Saturday, February 20, 2021

Mammiform Crown Base Protuberances

There's always more to know. 


The bumpy, crenelated calyx end of a yellow apple

Consider this the second installment in the ongoing investigation of what to call the set of bumps that sometimes grace the ridge around the calyx end of the apple.

Last month I weighed in with crown, noting that an apple usually begins its life with its calyx pointing up.

Friday, February 12, 2021

Genetics Inform UK Apple Curators

Blck-and-white photo of a man in a tie a the Smithsonian Institution holding an enormous jawbone
Curation is key.

Gene sequencing is helping the National Fruit Collection (UK) to prune its orchard and improve its classifications.

I reviewed the NFC's searchable apple database in 2008.

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Stars for a Star-Crossed Year

fragments of shattered glass explode against a dark background, like a field of stars

Today is the day I rate apples I've sampled (or resampled or reconsidered) from the previous year.

My ratings are qualitative, from one to three stars. These judgments reflect my tastes primarily, though sometimes other considerations come into play.

As for the year itself: no stars at all.