THE APPLE. 29 



thinkers in tliis line now recognize this fact as due to bud variation, 

 and take advantage of it l)y cutting scions for grafting from the 

 best and most productive trees only. Florists long ago learned the 

 necessity of care in taking cuttings from tlie best and most ]>ro- 

 ductive individuals, or even jiarts of the plant. 



TERMS USED IX DESCRIBING Ari'LES. 



Tree. — In closely related varieties it is sometimes essential to know 

 the characteristics of growth in the orchard and the color of the young 

 wood. The color and general appearance of an apjile may be changed 

 to a considerable extent by soil and climate, Init the general habit of 

 growth and color of young wood does not change materially. For 

 reasons already set forth, however, the pomologist should strive to 

 seek distinguishing characters in the fruit itself, and not be dependent 

 upon the tree in orchard or nursery save as confirmatory evidence. 



The growth of the healthy bearing tree may be strong and vigor- 

 ous; vigorous and slender; stout and short-jointed; medium and 

 vigorous. Tlie form of top may be upright, upright spreading, s])read- 

 ing, round-headed, or upright. 



Form. — Some European writers have made elaborate systems based 

 on the form of the fruit. Downing gives only four classes as follows: 



"In describing fruits, the word hasc means that part of the fruit 

 in which tlie stem is planted; and apex, the blossom end, or crown, 

 as it is sometimes termed. Forms are so mucli interwoven, as it were, 

 one with anotlu>r, that we have selected Isut four as the primary liases 

 on which all others are built, and are subsidiary. 



" These prirnarv forms are roundish, oblate, eonienl, and ohhnig. The 

 terms rouiai, roundish, or globular, are sometimes used in connection, 

 rather as qualifying expressions than as distinctive; for while the word 

 roundvih, which indicates the height and tliametcr as nearly ecpial, 

 applies to many fruits, there is no perfectly round or globular apple 

 kno"\^'n. 



" Oblate indicates the height as much less than diameter. ( '(oiierd. 

 is when the fruit is roundish, having the apex end contracted, (dihnig, 

 is when the fruit is longer than broad, and liaving the apex and liase of 

 nearly the same breadth. Connected and sulisidiary terms, sueli as 

 rou'idirh, conical, or conic, are when the apple unites the two jirimary 

 forms of roundisli and conical; or d -ngoied conical, or conic, when tlie 

 length is considerably beyond the breadth. Truncate conic, is when 



