Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 84.djvu/164

160 pollen with which the blossom is fertilized. This theory is generally discredited at the present time, as well authenticated instances of such direct effect of the pollen are lacking in the case of the apple. The direct effect of pollen upon the color of the fruit is the rule in corn, as is well known, and it is not impossible that it might sometimes be manifest in the apple, though proof of that fact is lacking. At any rate, specimens are sometimes found which strongly suggest the direct influence of the pollen, and it has been my fortune to examine a half dozen such apples last season.

The first to come to my attention was grown in the Lake Chelan locality and appeared to be a small specimen of the Ben Davis type.

 About one half natural size.

It had been picked for some time when received and was badly shriveled. The larger part of the surface of the apple was greenish indistinctly striped with red. A segment, however, covering about two fifths of the surface was of a very dark color with scarcely a suggestion of striping. The lines of demarcation between these dissimilar portions of the surface were clearly and sharply marked, as shown in the illustration, and extended from stem to calyx. Upon cutting the apple, it was found that the dark portion of the surface just covered two of the carpels or divisions of the core. This portion contained three perfect seeds, while there were five seeds in the remainder of the core.