320 



Thf Principles of Fruit-growing. 



example, that is dormant will bear the conditions 

 without injury that would kill it if germination was 

 taking place. The delicate structure at the center 

 of a flower not only needs to be kept, by the infold- 

 ing bud scales, from being exposed to the elements, 

 but, most of all, it requires that an inactive condi- 

 tion within itself shall prevail.' 

 A well -prepared bud is like a 

 seed, and becomes most sus- 

 ceptible to sudden changes 

 only when it is unfolding 

 or preparing to grow. It is 

 not so much the opening of 

 the bud scales as the grow- 

 ing condition within, result- 

 ing in the unfolding, that 

 permits the dangerous results. 

 "The pistil is the part 

 first to show that the flower 

 bud is blasted and worthless. 

 The green, fresh appearance 

 is replaced by brownness, 

 the former plump, upright organ becomes 

 shriveled and drooping. In Fig. 52, at a, is shown 

 a healthy pistil, as seen in a live bud. To the 

 right, at 6, is another pistil that has recently been 

 killed, and was turning brown. The stamens are the 

 next -to change, in the same way, from the normal 

 color to the brown of death. The other less vital 

 organs of the blossom finally die, and after a short 

 time become a dark and worthless substance. If the 



Fig. 52. Live and killed pi 



and 



