14 



We therefore believe that the majority of bud abscission in 

 commercial orchards this year was caused by low temperatures. It 

 is possible that the rather high temperatures from April 11-15 

 (590-68° F) followed by the low temperatures on April 16 (24° F) , 

 may have been the responsible factor. It is too soon to tell if 

 the size of the 1980 fruit crop will be affected by this abnormally 

 high level of bud abscission. 



