FRUIT-BUD FORMATION 67 



will increase fruit-bud formation but is a drastic measure 

 and should only be resorted to in extreme cases. With the 

 grape the situation is somewhat different. Husmann ^ 

 has shown that with the currant grape, ringing is not only- 

 practical but entirely necessary. The ringing with this fruit 

 must be done annually and when the vines are in bloom. 

 Ringing improved the size, quality, and quantity of the 

 fruit. 



59. Stripping.^What may be considered a modified 

 form of linging was used by Drinkard in his experiments. 

 This consisted in the removal of strips of bark, one-fourth 

 to one-half inch iii width, from the trunk of the tree, beginning 

 near the surface of the ground and extending up to and 

 frequently above the main branches. Several of the main 

 branches were stripped for a distance of twelve or eighteen 

 inches. Three to five such strips were taken from each tree. 



When this stripping was applied to trees which had been 

 pruned in the spring, the treatment gave no stimulation to 

 fruit-bud formation, but in the absence of the pruning 

 fruit-bud formation was stimulated markedly and a good 

 crop of fruit was obtained. The trees did not suffer from the 

 process of stripping but remained green and vigorous through- 

 out the season. 



60. Bending. — In the older horticultural literature fre- 

 quent mention is made of the advantage to be gained by 

 bending the shoots or branches in order to cause fruit-bud 

 formation. This doctrine seems to have been accepted and 

 based on the principle that "The more the sap is obstructed 

 in its circulation, the more likely it will be to produce fruit- 

 buds." On the contrary, it was stated that if a fruit branch 

 is to be changed into a wood branch, it should be given a 

 vertical position. 



1 Husmann, George C. Developing new grape industries. Proc. 

 Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 1918. 



