CAUSES OF BARRENNESS, &C. 165 



and that the flower bud^J was only a leaf bud twelve 

 months before. But here it may be asked how does 

 this terminal bud c, Fig. 47, gain maturity without 

 that stationary repose which is affirmed to be neces- 

 sary in other cases? Because such shoots bearing- 

 flower buds cease to grow at an early period in the 

 summer, as every one acquainted with fruit-trees must 

 have observed, and this topmost bud, from its central 

 station, thereby receiving extraordinary excitement, is 

 forced into perfect form in advance of those which are 

 laterally situated on the same shoot. 



But the fructiferous organs are not always terminal. 

 In many plants they are projected laterally, and are 

 perfected in the first, second, or third year, according 

 as circumstances are more or less favourable. The 

 peach and Morello cherry are perfect in the second 

 year ; those of the May-duke cherry, naturally, not 

 till the third ; but as a proof that flowers are present 

 in the lateral buds, even in the first, we may instance 

 the practice of Mr. Fintelmann, royal gardener at 

 Berlin. This respectable practitioner finds that if he 

 stops the strongest shoots (of his potted May-duke 

 cherries intended for forcing) in the month of June, 

 or some time before the summer growth is over, and 

 divests the lower part of the shoot of two-thirds of 

 its buds, those that are left will put forth flowers and 

 bear fruit the following spring. 



Thus, then, it appears, that, though the fructi- 

 ferous organs are incipiently present in all cases, 

 they either require a certain maturation (technically, 



