The basin of some fruits is very apt to crack into irregular fissures, and this appears to be peculiar to certain varieties, though it is not esteemed a very reliable mark; the term _cracked_ is used to express this. In some fruits, however, we find a very peculiar cracking that forms a permanent character, upon which great dependence may be placed: all the rim of the basin in these is marked with a slightly cracked appearance that does not rupture the skin, and which resembles the incipient breaking of the surface of a piece of dry leather; it has, therefore, received the name of _leather-crack_. This is characteristic of a few sorts, and hence a valuable mark. Within the basin is the EYE, which furnishes characters of great value. This I consider to mean the meeting of the segments of the calyx, and more particularly in the apple, the triangular space enclosed by these parts, in which the remains of the stamens and pistils are found. Hence the Eye can only be displayed by making a vertical section of the fruit. There are but a limited number of expressions used in its description; thus the eye is said to be _large_, _small_, _long_ or _short_, and it may be _open_ or _closed_. The segments of the calyx may be _converging_ or _reflexed_, _persistent_ or _obsolete_, according to their condition in the ripe fruit, and these several characters are quite reliable; but the simple fact that the eye is _open_ or _closed_, may depend upon the accidental breaking away of the segments of the calyx, and is of little value as a sign. [Illustration: Fig. 47.--DEEP, STEM LONG.] [Illustration: Fig. 48.--WIDE, STEM STOUT.] [Illustration: Fig. 49.--WAVY, STEM CLUBBED.] The next character to be considered is the attachment of the stem, which, in some fruits, is so depressed as to constitute what is called the CAVITY. In the apple this portion has many variations that are quite characteristic of certain varieties of fruit. In form the cavity may be either _deep_, fig. 47, or _shallow_; _regular_ or _irregular_; _wide_, fig. 48; or _narrow_, and _acute_, _wavy_, fig. 49; and _uneven_, _folded_, and even _lipped_, fig. 50; as when a portion of the flesh protrudes against the stem, as in Pryor's Red, Roman Stem, and other apples, and in some pears. This portion is sometimes defaced by _cracks_ that separate the skin; it is occasionally green, and this is a good and distinguishing character of a limited number of fruits, both apples and pears. The cavity is also _brown_ or "_russeted_" in some fruits, and, though this character is quite variable in its depth, amount and extent, we may consider the _brown_ or _russeting about the stem_ quite reliable in both pears and apples. [Illustration: Fig. 50.--CAVITY LIPPED.]