ixdia:!^a kokticultueal society. 323 



marketing an inferior grade of fruit that neA^er pays expenses. It also 

 helps the fruit grower to build up a reputation for choice fruit. Thinning 

 does not, however, increase the total yield of fruit. On the contrary, it 

 generally reduces it. 



President Hobbs: I would like to ask this question: Are fruit buds 

 and wood buds interchangeable? That is, will the flower bud become, 

 under certain circumstances and conditions a wood bud, or vice versa. 



Professor Goff: On that point, I can say yes, in the case of the 

 apple; it is practically certain, in case of the apple, that the bud may be- 

 come a flower bud. I limit it to the apple, because the apple is the fruit 

 regarding which I have been able to make an investigation. 



President Hobbs: How late? 



Professor Goff: It depends upon circumstances, when the conditions 

 come. The flower will form sometime during the summer, in the month 

 of September. It may form as early as .Inly, or it may form as late as 

 September. 



President Hobbs: It can't possiiily form in the spring, are we to 

 understand? 



Professor Goff: No; I don't tliink Hi'," ilower bud ever forms in the 

 spring. 



President Hobbs: When fruit buds are pretty generally killed dur- 

 ing a severe winter, when the buds have become scattering, it has some- 

 times been that they have been converted from the wood buds into flower 

 buds, have they not? 



Professor Goff: I do not think so. Of course, I would not say posi- 

 tively. I know it is rare, and I think it is impossible. As to the ques- 

 tion, will the flower or fruit bud turn back to a leaf bud, I would say, 

 I think if that occurs, it is rare; I think that after the flower is finished, 

 and formed into a bud, and formed all the parts, it never can change. It 

 is true, however, flowers do sometimes develop leaves after they have 

 commenced to form. I suspect the reason is this: The flower commences 

 to form and forms part of the organs, and then conditions change so the 

 gi-owth impulse is encouraged. In regard to other fruits, I think it is 

 true of the plum, the cherry and the peach. "We all know of the peach, 

 that of the three buds that develop side by side, the outer ones form 

 flowers, and the other one continues the growth. In the case of the 

 plum, the central bud will also develop into a flower. It is also true 

 of the peach, that the side buds may also develop into branches. So I 

 think that I can make this statement regarding the bud of tlie apple, 

 the plum, the pear and the peach— these are the only ones I have studied 



