THE FLOWER AND THE FRUIT 25 



the center is a big one, already recognized as a fruit-bud : 

 here is the promise of speckled, furrowed, striped apples 

 next August. Thereby I learn that it is not enough to 

 be good to the tree in the year in which I desire its fruit : 

 I must begin the year before, and the year before that, 

 and even back at the time when the tree is planted ; and 

 if the tree at planting-time is not a good tree, it will be 

 at a disadvantage perhaps all its life long. 



Finally the apple is ripe and ready. At the stem end 

 is the "cavity," a depression, deep or shallow, according 

 to variety, in which the stem is set. At the blossom end 

 is the "basin," also with the characteristics of the variety 

 as to depth and width and contour, in which the calyx- 

 lobes persist, and inside the fcalyx are the remains of 

 the dead stamens and styles ; the calyx may be "closed" 

 or "open," the character being a mark of the particular 

 variety. 



Cut the apple through the center lengthwise (Fig. 13) ; 

 note the curved outline of the core (the pistil) extending 

 half or more across the fruit ; if you do not see this out- 

 line, cut an apple until you do; carefully open the five 

 cells or compartments and within the parchment walls 

 find the two seeds attached by their points which are 

 directed toward the stem end; perhaps one of the seeds 

 has failed, but probably a cavity marks its place ; perhaps 

 both seeds have failed; perhaps the cell has more than 

 two seeds. 



Cut an apple cross-wise: note the five radiating cells 

 of the core, the number and attachment of the seeds; 

 note the ten points, imbedded in the flesh, marking the 

 outline of the core. Cut an apple cross-wise above the 

 core and beneath it; note where these points vanish 



