432 State Horticultural Society. 



tliey open, and (2) those developed the previous year. They may be 

 either lateral or terminal, the lateral buds being most common on peach 

 and nectarine, while those of the apple, pear and plum are usually ter- 

 minal. 



The flower buds toward the end of the branches of peach trees 

 seldom develop. All of the buds at a node on peach trees may be flower 

 buds, but when three are present the center one is a leaf bud. Although 

 the flower buds do not as a rule open until a year after they form, in 

 some instances they open in the fall of the same year, and during warm 

 periods in the winter they enlarge so as to be one-eighth of an inch long 

 by February 1. Many varieties produce about the same number of buds, 

 and there seems to be a definite relation between the number of the two 

 kinds of buds, the leaf buds usually constituting from 35 to 46 per cent 

 of all the buds on a tree. 



Durmg the growing season there is little difference between the 

 flower and leaf buds of the apple. As a rule, those on the new shoots 

 are leaf buds, while the fruit buds are in short fruit spurs. The leaf 

 buds of plums are generally smaller and more pointed, and the flower 

 buds are in spurs. As a rule, the leaf buds are closely appressed, while 

 the oval flower buds stand out from the branches. On some sorts the 

 buds are in threes at the base of the shoots and are solitary towards the 

 tips. In the pear there are six to nine flowers in a bud, and there is little 

 difference between fruit and flower buds. The form of the leaf buds in 

 different varieties is more constant than is the form of the fruit, and one 

 familiar with their appearance can rely upon the buds to determine the 

 varieties. Cherry trees develop their buds one year and open them the 

 next. They are usually three to eight in a fruit spur, with a leaf bud 

 at the tip. Grape buds are borne on wood of the same year's growth and 

 are on the first few nodes opposite leaves. When a tendril occurs oppo- 

 site a leaf, no fruit buds will be found further along on the cane. Leaf 

 buds may be changed to flower buds and flower buds to leaf buds at any 

 period of their gorwth. The development of flower buds can often be 

 brought about by summer pruning and other operations that check the 

 growth of the trees. — Country Gentleman's report of Am. Pom. Society. 



