84 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 159. 



whether obtuse, acute or acuminate; and finally their position, whether 

 connivent, convergent or reflexed. In some varieties, especially in over- 

 developed specimens, they are separate at the base. 



Tube. — The description of the calyx completes the exterior of the apple, 

 and we come next to the interior, considering fu'st the morphological char- 

 acters exliibited. The' tube length may be short, medium or long, the 

 breadth wide, medium or narrow, and the form conic or funnel-farm. The 

 last term is an awkward one, but we can suggest none more suitable. The 

 stamens are basal, median or marginal, according to whether they are near 

 the inner end of the tube, in the middle or near the outer end. In de- 

 scribing the position of the stamens, only the broad or outer portion of the 

 tube is considered; the narrower inner portion, which makes the tube 

 funnel-form, should not be considered. Thus, "stamen position basal" 

 means near the base or narrow end of a conic tube or of the broad portion 

 of a funnel-form tube. The fleshy base of the pistils often persists, espe- 

 cially in specimens not thoroughly matured, and is noted as present or 

 absent. 



Core. — There seems to be some uncertainty as to the exact meaning of 

 the term "core" as used by different systematic pomologists. We prefer 

 to use it to indicate that portion of the fruit within the core lines. The 

 first space in the blank shown is to describe the relation of the core to the 

 axis of the fruit. If there is no space along the axis, and the axial border 

 of the cells is straight, the core is said to be axile, while if the axial border 

 of the cells is curved, so as to leave an oval or spindle-shaped space, the 

 core is said to be abaxile. 



Next is stated the size of the core relative to the size of the whole fruit, 

 as small, medium or large, and then the position, — sessile if near the stem 

 end of the fruit, mediayi if in the middle, and distant if near the blossom 

 end. The form of the core, as indicated by the course of the core lines, 

 usually follows closely the outline of the fruit as a whole, and may be 

 oblate, oval, roundish, ovate or oblong. Under "core lines" is described their 

 relation to the calyx tube, which may be, rarely, distant, more commonlj^ 

 meeting or clasping. 



Cells. — The cells are usually five in number, and the first point con- 

 sidered is whether they have an opening on the side toward the axis of 

 the fruit; if so, they are open; if not, they are closed. Their size should 

 be considered in relation to the size of the core as above defined, and they 

 may be small, medium or large. If they are of similar size and form they 

 are symmetrical, and if not, unsymmetrical. 



Carpels. — The term "cells" signifies the space enclosed by the carpels, 

 while the latter term means the horny walls, and each carpel is to be con- 

 sidered as a modified leaf. The form of the carpels is likely to be related 

 to that of the core and of the whole fruit. They may be elliptical, oblong, 

 ovate, cordate, roundish or obovate. The apex calls for especial considera- 

 tion, and may be acute, obtuse, mucronate or emarginate. The surface 

 toward the cell may be unbroken or entire; it may be marked by trans- 



