FRUIT. 161 



VIII. Fruit. 



209. Fruit, strictly speaking, is the pistillum arrived at 

 maturity. 



210. When the calyx adheres to the pistillum and grows 

 with it, to maturity, the fruit is called inferior; as the Apple. 



211. But when the pistillum alone ripens, there being no 

 adhesion to it on the part of the calyx, the fruit is called supe- 

 rior; as the Peach. 



212. The fruit, is, therefore, in common language, the 

 flower, or some part of it, arrived at its most complete state 

 of existence ; and, consequently, is itself a portion of a stunted 

 branch. (153.) 



213. The nature of its connection with the stem is therefore 

 the same as that of the branches with each other, or of leave 

 with their stem. 



214. A superior Fruit, consisting only of one, or of a small 

 number of metamorphosed leaves, it has little or no power of 

 forming a communication with the earth and of feeding itself, 

 as real brandies have. (89.) 



215. It has also very little adhesion to its branch ; so that 

 but slight causes are sufficient to detach it from the plant, 

 especially at an early age, when all its parts are tender. 



216. Hence the difficulty of causing Peaches and the like 

 to stone, or to pass over that age, in which the vascular bundles 

 that join them to the branch become woody, and secure them 

 to their place. 



217. For the same reason they are fed almost entirely by 

 other parts, upon secreted matter which they attract to them- 

 selves, elaborate, and store up in the cavities of their tissue. 



218. The office of feeding such fruit is performed by young 

 branches which transmit nutriment to it through the bark. (69.) 



219. But as young branches can only transmit nutriment 

 downwards, it follows that unless a fruit is formed on a part 

 of a branch below a leaf bud, it must perish. 



220. Unless there is some active vegetation in the stem 

 above the branch on which it grows; when it may possibly live 

 and feed upon secretions attracted by it from the main stem. 1 . 



221. But inferior fruit, consisting at least of the calyx in 

 addition to the pistillum, has a much more powerful commu- 

 nication with the branch ; each division of its < calyx having 

 at least one bundle of vascular and fibrous tissue, passing from 

 it into the branch, and acting as a stay upon the centre to 

 prevent its breaking cif. 



222. Such fruit may be supposed much more capable of 

 establishing a means oC attracting secretions from a distance; 

 and consequently, is less liable to perish from want of a 

 supply of food 



223. It is therefore not so important that an inferior fruit 

 should be furnished with growing branehes above it. 



14* 



