210 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



the south. It was most open and asymmetrical in the larger 

 apples. The carpels were never tufted but often were a little 

 slit, especially in those from the north; they varied consider- 

 ably in form, following pretty closely the general form of the 

 apple. The concavity of the carpels was chiefly dependent on 

 the development of the seeds. 



Seeds. 



The seeds showed little variation worthy of note. The num- 

 ber was somewhat variable ; they were usually plump and of 

 medium size. The color varied with the degree of maturity of 

 the fruit, being generally lighter in poorly developed, northern- 

 grown specimens. 



Causes of the Variation. 



The most interesting and significant variation is found (1) 

 in the form of the apple and its parts, both external and in- 

 ternal ; (2) in size, and (3) in the quality of the flesh. The 

 variation in color is that usuallv found, being darker in the 

 higher latitudes. 



Form. 



It appears beyond question that, speaking generally, audi 

 possibly excluding the extremes of distributiou, Ben Davis 

 apples become gradually more elongated as one goes from its 

 Southern range northward, and this elongation is much more 

 pronounced near large bodies of water. This is probably some- 

 what aifeeted by local influences, but in general it appears to 

 hold. That these differences are caused by climate, and not by 

 difl^erent soils, sites, fertilizers or methods of cultivation, the 

 writer has no doubt. Just what factor or factors of climatej 

 bring this change about is not so clear. It would seem probable)' 

 that humidity has something to do with it, l)ut the writer hasj 

 been unable thus far to secure conclusive evidence on this point.. 

 The available records of humidity have been unsatisfactory, and 

 more exact knowledge of this at the stations where the apples 

 are grown and more data on their variation are needed. It is 

 also possible that temperature may have an influence, either 

 direct or through its influence on humidity. 



