32 THE APPLES OF NEW YORK. 



Stem. The character of the stem is of some taxonomic importance 

 notwithstanding that it may vary much in different fruits of the same 

 variety. It may be generally long and slender as in Dutch Mignonne, Rambo, 

 Rome and Westfield Seek-No-Further; or short and thick as in Canada 

 Reinette, Fallawater, Sutton and York Imperial; or fleshy as in Peck Pleasant. 

 or clubbed when enlarged at the end. 



In general it does not seem to be affected by the environment of the 

 tree as much as other fruit characters and thus it is somewhat a means 

 of recognition with fruit that has so changed, owing to a change. of loca- 

 tion, .that it is otherwise unrecognizable. Unfortunately there are com- 

 paratively few varieties which show a stem so characteristic that the 

 fruit may be recognized by this character alone. 



Lipped is a term which signifies that the flesh forms a protuberance or 

 lip under which the stem is inserted as often is seen in Pewaukee and Peck 

 Pleasant and sometimes in Sutton and Esopus Spitzenburg. 



Cavity. The depression around the stem is technically called the 

 cavity. See Fig. 33. If it meets the stem at a very sharp angle as in 

 Clayton. McMahon and Magog it is termed acuminate; if the angle is wide 

 as in Rome, Doctor, Tolman and White Pearmain it is called obtuse; if 

 intermediate between the two it is called acute as in Green Sweet, Lady 

 Sweet and Red Canada. In Jonathan and Gilpin it varies from acute to 

 acuminate. The cavity may be wide as in Northern Spy, Tompkins King 

 and York Imperial, or narrow as in Black Gilliflower or medium as in 

 Ribston and Tolman. It may be deep as in Jonathan, Northern Spy and 

 York Imperial; medium in depth as in Baldwin or shallow as in Pewaukee. 



Calyx. The lobes of the outer green covering of the flower bud are 

 called calyx lobes These persist in the common apple and when the 

 fruit is ripe may still be found in what is commonly called the " blow- 

 end " of the apple. See Fig. 3b. They fall away, or are deciduous, in 

 the pure Siberian crab species. In some of the hybrid Siberian crabs the 

 calyx is partly deciduous. 1 



-The calyx in the mature fruit is open in some varieties, closed in others 

 and partly open in others. In some cases, as for example, in Blenheim 

 the segments of the calyx are noticeably separated at the base. The lobes may 

 be flat and convergent; when upright and the tips inclined towards the axis 

 they may be called connivent; when turned backwards they may be called 

 reftexed or divergent. Very often the different fruits of a variety show con- 

 siderable variations with respect to the various features above mentioned. 



Basin. The depression in which the calyx is set is technically called 

 the basin of the apple. See Fig. 3b. It may be shallow, medium in depth 

 or deep; narroiv, medium in width or wide. A basin with sides which show 

 a sudden slope as in Jonathan and Gilpin is termed abrupt, but if, as in 

 Black Gilliflower, Fishkill and Lady, the slope is gradual it is termed 

 obtuse. The basin may be nearly round when it is called symmetrical or 

 it may have the sides compressed. If the sides are smooth it is called 

 regular. When depressed lines extend up the sides as in Winesap, some 

 call it ridged, ribbed or angular, others term it furrowed. When the furrows 

 are less distinct as in Baldwin, it may be called wavy. If wrinkled, plaited 

 or folded about the calyx lobes as in Yellow Bellflower and Black Gilli- 



