32 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY. 



There is much individual variation in the foliage of trees of all 

 varieties. The relative amounts of the food constituents of 

 plants, as well as the total amount in a soil greatly influence 

 the size, color and texture of leaves. Season, and varying 

 degrees of temperature and humidity, exercise considerable 

 influence on leaves, the size in particular. 



The terms used to designate shapes of leaves in botany are 

 applicable here, as; oval) oilong, ovaie, lanceolate, ohovate, 

 round, etc., etc. A botanical glossary will be found very helpful 

 in the study of all the characters of leave* As to size, leaves 

 may be large as in the Red Astrachan apple ; small as in the 

 Jonathan ; narrow as in the Dyer ; or they may be long, short or 

 broad. As to texture they may be smooth as in the Baldwin 

 apple; waved as in the Talman Sweet; flat as in the Madeline 

 pear; folded as in the Easter pear; reflexed when the apex 

 curves backward ; conduplicate when trough-shaped ; wrinkled, 

 rough, etc., all terms well enough understood. 



The color often helps in describing varieties. The usual 

 colors are; light green, deep green, or bluish green, though 

 young leaves are frequently drab or reddish. 



Leaves may be erect or drooping like the shoot but these 

 terms must be carefully used as leaves are usually erect on 

 young shoots and become drooping as they grow older. 



The absence or presence of glands and the form and number 

 of glands serve in all classificatory schemes of the peach. These 

 are on the leaf-stalks close to the base and are organs of secre- 

 tion; they may be globular, reniform or kidney-shaped. The 

 leaf -stalks themselves may be peculiar in certain varieties, as; 

 long, short, stout, slender, flat, etc. 



The division of the edges of the leaves are of prime import- 

 ance in describing many varieties, more particularly in the 

 peach where it serves as a character separating groups. The 



