Abscission of Flowers and Fruits of the Apple 



SI 



drop. By first drop is meant the loss of flowers and of very slightly 

 developed fruits that occurs within from one to three or four weeks after 

 the petals fall. In the majority of these drops, the ovary and sur- 

 rounding tissue has not developed beyond the flower stage. In a relatively 

 few cases, the young fruits have attained a diameter of from one-half to 

 one centimeter before they fall. 



Flowers developing into fruits after the first drop 



The extent of the first drop is indicated by the data given in table i. 

 The figures are based on a consideration of all flower-bearing spurs found 



Fig. I. VIGOROUS spur, producing fruit and lateral growth 



Lateral shoots are shown at A and B. The spur growth made since spring is shown at C. The leaves 

 on this growth are the bud leaves. The large scar at E is from the stem of an apple that fell at the June 

 drop; the small scars at D are flower-stem scars. A part of the preceding year's growth is shown at F. 

 (J natural size) 



