30 



SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY. 



the fruit is flattened at the apex. Ribbed, or obscurely ribbed, when the 

 surface has rising lines and channels from apex to base. Oblique, is 

 when the fruit presents the appearance as of being one-sided, or 

 when the axis is inclined to one side. Oblate, not symmetric, or sides 

 unequal, when one side is less than the other. Corrugated, having de- 

 pressed lines, furrows, or wrinkles. Acute, when narrowing to a sharp 



Oblate. 



Conical. 



Oblong. 



point. Obtuse, round or blunt. Abrupt, when the depression breaks 

 off suddenly." 



Axis. This is an imaginary straight line between the stem and 

 the centre of the calyx. The axis is inclined when the fruit is oblique 

 or lop-sided ; short when oblate or the cavity and basin are deep; long 

 when the fruit is oblong. The core-cells are axile when they meet the 

 axis; abaxile when distant from it. When a section made through 

 the apple at right angles to the axis is circular it is regular; if so true 

 that it could be turned in a lathe, it is very regular; it may be 

 irregular, compressed, or flattened sidewise, angular, furrowed, or ribbed, 

 rarely triangular, quadrangular, or pentangular. 



Size. The size is variable, depending upon soil, climate, overbear- 

 ing, age, and health of tree, etc. The one given is that attained as an 

 average and under normal conditions. The size may be very large, 

 large, medium, small, very small. 



