EXERCISE XYII 



A STUDY OF BUDS (Prunus sp.) 



Material and apparatus. Branches of several of the commer- 

 cial groups of plums, bearing fruit buds and branch buds ; razor, 



dissecting lens. 



The genus Prunus in- 

 cludes the plum and the 

 cherry, and is widely dis- 

 tributed. These species, 

 cultivated for their edible 

 fruit, are found only in 

 the temperate zone of 

 the northern hemisphere. 

 The flowers, twigs, and 

 buds in each group will 

 be found to differ, as may 

 be verified after studying 

 them. 



PLUMS 



The plums are divided 

 into several important, 

 more or less distinct, 

 commercial groups, with 

 many hybrids between 

 the groups. The follow- 

 ing groups are a few that 

 admit of careful study. 

 1. Prunus domestica 

 includes the following 

 varieties: Bavay, Lombard, Gold Drop, Arch Duke, Diamond, 

 Monarch, Italian Prune, Yellow Gage, and several others. 



a. Secure branches, including both fruit buds and branch buds, 

 of one of the above varieties. Draw a twig, natural size, and at 



[48] 



EIG. 11. Branch buds and fruit buds of plum 



Note the clusters of buds that are borne on the 

 short spurs 



