124 PRUNING 



The plums and the cherry may, perhaps, be classed together 

 because their methods of bearing, though differing in many- 

 minor details, are essentially the same. They all agree in bear- 

 ing their fruit not only on the sides of shorter or longer spurs, but 

 also from the lateral buds of last year's growth. These spurs, 

 which may be seen in Figures 50 and 51, differ from those of the 

 apple in that they produce their fruit from lateral buds and also 

 in that they do not live nearly so long as the apple spurs. These 

 fruits also agree fairly closely in the character of the winter 

 blossom bud, which is about half way between that of the peach 

 and the apple. There are usually two or more blossoms in each 



Fig. 52. — Blossoms of the Japanese plum. These bear on short, plump spurs which carry 

 a large number of blossom buds and consequently set fruit very abundantly. 



winter bud and one or more leaves, though the leaves are fre- 

 quently rather rudimentary' (Figs. 52, 53 and 54). 



In pruning these trees the orchardist adopts a middle course. 

 They are not pruned as severely as in the peach because the 

 spurs are going to bear for three or four or even more years, but 

 they are pruned more severely than the apple because the bearing 

 wood has to be renewed more frequently. 



The Quince. — It remains to speak briefly of the quince, 

 which has a method of fruit bearing entirely its own. There 

 are not any winter fruit buds whatever ; but each spring, shoots 

 arise from lateral buds on last year's wood, and after these 



