THE GENERAL STRUCTURE OF THE APPLE AND PEA!:. 



3o 



The question has been raised as to the relative size of core in large and small apples, and to 

 answer it I have taken six of each of the Prince Bismarck variety off the same tree. The 

 measurements were as follows : — 



Table V. — Relative Size of Core and Flesh in Large and Small Apples. 





Largo Apples. 



Small Apples. 





Diameter of 



Diameter of 



Diameter of 



Diameter of 





Apple. 



Central Core. 



Apple. 



Central Core. 





Inches. 



Inches. 



Inches. 



Inches. 



1 



3 -GO 



1-37 



1-94 



1*12 



2 



3 '50 



I '50 



2 -00 



1-12 



3 



3 -25 



L-37 



2*06 



1 -12 



4 



3-25 



1-50 



2 '20 



1-12 



5 



3-25 



1*50 



1-80 



l -oo 



6 



3 '00 



1*37 







2 -00 



1 -oo 



Total for 6 Apples 



19-25 



8'6L 



12-00 



6-48 



Average for 6 Apples 



3-21 



1-43 



2 -00 



1-08 



It has been stated that the core in a small apple is just as large as in a big one, but the above 

 measurements do not bear this out. The core in the large apple is larger than the core in the small 

 apple, but the proportion to the diameter in the large apple is less than that in the small apple. 

 In other words, there is more core relatively to the flesh in a small apple than a large one of the 

 same variety. 



It is generally considered that the core has reached its full development before the flesh at 

 the periphery of the apple has ceased growing. 



XIII. -THE FIHRO-VASCULAR SYSTEM AND ITS FUNCTIONS. 



In any modern description of the disease of Bitter Pit, it is generally stated that it is 

 developed in connexion with the vessels, but, if the vascular system is carefully laid bare in the 

 apple and pear, and the wonderful ramifications exposed to view, as in Figs. 83 and 88, it would 

 be difficult to find any large area of the flesh not provided with an abundant supply of vessels. 



We are able now to give a clear and connected view of the wonderful system of vessels 

 ramifying through every portion of the fruit, and accompanying the conducting system there is 

 always a strengthening system or skeleton, both being included under the one term, 

 ki Fibro-vascular." 



If an apple is cut across about the middle, ten green spots are observed arranged in a circle 

 about midway between the centre and skin (Fig. 71). These are the primary fibro-vascular bundles 

 or strands of the apple, and they are evidently harder and firmer than the surrounding tissue, for 

 if the cut surface is allowed to dry these ten points stand out distinctly. From their position, they 

 are evidently developed in connexion with the five carpels, for there is one strand opposite each of 

 the seed-cavities, and another in an intermediate position, making ten in all. 



Strong corroborative evidence is afforded that the bundles are developed in connexion with 

 the carpels by the fact that when the abnormal number of six carpels occur, there are twelve 

 bundles instead of ten (Fig. 72). and when there are four carpels there are only eight strands 

 (Fig. 73). 



