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EXPERIMENT STATION. 



[Jan. 



probably during a space of two or three weeks, results in greater 

 elongation of the fruit, presumably through a prolongation of 

 the period of relatively greater axial elongation before re- 

 ferred to. 



This theory explains not only the seasonal variations but the 

 greater elongation in the vicinity of large bodies of water, for 

 the fact that in such locations the weather is relatively cool 

 during the spring needs no discussion. In this connection we 

 have observed that the seasonal fluctuation in form is less near 



Fig. 4. 



the great lakes and the ocean than at a distance from them, this 

 showing the influence on the form of the apple of the equalizing 

 effect on the temperature of the large bodies of water. 



In gathering the apples from the trees under observation in 

 Amherst, they have been divided into four lots, by bisecting the 

 tree with a perpendicular plane running east and west, and 

 again with a horizontal plane about midway of the head of the 

 tree. This divides the tree into quarters designated upper 

 south, lower south, upper north and lower north. The sections 

 of each tree have approximately equal amounts of bearing wood. 

 From the first these different portions of the tree have shown 

 differences in form which have been meaningless and confusing 

 until the theory of the temperature following l)lossomiug was 



i 



