18 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY. 



plicable. The word elliptical is frequently used for ovate. A 

 drupe with a very deep and well pronounced suture is said to 

 be sulcate. Plums, and sometimes peaches, are often flaittened 

 sidewise and are then said to be compressed. Cherries are fre- 

 quently oblate. 



Special Eoems^Small Fettits. — The terms given for use 

 in describing the tree fruits are amply sufficient for the small 

 fruits with a few exceptions. These may be briefly noted : 



The strawberry may nearly always be described by the terms 

 given above, but it, more than any other fruit, is likely to be 

 abnormal or normally to assume some unusual shape to which 

 special terms must be given. The words ovalj conical^ spheri- 

 cal, regular and irregular are most often used in describing the 

 iorms of strawberries. 



The general terms given amply cover the forms of raspberries 

 -and blackberries and individual fruits of currants and goose- 

 , berries. The shape of the clusters of the latter two fruits often 

 requires special terms ; as much branched or sparsely branched, 

 ■ or shouldered, a term to be defined under the grape to which it 

 more properly belongs. 



The grape requires several terms not previously mentioned. 

 The form of the individual grapes is nearly always round: 

 though occasionally oval or oblate. The form of the bunch is 

 a matter of much more importance than that of the berry. The 

 bunch is said to be shouldered when branches arise from the 

 main stem near the base. Rarely there are two branches or a 

 double shoulder. The words commonly used to indicate form 

 should be applied to the shoulder as well as the bunch ; as round 

 ovate, slender, regular, etc. Loose, and compact are terms used 

 to indicate the nature of the insertion of the grapes on the stem. 

 The length and breadth of a bunch ai'e also important qualities 



