144 State Horticultural Society. 



DISCUSSION ON FORMATION OF FRUIT BUDS. 



J. C. Whitten. — Of course under n(jrnial conditions in bearing trees, 

 ni late summer, July or August, we can see the large fruit buds .which 

 are forming. I believe Col. Evans is right : these buds may be developed 

 at any time. Last spring after many blossoms were killed, many later 

 flowers appeared. The tree managed to put out some flowers for a 

 second crop. There are certain conditions which favor and other condi- 

 tions which oppose the formation of fruit buds. Abnormal wood growth 

 hinders the formation of fruit. The forces of the tree may be divided 

 into vegetative and reproductive activity, somewhat opposed to each other. 

 Excessive wood growth, caused by too much fertilizer or late cultivation 

 may prevent fruit buds from forming. Any thing which, in a measure, 

 checks the wood-growing activity may cause the tree to form fruit buds 

 for the next year. Some trees here in the grounds are girdled. In the 

 girdled trees there is less wood growth, but there are larger and more 

 fruit buds. The buds were also formed earlier in the season than on 

 the other trees. We usually find fruit buds upon that growth which 

 ceases to lengthen early in the season, on short spurs which make their 

 wood growth early. 



Secy. Goodman. — Are there not some indeterminate buds which may 

 be either wood or fruit buds ? 



J. C. Whitten. — Fruit buds sometimes send out little shoots which 

 produce later blossoms. These shoots may be six or eight inches long. 

 It may be possible for some fruit buds not to push out in the spring 

 at the normal time. I have observed this in the cherry. I have also 

 known of fruit buds upon young wood. 



Mr. Powell, Washington, D. C. — I know an orchard of Kiefi'er pears 

 which was defoliated with leaf blight early in the season. ]\Iany of these 

 trees started a second growth and bloomed in July or August this year. 

 For several years I have made a study of the fruit bud. You may often 

 find the flower part of the bud of the apple in June. In bearing apple 

 trees the best fruits arc those made on trees which make the best growth, 

 and not upon those making slow growth. This applies to bearing trees. 

 Young orchards making a fast growth are not apt to bear. 



J. C. Evans. — I have seen fruit buds upon water sprouts of the cur- 

 rent year's growth. When were these buds formed ? 



Mr. Todd, Howard County,— I know of a twenty-five acre orchard 

 which had a crop of apples as large as walnuts on it. The trees bloomed 

 a second time in June, set a full crop and both crops came to maturity. 



Mr. Murrav. — I have known the Maiden Blush apple to make two 



