60 



PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



as noted two paragraphs below. It is believed by many 

 fruit growers that this simple bud habit is one of the rea- 

 sons why peach buds are usually more largely winter- 

 killed than are the buds of apples and pears, which are in 

 well-protected cluster buds. In the bud which contains no 

 leaves the flower parts usually have few protecting bud scales. 

 An examination will show that the branch buds of the 

 stone fruits are closely similar in structure and posi- 

 tion to those of the 



pome 



fruits. Still there are 

 differences. For in- 

 stance, apricots and 

 many plums seldom de- 

 velop terminal buds of 

 any kind, and the axil- 

 lary buds of these two 

 fruits and also of 

 peaches may produce 

 blossoms instead of 

 leaves. 



To illustrate this 

 point still further : Nor- 

 mally the peach pro- 

 duces two blossom 

 buds with a wood bud 

 between them, but often 

 even this central wood 

 bud gives place to a 

 flower, so three flowers 

 are produced in a group 

 (Fig. 37). When the 

 terminal bud fails to 

 form, the nearest axillary bud, if a branch bud. assumes 

 the duties of a terminal wood bud and the following sea- 

 son extends the branch in practically as straight a line 

 as if it were a true terminal. 



When peach trees arc making normal growth the blos- 

 soms are more often in couples than they are solitary. 



FIG. 39 EUROPEAN PLUM 

 Branch shows typical blooming habit, 

 flowers being borne largely in pairs or singly 

 on last season's wood. 



