88 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 159. 



There are several characters in the interior of the apple that lend them- 

 selves readily to exact measurement. The length and breadth of the tube 

 and of the core, as defined in the text, may be easily measured on cutting 

 the apple longitudinally througli the axis; also the length and breadth of 



1i m li Hi li u il M i i l m ilii M liiiili Mi l MiMinJ i iJ i Ni iili MNn ill tl'! ' l!»pM^ 





1 'VI , I'! 



Fig. 5. — Measuring basin width. 



the cells, making sure that the cut is made so as to split the cell exactly. 

 The seeds are readily measured, giving their length, breadth and possibly 

 thickness. The axis length from the insertion of the stem to the pistil 

 point is easily measured. 



The Commercial Description. 



A commercial description is quite a different thing from a systematic 

 description. Many systematic characters are included, but their relative 

 importance is changed, and many not mentioned in a systematic descrip- 

 tion are of the utmost importance. A commercial description of a variety 

 can be made only after a long study of its behavior under varying condi- 

 tions. Indeed, it would not be too much to say that we possess the knowl- 

 edge needed for a fairly satisfactory commercial description of only a few 

 varieties, and of these few there is much yet to be learned. Inasmuch as 

 trade conditions are constantly changing, so must the commercial descrip- 

 tion be amended from time to time. 



On the opposite page a blank for making a commercial description is 

 suggested. The size, form and vigor of the tree are to be described as in the 

 case of a systematic description. Under "diseases" should be mentioned 

 such diseases as the variety in either tree or fruit is especially susceptible 

 or resistant to, and so far as possible the degree of susceptibility or re- 

 sistance. The same applies to the relation of the variety to various insects. 



