BUDS 



61 



When the growth is strong the blossom buds are nearer 

 the tips than the bases of the twigs, because their posi- 

 tions are largely determined by the vigor of the trees 

 upon which they are borne. When the growth is weak 

 the buds are mainly solitary and scattered from end to 

 end of the twigs. When the growth is moderate the buds 

 are mostly near the middles of the twigs. Young and rank- 

 growing trees show 

 them near the twig tips. 



Jt is important to re- 

 member that the blos- 

 som-bearing habit of the 

 peach tends to make 

 the fruit-bearing area of 

 the tree move each sea- 

 son farther from the 

 center of the tree (Fig. 

 46), instead of continu- 

 ing, as in the apple and 

 the pear, in a prac- 

 tically set area. The 

 pruner must, therefore, 

 maintain a supply of 

 bearing wood on the 

 branches, which he 

 must not allow to ex- 

 tend too far. The wiry 

 interior growths re- 

 ferred to above rarely bear fruits more than two years, 

 often only one. They soon die and must be cut out. 



All this indicates far more severe pruning of the peach 

 than of the apple or the pear. This is especially the case 

 with young trees whose "leaders" are prone to make 

 the trees too high. Pruners often remove or very severely 

 cutback all the leaders for several years, even though they 

 know new ones fully as vigorous will replace them. 



62a. The plums vary somewhat with their species as 



FIG. 40 JAPANESE PLUM 

 It is characteristic of this species to pro- 

 duce flowers largely in threes. 



