58 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



case the size of the fruit is mentioned in ab- 

 solute inches or millimeters, the length of the 

 stem certainly ought to be recorded in the 

 same units. 



The suture is a character peculiar to the 

 drupe fruits. This term applies to the fold 

 or crease running from the stem toward the 

 apex of the fruit. In some cases it is contin- 

 uous and even from stem to apex ; in other 

 cases it runs only the third, one-half, or two- 

 thirds the distance, and these details should 

 be fully noted in the description. In many 

 plums there is no suture at all, but there is 

 nearly always a distinct line of darker color 

 marking the place where the suture would 

 naturally be. It is best, with such a variety 

 in hand, to enter in the description the state- 

 ment " Suture, a line." 



The apex of a peach, plum, or cherry may 

 be pointed, rounded, or depressed, and occa- 

 sionally it has some peculiar marking, as a 

 dot or a distinctly prolonged tip. 



The dots on plums are of great value in 

 separating varieties. Their number, size, 

 color, and distribution should be noted. In 

 peaches and nectarines the dots are very ob- 

 scure and seldom of any differentiating value. 



