Terms Used in Describing Fruits. 



take more or less of this quality, but the Early Harvest is free 

 from it. 



Irregular, when they assume no very distinct growth, but more or 

 less a mixture of the preceding, as Black Gilliflower, and Summer 

 Bonchretien pear. 



Straggling, similar to the next preceding, but with shoots more 

 slender and curved, as Winter Nelis and Black Worcester pear 

 (Fig. 196). 



Fig. 192. Fig. 193. 



Fig. 194. 



Fig. 196. 



Shoots are straight, as in the Early Harvest and Northern Spy 

 apples ; flexuous, or more or less deviating from a straight line, as 

 in the Swaar and Roxbury Russet. This distinction is very appa- 

 rent and uniform in young and very thrifty trees, but not in older 

 ones of feeble growth. 



They are stout, as in the Red Astrachan ; slender, as in the Jona- 

 than apple, and Winter Nelis pear. 



Trees with erect straight shoots when young, usually form more 

 regular and compact heads in older trees ; and those of a spread- 

 ing habit, more irregular or drooping heads. 



Some trees which grow very rapidly when young, are small when 

 of full size, examples of which are found in the Late Strawberry and 

 Tallman Sweeting. Others at first grow more slowly, but ultimately 

 become large, as the Esopus Spitzenburgh. Some varieties, again, 

 continue to increase rapidly in size at all periods, as the Northern 

 Spy ; while others of feeble growth when small, never attain much 

 magnitude, as the Early Joe and Sine Qua Non. 



2. The color of the shoots varies greatly in the same variety at 

 different periods of the year, as well as with different degrees of 

 exposure to the sun, and with a change of soil, climate, and season. 

 When fresh or very young, all have a greenish color, but gradually 



