GROUP III.--_Oblongi_--Oblong or cylindrical.

1. The hight and breadth are almost equal.

2. They diminish gradually from the base to the apex.

3. Or, from the middle of the fruit they gradually diminish toward the base and apex equally.

GROUP IV.--_Sphaerici_--Round.

1. The convexity of the fruit next the base and the apex is the same.

2. The breadth does not differ from the hight, except only about a quarter of an inch.

3. When laid on their side they present a spherical shape.

+ORDER II.--CONTUBERNALIA--STORING APPLES.+

1. Having the cells regular.

2. They are not striped, and are either of a uniform color or washed with red on the side next the sun.

3. They do not readily decay.

4. They are not unctuous when handled.

5. They are never covered with bloom.

GROUP I.--_Ac.u.minati_--Tapering, diminishing toward the eye.

GROUP II.--_Depressi_--Flat. These are constantly broader than high.[47]

After a long and careful consideration and study of this subject, I have prepared the following formula for the CLa.s.sIFICATION OF APPLES.

It consists of four cla.s.ses that are based upon the general figure of the fruit; with two orders, that are distinguished by a modification of the form, causing the fruit to be regular, or irregular, and angular. The characters upon which the cla.s.ses are founded are exemplified by a vertical section through the length of the axis of the fruit. Those by which the Orders are distinguished are shown by a transverse section, made at right angles to the axis, or by holding the fruit with the blossom end toward the eye.[48]

Each of these Orders may contain two _Sections_, characterized by their flavor as sweet and sour; and each of these may again be sub-divided into three _Sub-sections_, that are based upon color.

CLa.s.s I.--OBLATE OR FLAT, having the axis shorter than the transverse diameter.

ORDER I.--REGULAR.

ORDER II.--IRREGULAR.

SECTION 1.--Sweet.

SECTION 2.--Sour.

SUB-SECTION 1.--Pale or blushed, more or less, but self-colored and not striped.

SUB-SECTION 2.--Striped or Splashed.

SUB-SECTION 3.--Russeted.

CLa.s.s II.--CONICAL, tapering decidedly toward the eye, and becoming OVATE when larger in the middle and tapering to each end, the axial diameter being the shorter.

ORDERS I and II.

SECTIONS 1 and 2.

SUB-SECTIONS 1, 2, and 3.

CLa.s.s III.--ROUND, GLOBULAR or nearly so, having the axial and transverse diameters about equal, the former often shorter by less than one-quarter of the latter. The ends are often so flattened as to look truncated, when the fruit appears to be cylindrical or globular-oblate.

ORDERS, SECTIONS, and SUB-SECTIONS, as above.

CLa.s.s IV.--OBLONG, in which the axis is longer than the transverse diameter, or appears so. These may also be truncate or cylindrical.

ORDERS, SECTIONS, and SUB-SECTIONS, as above.

FOOTNOTES:

[47] As translated for R. Hogg's British Pomology.

[48] Figures 36 to 46, pp. 355 to 356.

DESCRIPTIONS OF APPLES.

ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THEIR CLa.s.sIFICATION ALPHABETICALLY, UNDER EACH DIVISION.

CLa.s.s I.--FLAT APPLES.

+ORDER I.--REGULAR IN FORM.+

SECTION 1.--SWEET.

SUB-SECTION 1.--SELF-COLORED, NOT STRIPED.

=Camack Sweet.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 51.--CAMACK SWEET.]

This newly introduced sort is said to have originated in North Carolina or Georgia. The trees cultivated in the Northern States are yet too young for us to judge of their characteristics, but they appear to be healthy and vigorous.

Fruit medium to large, flat, regular.