360 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



to the first foliage produced, only eucb buds can develop into fruit 

 spurs and fruit buds as were suflBciently strong to do so, and only 

 those fruit buds well nourished this season can expand into good bloom 

 next season. 



Subsequent growth modifies the fruiting method, and there are 

 Bome differences in varieties about producing fruit buds, but a large 

 share of tree fruits lay the foundation of productiveness along the 

 same lines for the growth of their first crops. In all cases, whether 

 fruit spurs are produced or not, fruit or blossom buds are formed the 

 year previous to that of fruit production, and are directly dependent 

 upon the foliage for their character, and sometimes for two or three 

 seasons preceding. In this matter of the growth of fruit buds, a tree 

 fruit differs from raspberries, blackberries and grapes, for they pro- 

 duce bloom upon branches grown the same season. 



Every orchardist should be able to determine what influences 

 cause trees to produce fruit buds. This article is designed as a study 

 in this direction and should be supplemented by observations in the 

 orchard, of trees in fruit, and better yet by a study of the philosophy 

 of tree growth. 



Pruning Trees at Transplanting. 



It should not be forgotten that the branches of trees have vary- 

 ing degrees of vital power. Strong, vigorous, healthy branches would 

 endure unfavorable circumstances when the weaker ones would give 

 way. In growing trees, it is always the weaker wood which we find 

 among the dead branches. In transplanting a tree, we want all the 

 branches that are full of life and vigor, and not those that are already 

 half dead. The practice generally followed, therefore, of shortening 

 back the strong, vigorous branches, and leaving the half dead ones, is 

 a mistaken course. If all the half dead branches were cut away, and 

 the stronger ones left without any shortening, transplanting would 

 often be more successful than it is. — Meehans' Monthly for October. 



The Crown of Trees and Plants. 



The crown is that part of the tree or plant which unites the top to 

 the roots. It is the enlarged portion at and just below and above the 

 surface of the ground. It is the most vital portion of all plants, and 

 if the top suffers serious injury, it is here that renewal takes place. 



