30 THE APPLES OF NEW YORK. 



The color of the bark after the leaves have fallen from the twigs of the 

 current season's growth may assist in identifying the variety, together 

 with appearance of its epidermis, or scarf-skin, the number and shape of the 

 lenticels, or corky dots which are found on the twigs, and the amount of fuzz, 

 or pubescence, present. 



Buds. The more sharply pointed buds are called acute; the more blunt 

 ones are obtuse. If they are flattened unusually close to the twig they are 

 called oppressed; if not close to the twig they are called free. 



Leaves. The leaves vary much in size and form according to the con- 

 dition of growth of the wood which bears them. The descriptions do not 

 refer to the smaller leaves found on the slow growing spurs but to the 

 leaves which are borne upon the free growing twigs. 



DESCRIBING THE FRUIT. 



EXTERNAL CHARACTERS. In making a technical description of the fruit 

 of any variety of the apple it is convenient to note first the external 

 characters as seen in the size, form, stem, cavity, calyx, basin, skin and 

 color; next observe the internal characters as seen in calyx-tube, core, 

 carpels, seed, flesh; then state the uses for which the fruit is adapted, its 

 season, general appearance and general desirability. The principal tech- 

 nical terms used in making such a description will now be given. 



The stem end is called the base of the apple and the end in which the 

 calyx or the eye is located is called the apex. The diameter passing from 

 the stem through the eye is the vertical or axial diameter; at right angles 

 to this is the transverse or equatorial diameter. 



Size. In considering the size it is well to hold the Siberian crabapples 

 in a class apart from the common apples. In popular usage in this 

 country crabapples of the size of Martha and Hyslop are called large, but 

 as compared with common apples they are small. 



The gradations in size are expressed by the terms very large, large, above 

 medium, medium, below medium, small, very small. 



Uniform signifies that the variety commonly makes a comparatively 

 uniform grade so far as size of fruit is concerned. 



Form. Concerning the importance of form as a taxonomic character 

 Van Dieman well says,* " Certain characteristics of fruit are more con- 

 stant than others. * * * To my mind, considering all classes of fruit, 

 there is no one character so fixed as the form. * * * It is true of the 

 immature as well as of the fully developed specimens. A Che- 



nango the size of a marble is not the shape of a Rambo. * * * Indeed 

 it would not be hard to tell the difference between such marked varieties 

 even before the petals had expanded." 



In order that the following remarks concerning the form of the apple 

 may be more clearly understood the reader is referred to particular varie- 

 ties which illustrate the points mentioned. Plates showing each variety 

 thus cited accompany the description of that variety in the following 

 pages. 



In examining the form of an apple let the fruit be held opposite the 

 eye so that it may be observed from a point perpendicular to the axia 

 diameter. As seen thus it may appear round; flattened or oblate; conical; 



identification of varieties. Rep. Am. Pom. Soc., 1887:34- 



