased the 

 malformation of the core. The seeds were 

 plentiful, although partially destroyed by the 

 larvae. 



The onlj' apparent difference between this and 

 the other specimens, so far as outward appear- 

 ance or arrangement upon the branch are con- 

 cerned, and aside from the change of form, con- 

 sists in the fact that this was nearest the base of 

 the branch, and grew upon a spur four or five 

 inches in length, while the others grew upon 

 spurs of about an inch in length. 



This specimen is so perfectly and unmistakably 



j pyriform, that I at first suspected it to be a case 

 of "spur grafting;" but a very careful examina- 

 tion of the spur and branch determines that 

 nothing of this character had to do with the 

 case, but that it is clearly an unusual "lusus 

 naturae." 



[There is little doubt, we think, that these 

 cases of pyriform apples are in noway connected 

 with hybridization through pear pollen. It is in 

 consequence of some as yet unexplained inhe- 

 rent law of growth. We call them mere lapses 

 of nature, — sports, but it is worthy of note that 

 these " lapses " are in an uniform direction when 

 they do occur. The " monstrosity " does not 

 resemble a peach, a pine apple, or a pomegran- 

 ate — it is always the pear. This shows that it is 

 not mere accident — it is law even in the aberra- 

 tion from law. Bearing this in mind, we can 

 readily understand that a law which makes a 

 pear in form and appearance out of an apple, 

 and as a temporary production, can just as well 

 make an actual pear out of an apple as a per- 

 manent existence, and it is just such experiences 

 as these which prepare the mind for what are 

 termed evolutionary doctrines. We are always 

 glad to hear of these doings of nature. — Editor 

 G. M.] 



PRAIRIE FLOWERS. 



BY L. J. TEMPLIN, HUTCHINSON, KA^f, 



{Callirrhoe involucrata.) 



Among the earliest flowers that may be seen 

 on these plains is the above member of the Mal- 

 lom fiimily. The general form of the leaf is 

 round, but it is parted or cleft and cut-lobed. 

 The root is thick and fleshy, resembling a par- 

 snip in form, and frequently reaching an inch in 

 diameter. It is a perennial, being perfectly- 

 hardy here, and extending into Nebraska, and 

 far up toward the mountains. Several stems 

 grow from one root, and these spread out on the 

 surface of the ground, and are thus rendered 

 rather inconspicuous after taller vegetation has 

 advanced somewhat. But, though 'humble in 

 its manner of growth, this plant compels the 

 attention of all who come near it by the bril- 

 liancy and beauty of its numerous flowers. The 

 flowers grow on axillary peduncles that are from 

 two to five inches in length. The flowers are 

 about two inches in diameter, and vary in color 

 from a brilliant scarlet to a dark mauve, excell- 

 iuo^ in size and rivaling in brilliancy the most 



