64 



PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



to be clusters of buds on the branch. A close examination 

 will show that each of these groups of buds is borne in 

 the axil of one leaf. This method of flower bud bearing- 

 is less general than the production of buds singly in the 

 leaf axils. 



64. Cherries bear their fruit buds mainly on short spurs 

 (Figs. 44, 45), much less laterally on the vigorous young 

 shoots, except as noted below. In all 

 cases, however, the buds are axillary, 

 the termnal being a branch bud. 

 hence the usually straight fruit spurs. 

 As in the peach the twigs produced 

 "last year" often bear blossom buds 

 mostly near their bases. The 

 branch buds farther up tnese twigs 

 will many of them develop "this 

 year" into spurs for "next year's" 

 fruiting (Fig. 45). Among the sour 

 cherries certain varieties produce 

 considerable numbers of bloom 

 buds on the new growths. After 

 these have fruited they drop off and 

 thus leave the long naked branches 

 so commonly seen among the sour 

 cherry varieties. The only areas 

 that bear fruit in such varieties are 

 near the ends of these slender 

 branches. 



65. Recognition of fruit buds. 

 The cluster buds of apples and 

 pears are readily distinguished by 

 their plumpness and their well- 

 rounded shape. Those of apricot and peach, though 

 smaller, are about as conspicuous as apple and pear 

 buds because of their positions as well as their 

 forms. Cherry buds, especially on "last season's" wood, 

 are harder to recognize because they are not very much 



FIG. 43 SWEET CHERRY 

 Twig shows numerous 

 spurs on two and three-year 

 wood. Cluster buds (not 

 seen) form near the base of 

 one-year wood. Note that 

 the tips of all spurs produce 

 branches as indicated by the 

 leaves. The same is true of 

 terminal and axial buds. 



