FIRST LESSONS WITH PLANTS 



twig was checked last year, and all the 

 branches remained short. We find, in 

 other words, that there is no necessary 

 length to which a branch shall grow, but 

 that its length is dependent upon local or 

 seasonal conditions. 



8. There are other and more impor- 

 tant differences in this shoot. The buds 

 terminating the branches (e e g) are larger 

 and less pointed than the others are. 

 If they were to be watched as growth 

 begins in the spring, it would be seen 

 that they give rise to both flowers and 

 leaves, while the others give only leaves. 

 In other words, there are two kinds of 

 buds, fruit-buds and leaf -buds ; and check- 

 ing the growth induces fruitfulness. 



9. If the buds on the ends of the 

 branchlets e e g produce flowers, the twig 

 cannot increase in length ; for an apple 

 is invariably borne on the end of a 

 branch, and therefore no terminal bud 

 can form there. If growth takes place 

 upon the twig next year, therefore, it 

 must arise from one of the lower or 

 leaf -buds. The buds upon the branch- 

 lets d d d will stand the best chance of 



FIG. 3. continuing the growth of the twig, for 



Formation of 

 fruit-buds. 



