8o The Ottawa Naturalist. [July 



of America, P. Americana, Marshall P. Chicasa, Michx with sub- 

 species. Thirty years ago, the progeny of P. doinestica L. 

 (the gage and &^q^ type) of Europe were entirely relied 

 upon. Now we have fully 300 varieties, pure or cross- 

 bred, developed from selected varieties of our native species- 

 These are destined in the future, by reason of hardiness 

 and vigour, to supply the wants of settlers in the interior of our 

 great country and in parts little more than explored at the 

 present time. Within a century there have come to Canadian 

 fruit growers, native plums, grapes, gooseberries, raspberries, 

 cranberries, mulberries, pecans and chestnuts — and I had 

 almost forgotten persimmons, a favourite with our coloured 

 brethren in the south. These latter we do not expect to be 

 widely planted in our day. 



FRUITS STRUCTURALLY CONSIDERED. 



The structural part of fruits is extremely interesting, as re- 

 cording the remarkable modifications brought about by cultiva- 

 tion, as well as affording a glimpse of the analogy existing 

 between the various organs and parts of the plants. 



In horticulture we deal with those fruits called by the 

 botanist, fleshy or indehiscent fruits. There is a disagreement 

 between botanists and fruit consumers in regard to the use of 

 the term "fruit," It is a disagreement between science and 

 sentiment. Speaking botanically and technically, the seed is 

 the fruit. Poetically and practically, the fruit is that which we 

 eat. However, those plants yielding fleshy fruits are those 

 which concern the horticulturist. This fleshiness is brought 

 about by an abnormal development of the parenchyma. The 

 ovary results from the transformation of a leaf, made up of the 

 epidermal coverings, the endocarp and pericarp, enclosing the 

 mesocarp. These parts may be traced in the structure oi pomes, 

 or berries, as styled by some botanists, as well as in the stone 

 fruits, or drupes. Examining an apple we find that it results 



