206 [ THE PEAR TREE 



the tree ; it is usually very slender in proportion to its 

 length and is generally unproductive, no flower buds 

 being formed upon it, except when it happens to replace 

 a diseased branch. The flower bud (boutori) may be 

 borne on a long and rather slender twig (brindille) or on 

 a short and stout spur (tambour de). Very vigorous varie- 

 ties produce many spurs along the stem and main 

 branches, but these spurs develop leaf buds, and only 

 exceptionally flower buds, becoming then a true lambourde 

 and continuing afterwards as fruit twigs, producing flower 

 buds in alternate years. This alternate production of 

 flower buds is noticeable also in the upper ends or 

 fruiting ends of the branches, as the extremity of the 

 spur which has flowered, or has produced a fruit, becomes 

 swollen into what is called a purse (bourse), and on the 

 lower half of the purse, away from the fruit, leaf buds are 

 formed in the same year, which in the following year 

 become flower buds, and so on. A spur with too many 

 leaf buds, may be called a multiple spur, and though it 

 may stand in a likely situation on the stem or branches 

 often fails to produce any flower buds, unless the number 

 of the leaf buds is reduced, either in winter or in June- 

 July, some time after the full development of the foliage. 

 A reduction in the number of spurs or of the leaf buds 

 is generally followed by an intensive formation of flower 

 buds and the tree is thereby placed in a bearing 

 condition. Trees grown as bushes or trained as pyramids 

 generally require a topping or shortening of their leading 

 branches to reduce their vigour and bring them to fruit ; 



o o 



but when the leading branches have been allowed to 

 grow too numerous, the weaker branches may be thinned 

 out, and a few of those retained may be bent down and 

 tied to a lower branch, and this forced position by 

 retarding the flow of the sap soon causes the formation of 

 flower buds for the following year. As soon as the 

 flower buds are formed the branch may be allowed to 

 resume its former position, and next year the same 

 treatment is meted out to the other branches. 



