BUDS 



63 



son." The spurs bear their fruit buds mainly near the 

 ends and lose the function in their lower parts as the spur 

 elongates and branches. This may be readily determined 

 by examining" an old spur: the scars indicate where buds 

 formerly developed into fruit. The distinction between 

 fruit and leaf buds is not as easy to make as in the peach, 

 pear or apple. Position is the safest guide. Usually the 

 tip bud will produce a twig. Often, however, a side bud 



FIG. 42 SWEET CHERRY TWIG IN TWO SECTIONS 



Blossoms opening on the right from cluster buds near the base of the annual 

 growth. On the same twig higher up other buds have produced only leaves. The 

 end of the two-year wood is seen at the base of the right-hand section. 



will also do so, though it is generally a flower bud. The 

 best time to study this point is when the buds are swell- 

 ing in spring. 



63. The apricot resembles the peach in fruiting habit, 

 though it bears fewer fruit buds on the vigorous new 

 wood. It bears considerable numbers on short growths 

 which resemble the spurs of cherries and plums, though 

 some are so short as to appear almost sessile and thus 



