10 Aug., 1917.] Apple Culture in Victoria. 469 



The iutentiou of the writer before making and mounting the vertical 

 sections of the flowers depicted in Plates 117 to 122 was to secure all 

 specimens for tliis purpose during the period of the pistils' receptivity, 

 so as to insure uniformity of these phoiograi)hie illustrations. Experi- 

 ence taught, however, that this would cause much delay and expense. 

 Consequently tlie sections, for identification purposes, show undesirable 

 variations, mostlj^ in the pistil divisions and stamens from the time of 

 the opening of the petals until their fall. 



These changes are betiter and more concisely illustrated in Plate 

 116, and they require further explanation. Specimens (o, h, c, d) are 

 Rokewond, (c, /, g, h) are Morgan's Seedling, and (i, ;', k, I) are Sturmer 

 Pip[iiu. These have been selected to represent the three classes pre- 

 viously mentioned on account of their long, medium, and short pistil 

 unions respectively. In making the sections the petals were first dis- 

 pensed with, then the sepals were almost completely removed, the pistil 

 intact and two stamens on each side were retained, while sixteen stamens, 

 eight on each side of the four remaining, were cut away. The object 

 of this treatment of the blooms is to give a clear view of the pistils 

 and stamens so that the points of difference between the varieties may 

 be more easily observed. Specimen (a) shows the condition of the 

 pistil and stamens just prior to the opening of the petals, (b) their 

 condition at the opening, (c) during the period of pollination, and (d) 

 after fertilization has taken place, when these organs commence to 

 wither. Tlie lettering on the Morgan's Seedling and Sturmer Pippin 

 varieties may be read in the light of the explanation given in connexion 

 with the Rokewood. 



The illustrations showing the sections of the several varieties of 

 flowers are about three-fourths natural size. 



The many characteristics by which apple varieties can be distinguished 

 or identified have been depicted in the foregoing illustrations and ex- 

 plained. It may be incidentally mentioned, however, that not alone do 

 these variety characteristics occur in the wood, leaves, &c., of all the 

 pomaceous and other fruits, but their blossoms when compared also 

 show in their respective botanical construction variety peculiarities often 

 of even more pronounced contrasts than those found in the apples. 



(To he continued.) 



