68 



THE FRUIT -BUD 



We have found that the winter fruit -bud is 

 generally larger, thicker and rounder than the 

 winter leaf -bud, and it is usually more pubescent 



55. Leaf -bud of 

 pear. 



56. Flower-bud of 

 pear. 



57. Leaf -bud of 

 apricot. 



or fuzzy. There are weak fruit-buds, however, 

 which are very like leaf -buds; and these weak 

 buds usually do not carry fruit 

 to maturity. 



The only positive means of 

 determining fruit -buds is by 

 an examination of the interior. 

 The winter bud is really an em- 

 bryo branch. It contains in 

 miniature or in rudiment as 

 many leaves or flowers as the 

 resulting branch is normally to 

 bear. With a razor or very 



58. Flower-bud of i , /? , -, 



apricot in section. shar P kmfe > Cut a bud m tw 



lengthwise. Sharp eyes can de- 

 termine between leaf -buds and fruit -buds in 

 apples, pears, and most other fruits ; but it is 

 best to have a small lens. A common pocket 



