126 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



than they formerly were, and I think we may hit upon a system in 

 the management of our orchards so that we can have flowers every 

 year unless they are cut off by frost. 



About the time the flowers commence to form, the growth of 

 the tree ceases. It has been ascertained by different observers that, 

 as a rule, the growth of wood in our fruit trees ceases about the first 

 of July, and it is an interesting coincidence that about the time the 

 wood stops growing the flowers begin to form. How long after 

 this they continue to form is not yet clear. This past season the 

 buds continued to form until they were checked by cold weather, 

 but whether there was a continuous formation from July to cold 

 weather, or whether there was a cessation and a recommencement 

 remains to be proved. I noticed that last season there was a general 

 second growth in our apple trees, and after that second growth we 

 found that flowers were forming rapidly. Whether they stopped 

 forming before that second growth was not ascertained. The point 

 I wish to bring out is that after the wood growth comes to an end 

 the flower growth begins. This brings up an interesting question in 

 relation to the flower growth and the wood growth. I have ascer- 

 tained in other experiments, and it has been generally known, that a 

 cessation of growth will often cause flowers to form. In other 

 words, the conditions that are favorable to growth are not generally 

 favorable to the formation of flowers and vice versa. To state the 

 case in another way, flower formation opposes growth and growth 

 opposes flower formation. We can prove this in many cases. The 

 florist understands full well that if he wants his flowers to bloom 

 well he must not give them the conditions to grow well. If he 

 wishes them .to flower he gives them less water, and by checking the 

 growth he can bring on flowers. If he wants to make tl\e plant 

 grow he gives it plenty of water and heat. We all know that during 

 the early part of the season we have a very rapid growth in our 

 fruit trees. We knoAv pretty well that during the period of rapid 

 growth we cannot have flowers formed for next year. It is only 

 after that growth comes to an end that flower growth begins. The 

 question arises, why do trees grow fast early in the season, and why 

 do they stop growing before midsummer ? It is well known that an 

 abundant water supply produces rapid growth. Every farmer 

 knows that his corn grows faster in hot, wet weather than in warm 

 and dry weather. During the winter there is little evaporation from 

 our fruit trees as compared with the summer season, because the 

 leaves all fall in the autumn. The roots of the trees, however, do 

 not undergo such a radical change. They are not checked in their 

 natural functions to the same extent as the branches, but they con- 



