A. H. Lees 25 



bush behaved so, the total number of terminal jirowinn; points or exten- 

 sion shoots would be tripled. Tf this condition is not remedied at pruning 

 time the bush becomes possessed of far more extension growing points 

 than it can support properly. 



Case 5. Through unknown causes. 



In addition to the cases already described there is a form of reversion 

 for which at present no explanation can be offered. It occurs in very 

 young bushes that have been cut down immediately after planting and 

 therefore cannot be accounted for by any interference with terminal 

 growth. Instead of making the usual straight growth with broad leaves 

 considerable branching occurs from the laterals made during the current 

 season; at the same time the leaves are markedly pointed in shape. The 

 following year the fruit runs off. This case is being investigated but at 

 present there is no satisfactory explanation. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



In every case so far examined it has been shown that reverted wood 

 has been caused by a check to the terminal bud. This check may be 

 owing to the normal wood bud terminal being substituted by a big bud, 

 a killed bud, a blind bud or a flower bud. In all cases an abnormal 

 amount of growth from lateral buds situated below, takes place. The 

 exact arrangement of this lateral growth depends on the time and 

 manner of the check to the terminal and has already been discussed. 

 There is at all events little doubt from the evidence given above that 

 such a check does occur and that it suffices to explain the character of 

 reverted wood. The connection between reverted wood and "running 

 off" of the fruit is not quite so clear. 



The amount of running off varies with the season. If it is wet the 

 fruit on reverted bushes hangs on very much better than if it is dry, 

 which would point to insufficiency, of sap supply as the cause. This is 

 supported by the behaviour of the berries. Usually it is the basal ones 

 that remain but sometimes it is the apical or intermediate ones. In any 

 case they do not drop until about half size, a behaviour which suggests 

 that fertilization has taken place normally. The evolution of the fruit 

 goes on as in a healthy bush until the summer drought begins to be felt 

 and there is nothing to show up to this time that they will not reach 

 maturity. The case may be compared with the June drop of plums where 

 fruits already "set" are dropped in considerable quantities and only the 

 more favourably placed ones are left. If drought in respect of the bush 

 affects the holding power of the fruit it is not unreasonable to look for 



