Abscission of Flowers and Fruits of the Apple 



55 



drop. Data based on all flower-bearing spurs found on various branches 

 are given in table 4. The number of flowers originally borne on each spur 



TABLE 4. Percentage of Flowers Developing into Fruits after 



THE June Drop 



was obtained by counting the flower scars and the fruits on the spur. 

 Approximately three to seven per cent of the total number of flowers 

 finally developed into fruits. 



Flowers falling at the first drop and at the June drop on fruit-bearing 

 spurs. — The figures in table 5 show the relation between the first drop 

 and the June drop. The data are based on a consideration of all fruit- 

 setting spurs found on several branches from trees of each variety. They 

 do not take into consideration the spurs that bore flowers but failed to 

 set fruit. The first column of figures contains the total nimiber of spurs, 

 and the second contains the total number of flowers found on these spurs. 

 Unless otherwise mentioned, the percentages are based on the original 

 number of flowers. 



TABLE 5. First Drop and June Drop on Fruit-setting Spurs 



(A) Percentage based on original number of flowers. 



(B) Percentage based on number of fruits remaining after first drop, obtained by subtracting figures 

 in fourth column from those in third column. 



The figures indicate that the June drop is relatively small when the 

 first drop is large. On the other hand, if a large proportion of the flowers 

 begin to form fruits, the June drop will be heavy. Approximately twenty 

 per cent of the flowers on fruit -setting spurs finally develop, which means 

 one fruit to the spur. The variety Maiden Blush has a tendency to develop 

 more than one fruit to the spur. The percentage is somewhat lower than 



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