14 Joint Bulletin 1 



of the persistent stamens; the upper side of the leaves of the calyx 

 combines with the bases of the petals and possibly with the minute 

 bases of the stamens, as well as with the under surfaces of the capil- 

 lary pistil, while the upper surfaces of the five leaves, each rolled 

 upon itself forms the chitinous-like center star, the heart, the core. 



In the peach a single leaf is inrolled and the upper surface grown 

 woody, furnishing the stone with its single seed. The core of the 

 apple, however, represents five inrolled leaves, its five cells containing 

 a varying number of seeds. 



A slice across the apple reveals what is not evident from the 

 surface, particularly the modified representative of the midrib of the 

 five sepals and five petals now as fibrous organs subcending from the 

 stem to the apex, especially to be at once recognized the five pointed 

 star, the five carpels of the compound pistil — these carpels so folded 

 over, edge touching edge, that a cell is produced and within are the 

 seeds. The upper surface of the leaf is smooth and shining and here 

 may be discovered, somewhat modified, the veins of the original leaf. 



Now coming to the heart of our subject, interest may be centered 

 on a single leaf of the core. The feather-veined apple leaf has its 

 midrib and connecting veins. Each vein at the leaf border contains a 

 possible germ and this theoretical germ may by growth form a seed. 

 The infolded leaf catching its borders together enlarges a little at the 

 line of junction, this enlargement being called a placenta, and here is 

 placed the insertion of the germ. Theoretically there may be as many 

 germs, later seeds, as there are veins in the leaf but this almost never 

 occurs. Within and near the cell cover of an apple then must be cur- 

 rents sweeping through the midvein and veins of the carpel. Elabora- 

 tive juices must be rushing along the prescribed channels, growth must 

 be going on in every germ. Full their streams of irrigation must be, 

 full the miniature rivers, creeks, and brooks, to carry the invigorating 

 flood to the germs soon to mature as seeds, and these seeds under 

 favoring conditions not long after to come forth as vigorous plants. 



But what if at some period of growth, circulation should be inter- 

 fered with, the veins lose their ability to transfer the stream of 

 elaborated sap to the waiting germ? 



Look at the cell core of the apple Tinmouth for example. The 

 original veins of the carpel are plainly seen, the seeds plump, and 

 entirely complete. Now cut the Gilliflower from apex to stem and ob- 

 serve, the veins are broken down. Apparently their contents have 

 overflowed into the containing cell. Nutriment for the growing germ 



