224 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Fig. 232 r. Bkn Davis Fruit Spurs. 



at the end of the branch, we see about 

 one inch of last year's growth, and it has 

 at its extremity a good plump fruit-bud 

 which will blossom this spring; and, if all 

 goes well, should bear fruit. There is, 

 as yet, however, no such swelling upon it 

 as that which appears on the growth of 

 1900 just below it. In 1900 there was 

 only a little over half an inch of growth, 

 but at (a) is a large scar showing where 

 an apple was borne that year ; vind, as a 

 result, we see the large swelling of the 

 spur at that point. In 1899 an unusually 

 long shoot was produced, but this may be 

 partly accounted for by the fact that the 

 branch did nothing else that year, as there 



is no sign of there having been fruit. In 

 1898 there was only about an inch added 

 to the length of the spur, but that year it 

 had a good sized apple, as shown by the 

 large scar at (b) ; and here again is an- 

 other swelling. In 1897 the branch not 

 only bore fruit, but it made very little new 

 growth, which may be seen by the short 

 piece between the swellings above and be- 

 low. 1896 was another fruitful year, and 

 the spur then terminating at (c), made an 

 effort to bear two apples, but, for some 

 cause or other, they failed to reach ma- 

 turity, as shown by the two small scars at 

 that point. They must, however, have 

 reached a considerable size, as evidenced 

 by the swelling of the spur below them. 

 Below the ring at the base of this lower 

 swelling we see the long growth of wood 

 made in the year 1895. 



The small shoot terminating at (d) has 

 been six years in making its inch or more 

 of growth, as may be seen by counting its 

 rings. It has been outgrown by its more 

 vigorous neighbor, and will after a time 

 cease growth unless an accident should 

 happen to the main branch, which would 

 check growth in that direction. About 

 three years ago it made an effort to bear 

 fruit, but its effort was in vain, as the 

 little scar at (c) shows that it could have 

 done little more than blossom. 



To summarize, we have in this small 

 branch seven seasons of growth ; the bear- 

 ing has been in alternate years ; four at- 

 tempts have been made at fruiting, two 

 of which have been successful, and two 

 have failed ; and at the end of the branch 

 is a well-developed fruit-bud which pro- 

 mises well for fruiting this season. At 

 each point where fruit has been borne, 

 there is an enlargement of the part due to 

 the addition of woody material, no doubt 

 for the purpose of strengthening the spur 

 to support the weight of the fruit. 



