emish_: All specimens should be free
from blemishes of all kinds. One should look particularly
for (_a_) marks of fungous or other disease, including
stippin, (_b_) injury from insects of all kinds, (_c_)
mechanical injury, including loss of stem. Unmistakable
evidence of codlin-moth injury or San Jose scale should
disqualify a plate. Other blemishes are considered important
in about the order named: Side worms, scab, stippin,
curculio or red-bug, skin punctures, bruises, stem pulled,
russet (not typical for variety) and limb rub. The extent of
scab spots should be considered. Minute spots are not as
serious as some other blemishes, while spots which deform
the apple should disqualify the plate.

_Other information_: Five specimens constitute a plate,
except when the rules of the contest or exhibit state
otherwise. Any variation from this rule disqualifies the
plate.

When a plate is not labelled with the correct variety name,
it should not be judged, but is disqualified and if possible
the correct name is applied. If one specimen on a plate is
not as labelled, the whole plate is disqualified.

In some judging contests, the plates are not labelled with
the variety name, and the contestant is supposed to make the
identification.

_Precaution_: Avoid pressing the specimens with the thumb
and finger so as to bruise the fruit. The degree of firmness
can be determined by gentle pressure with the inside of the
whole hand.

Defects, apparent or otherwise, should not be probed with
the finger nail, pin, or other hard object.

Special care should be exercised to replace all specimens on
the right plate.

Having in mind these definite criteria, the reader will know what is
meant by a "good apple" and also a good apple-tree. Measurements of
perfection aid us to estimate the deficiencies.

* * * * *

He who knows the apple-tree knows also its region. The landscape is
his in every blessed year; he sees the chariots of the months come
down from the distances and pass by him into the twilights. Clouds are
his and the repeating shadows on the hills. The morning when the
blossoms are laden with the fragrance of the night, high noon when the
bees are busy, the gloaming when the birds drop into the boughs, these
are his by divine right. The s