THE SETTING AND DROPPING OF FRUITS.* 



U. P. HEDRICK. 



One of the discouragements in fruit growing is the uncertainty 

 which attends the formation and development of fruit buds. 

 Failure to set fruit even though the trees bear an abundance of 

 blossoms, the dropping of immature fruits, the biennial bearing 

 habit of certain apples and unfavorable weather at blooming time, 

 are common and seemingly impreventable drawbacks to profitable 

 fruit growing. The Biblical injunction " to dig about and clung 

 the trees " may be obeyed both literally and figuratively and yet 

 the trees may fail to blossom, or to set a crop, or the fruit drops, 

 or wind, rain, cold or frost may destroy the embryonic fruits. 

 Indeed, seemingly, the better the culture, the greater the retro- 

 gression in sexual reproduction, and the forces set in motion by 

 the cultivator in no way nullify the effects of bad weather. 



Roughly the above problems fall under two heads : First, those 

 having to do with the formation of fruit buds; second, those hav- 

 ing to do with the development of the buds. 



Can the fruit grower influence the formation of buds ? Though 

 lie cannot wholly control the formation of buds, he can at least 

 greatly influence their formation. We may lav down as the first 

 principle having to do with the formation of fruit buds, one 

 founded on the experience of fruit growers with practically every 

 fruit : that plants develop fruit buds only where there is a store 

 of food materials in twigs and branches. Another statement 

 to much the same effect is that plants will not form fruit buds 

 when the food material is being largely used in the production of 

 new wood and new leaves. 



Many facts and horticultural practices substantiate the state- 

 ments just made. Thus, trees unduly luxuriant in growth do not 

 set, fruit ; plants without sufficient food for both wood and fruit 

 bearing do not as a rule produce fruit ; in warm, damp climates 

 trees and vines grow to great size and with much foliage but boar 

 little or no fruit ; pruning, which is favorable to wood growth, is 



* Reprint of Circular No. 22. 



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