32 THE FRUIT -SPUR 



is, therefore, a leaf -bud, for it must be the means 

 of continuing the growth of the spur, and it is 

 not likely to get nourishment enough, seeing 

 that the apple is the chief concern, to enable it 

 to develop into a blossom -bud. There is, there- 

 fore, an alternation of fruit -bearing buds and 



14. Fruit-spur bearing a mature apple, remains of the flowers 



which failed to set, and the bud which is to continue 



the growth of the spur. 



non- fruit -bearing buds in the spur of an apple 

 tree ; and this is true of most fruit trees. 



A twig of Siberian crab apple, taken in spring, 

 is shown in Fig. 15. Year before last, each of 

 the spurs developed a fruit -bud at its summit, 

 and last year each of these spurs bore flowers. 

 The proof of this is seen in the scars left by the 

 flower stems at a a. None of these flowers de- 

 veloped into ripe fruits, otherwise some of the 



