, 20 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY. 



As to size a basin may be hroad or narroiu, deep or shallow; 

 tbese terms are frequently qualified with very and medium, as 

 very hroad, medium deep. A basin or apex is distinct when 

 well defined and obscure when scarcely to be seen. It is abrupt 

 when the depression breaks ofE suddenly from the apex. The 

 following words express peculiarities which a basin may have ; 

 regular, smooth, waved, angular, plaited, furrowed, ribbed, 

 wrinkled, even, folded, and knobbed when the five ribs of an 

 apple end in as many knobs about the basin. 



Lastly some fruits are russeted on this part only, as the 

 Rhode Island Greening. This russeting is a somewhat vari- 

 able character depending upon season and latitude, yet in many 

 apples, and pears as well, it is a fairly permanent character. 



Akin to the russeting of the basin is the cracking which char- 

 acterizes several sorts. Some fruits have their basins much 

 cracked through the action of the elements or spraying solu- 

 tions. This marking is not permanent, nor characteristic and 

 can serve but little use in descriptions unless there be a strongly 

 marked tendency to such behavior. But when the basin is 

 marked with slight cracks which do not rupture the skin, and 

 are of a normal character, the cracking is a valuable mark. 



In the drupes the apex, corresponding to the basin in the 

 pomes, may be pointed, prolonged, rounded, blunt, depressed, 

 sunken, and some varieties may have special peculiarities of 

 much importance in classifying and therefore • not to be neg- 

 lected in descriptions. 



Chaeactees of the Caltx. — The persistent calyx within 

 the basin of the pomes sometimes furnishes distinguishing 

 marks of value. It can be studied best by making longitudinal 

 ■sections through the fruit and calyx. A number of terms may 

 be used in its description. It may be large, or small, long or 



