The Canadian Horticulturist. 389 



ring from sports of nature, or by accident, such as stings of insects or fungous 

 diseases. 



Another step will be to define the several characteristics of varieties, and 

 place them in their relative positions. To do this, we will take up the several 

 species of hardy orchard fruits in detail, comprising what are usually known as 

 the pomes and drupes. First among these is 



The Apple. Form. — Observed from a point perpendicular to its axis, 

 may be round, flat, conical, oblong, or cylindrical ; or from either end it may 

 appear round, elliptical, angular, ribbed or scalloped. These latter forms may 

 be called regular when round or nearly so, and irregular when otherwise. Then 

 there are other peculiar forms, such as inclined, as in the case of the York 

 Imperial, or unequal, like Cooper and Colvert, in fact, like very many apples. 



The Basin. — The depression almost always found at the blossom end of 

 the apple, and in which the eye is set, is either wide, narrow, shallow or deep ; 

 regular like that of Fall Pippin, waved as we see in Northern Spy, or folded into 

 wrinkles like Yellow Bellflower. In a few apples and some of the Crabs it is 

 wanting. 



The cavity is at the opposite or stem end, and is sometime very deep and 

 narrow, or wide and sloping like Rome Beauty. Pryor's Red and Pewaukee 

 have the cavity almost filled. In the case of Swaar, Roman Stem, and a few- 

 others, it is marked by a peculiar welt, and said to be lipped. 



The core is equally well marked, and usually conforms closely to the 

 exterior shape of the apple. Some varieties have very small, compact, or closed 

 cores, while others, like Ortley, are large and open. If the outline meets at the 

 point of the calyx-tube, it is said to be meeting, if otherwise, it is clasping. I 

 have found this to be quite uniform in those of one variety. 



The flesh is perhaps the next character least subject to change. Who does 

 not know the difference in weight between Yellow Newtown and Ben Davis, or 

 the color of the flesh of Fameuse from that of Winesap, or the difference in taste 

 of a rich and spicy Grimes' Golden, a melting Primate, or a coarse and acid 

 Oldenburg ? The flesh of an apple may be said to be coarse, fine, tender, or 

 firm ; white or yellow ; dry or juicy ; and in flavor sweet, sub-acid, or sour, rich 

 or insipid. Of course climate and state of maturity have much to do with the 

 flavor, but less as regards color and grain. 



The eye, which is composed of the calyx and the small cavity which is hid 

 by it, is another reliable mark. There is a difference in the width and length 

 of the calyx-tube also. If the sepals form a closed or an open eye in one speci- 

 men of a variety, it is a good indication that all others of the same variety are 

 similarly formed. 



Dots on the skin are very likely to be uniform in color, size, and shape in 

 one variety, except their being smaller and closer to each other towards the eye. 

 They are numerous or scattering, large or minute, dark or light, round, elon- 



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