TERMS USED IN DESCRIBING FRUITS. 261 



Drooping, when they fall below the horizontal, a form which 

 many spreading shoots assume, as they become the large 

 branches of older trees. 



Ascending, when they curve upward, as in the Gravenstein 

 apple, and small Red Siberian Crab (Fig. 308). Erect trees 

 usually partake more or less of this quality, but the Early 

 Harvest is free from it. 



Irregular, when they assume no very distinct growth, but 

 more or less a mixture of the preceding, as Black Gilliflower 

 and Summer Bonchretien pear. 



Pig. 305. Fig. 30s. 



Pig. 307. Pig. 30S. 



Showing Forms of Growth. 



Fig. 309- 



Straggling, similar to the next preceding, but with shoots 

 more slender and curved, as Winter Nelis and Black Worces- 

 ter pear (Fig. 309). 



Shoots are straight, as in the Early Harvest and Northern 

 Spy apples ; flexuous, or more or less deviating from a straight 

 line, as in the Swaar and Roxbury Russet. This distinction 

 is very apparent and uniform in young and very thrifty 

 trees, but not in older ones of feeble growth. 



They are stout, as in the Red Astrachan ; slender, as in the 

 Jonathan apple and Winter Nelis pear. 



Trees with erect straight shoots when young, usually form 

 more regular and compact heads in older trees ; and those of 

 a spreading habit, more irregular or drooping heads. 



Some trees which grow very rapidly when young, are small 

 when of full size, examples of which are found in the Late 

 Strawberry and Tallman Sweeting. Others at first grow more 

 slowly, but ultimately become large, as the Esopus Spitzen- 

 burgh. Some varieties, again, continue to increase rapidly 



