18 BITTER PIT INVESTIGATION. 



THEIR TREATMENT. 



Their proper treatment may be deduced from a few general considerations offered as to the best 

 methods of encouraging their growth and development. 



The first and most general consideration is to maintain the proper balance or relation between 

 the vegetative growth and reproduction. There may be an excessive growth of wood at the expense 

 of fruit bearing, or the abundance of bloom may be so great as to weaken the energies of the tree, so 

 that only a poor quality of fruit is produced. It is not advisable to allow the tree to produce a crop 

 too early, otherwise the fruit -producing wood may not be old enough and properly matured. When a 

 young tree is forced by drought into premature bearing, the tree is in danger of becoming stunted. 

 Then, when the proper bearing stage has been reached, it will be the object of pruning to produce the 

 maximum number of fruit-buds, consistent with the general vigour and carrying capacity of the tree. 



The next general consideration is that the lateral branches of medium length, or laterals as they 

 are briefly called, should not be interfered with too much. These laterals, with their terminal fruit- 

 buds, are specially adapted for fruit bearing, and when allowed to remain they generally develop 

 fruit-buds all along their length. But if headed back and the terminal-buds removed, the orchardist 

 usually gets what he expressively calls "dead ends." Of course, when the lateral is too long and too 

 exposed to the wind it may be desirable to head it back, and in those cases where the laterals grow 

 inwardly instead of outwardly they may be cut back or removed altogether. 



A final consideration is the general effects of heavy and light pruning of severe heading back 

 and removing a large amount of wood, and light heading back so that the growth of the tree is but 

 slightly interfered with. 



When a one-year-old branch is severely pruned, the result is that the portion left produces lateral 

 branches, and not fruit-buds. Whereas, if the pruning is light, fruit-buds are usually produced, 

 at least adjoining the position of the cut. All dead wood, of course, must be removed, as well as all 

 branches which cross and interfere with others, and if otherwise superfluous branches are likewise 

 removed, including laterals, the remaining fruit-buds will be most favourably situated for their proper 

 development. 



In conclusion, attention may be drawn to the occasional development of an apparently small 

 apple fruit from the bud without blossoming. During the winter months minute "apples/' generally 

 about the size of a pea, may be met with in some seasons, showing no trace of an "eye," and when cut 

 lengthwise shown to be without a "'core." This coreless, bloomless apple is of no commercial value, 

 but it emphasizes the fact that the fleshy portion of the apple, arises independently of the essential 

 organs of the flower, such as the carpels which constitute the core and the stamens which produce 

 pollen. Fig. 34 represents a stalked, green Cleopatra "apple" which only consists of the fleshy portion, 

 and the fibro- vascular bundles from the stalk end are seen to be continued right through. It need 

 hardly be pointed out that this is entirely different from the seedless apple which created such a stir 

 early in 1905, when the first specimens reached England from America. This coreless apple arises 

 from a disorganized bud, in which the petals are represented by a cluster of green leaves, and the calyx 

 still forms the "eye," while the stamens produce a small percentage of pollen. 



