THE TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF APPLES. 83 



also the presence of one or more suture lines, and the presence and nature 

 of a scarf skin. 



Dots. — The dots are often characteristic and valuable in description or 

 identification. They are always found, and the first question is whether 

 they are conspicuous, distinct, inconspicuous or obscure. This depends on 

 several factors, such as number, size and color, so we proceed to describe 

 these in turn. The number may be many, few or scattering. Their size may 

 be minute, small, medium or large, also the size may be unifomi or variable, 

 so that they may be said to be uniformly large or small to large. The form 

 of the dots may be round, oval, angtdar, stellate or areolar. Their color may 

 be ivhite, gray or brown, and the distribution uniform, or they may be more 

 or less centered upon the apex of the fruit. Under " prominence" is stated 

 whether they are raised, even, sunken or submerged. 



Cavity. — Under "cavity" we describe first the depth, whether deej), 

 medium or shallow, then the breadth, whether u-ide, medium or narrow, next 

 the sides, whether abrupt, steep or flaring. The vertical outline, described 

 as acuminate, acute or obtuse, is practically a repetition of the description 

 of the side, and perhaps one of them might be omitted without loss. If so, 

 we would prefer to retain the fonner, though the terms given under vertical 

 outline are probably more commonly used. Under "cross section " is given 

 the outhne of a section taken about midway of the cavity. It may be 

 round or oval, triangular, pentagonal or irregidar. If it has a fleshy pro- 

 tuberance known as a li^D it should be here stated. The presence of russet 

 should be noted under "markings," and if the russet is stellate or spreading 

 beyond the cavity it should be mentioned. 



Stem. — Following the description of the cavity we naturally consider 

 the stem, — the length, whether long, miedium or short, and the size, 

 whether stout, medium or slender, also if it is clubbed. Next we come to its 

 direction in relation to the axis of the fruit. If it lies in the same line it is 

 straight, and if not it is inclined, in which case it may or may not be curved. 

 Next we have the color, usually some shade of broivn or green, and the 

 surface, which is smooth or pubescent. 



Basin. — In the description of the basin much the same terms may be 

 used as with the cavity, but it should be noted that the basin is formed 

 differently from the cavity, so that the descriptive terms have a different 

 significance, that is, the basin is always much broader at the bottom, more 

 obtuse, and generally more shallow than the cavity. Some additional 

 terms may be required in describing the cross section, such as wavy, ribbed 

 or folded. The basin is rarely if ever russeted unless the whole fruit is 

 russet, but occasionally we find a variety that is leather cracked. 



Calyx. — Under "calyx " it should be stated whether it is open or closed, 

 then follows the size, small, medium or large, and the surface, whether 

 smooth or pubescent. The last is perhaps not an important point, as no 

 marked differences between varieties are likely to be found. 



Caly.v Segments. — After describing the calyx as a whole we consider the 

 individual segments, ■ — their size, small, medium or large; their form. 



