364 AMERICAN POMOLOGY. 



core, which is shortened to correspond with the oblato 

 character of the fruit. This is illustrated by many of the 

 outlines given in Class I. It is well also to observe and 

 note whether the axis be inclined. The form of the core 

 is not very reliable, but it has characters that are perma- 

 nent and peculiar to certain varieties. Thus it is always 

 open in some, and always closed in other sorts of the ap- 

 ple. In the pear it is gritty in some varieties, and sur- 

 rounded with fine grained flesh in others. The core is 

 large, medium, or small, and these distinctions are perma- 

 nent. Its outline, embracing tlie group of carpels, may 

 be regular or irregular, long or short, cordate, wide or com- 

 pressed; it may reach the eye or otherwise, and it fre- 

 quently clasps that portion. 



The Seeds ai-e numerous or otherwise ; they are long or 

 short, acuminate or rounded, flat, angular, imperfect, or 

 plump, large or small ; they may he pale, even yellow, or 

 brown, dark, and nearly black ; and these shades are dis- 

 tinctive, often enabling the pomologist to decide upon the 

 variety when other characters are less marked. The pe- 

 culiarities of the stones of peaches, plums and cherries, 

 and of the seeds of the grape, had better be described in 

 immediate connection with those species of fruit. 



In the FiESH of fruits we find characters that most 

 pomologists, even the amateurs, are generally pleased to 

 have under practical consideration. They are also very 

 reliable, for if the fruits be in good condition, they are al- 

 ways the same in any given variety. In its consistency, 

 this tissue is either firm, .ind compact, or spong]/ ; it is 

 fiohe grained, granular, gritty, fibrous, or breaking, on the 

 one hand, or tender, buttery and melting, on the other ; 



