Relations of Plants Above the Ground 109 



flower buds. Some sorts are naturally more inclined to 

 form flowers than others, still we can promote the 

 fruitfulness of the plants by giving them proper treat- 

 ment. Every one has noticed that the trees bloom more 

 profusely some seasons than others. This has led many 

 persons to study the conditions that induce the forma- 

 tion of flower buds. 



159. Conditions That Promote the Formation of Flower 

 Buds. Flower buds are formed in the greatest abundance 

 when the reserve food is considerably in excess of the 

 current needs of the plant. If a plant is growing too 

 rapidly, using up all the food as fast as the leaves make 

 it, flowers are not formed in abundance. They may be 

 stimulated to form flower buds by checking the growth, 

 either by reducing the water supply, by removing the 

 tips (terminal buds) of the shoots, or by restricting the 

 growth of the roots. When plants are young, or just at 

 the opening of spring, in the case of fruit trees, they 

 grow very rapidly. Flower buds already formed will open, 

 but new ones are not formed till the warm, dry winds 

 have checked the rapid growth of the shoots. This check- 

 ing of the growth allows the formation of reserve food 

 in excess of what the plant is using for growth. To en- 

 courage the formation of the flower buds, then, we should 

 promote the accumulation of reserve food. 



160. How to Promote the Accumulation of Reserve 

 Food. Experience has shown that the three following 

 rules are safe guides: 



(a) Provide favorable conditions for food formation 

 in the leaves. Light and a free circulation of air are essen- 

 tial. These may be secured by giving the plants plenty 

 of distance, or by pruning out useless branches. The 

 normal healthy conditions of the foliage should be pre- 



