THE FRUIT-BUDS OF THE APPLE TREE. 17 



THEIR POSITION. 



The bud may be developed at the tip of the shoot, when it is terminal, and such buds are well 

 seen in Jonathan, borne on one-year-old wood. Or it may be formed in the inner angle between the 

 branch and the leaf, where it is conveniently situated for a supply of food-materials, and such buds 

 are known as axillary. But a large number of fruit-buds are borne on spurs, which are just very 

 short and condensed branches. There are thus three classes of fruit-buds, according to the position 

 in which they occur, viz., terminal, axillary, and buds borne on spurs. 



THEIR ORIGIN. 



In the case of terminal buds they are naturally formed on one-year-old wood, and when the end 

 of the axis is terminated by a flower growth in length ceases. A flower may grow out of another 

 flower, but that is an unusual occurrence. 



There is a growing poiut at the tip of the shoot, and this first manifests itself as a swelling. At 

 this stage either a leaf-bud or a fruit-bud may be formed, and it depends on the proper conditions 

 which of the two it is going to be. Klebs, in his Crooniaii lecture on "Alterations in the Development 

 and Form of Plants as a result of Environment" (1910), clearly shows that it is the nature and amount 

 of the raw and elaborated food materials available at the time which determines the formation of the 

 vegetative or reproductive tissues. If the organic substances are in excess the formation of repro- 

 ductive bodies is favoured, and if there is a strong supply of root-sap vegetative growth is stimulated. 



Fruit-buds are usually formed oil one-, two-, or three-year-old wood, and when finally determined 

 they show calyx leaves, corolla leaves, and stamens distinctly. 



PERIOD OF FORMATION. 



It has long been generally known that fruit -bud formation on the apple occurs in the summer 

 previous to flowering, although the exact details of the process have only been recently investigated. 

 Professor Kraus (7) has remarked that "changes take place within a bud and determine whether it 

 will become a leaf- or fruit-bud in the apple or pear as early as the latter part of June, and proceed 

 throughout the summer and autumn. The very beginnings of fruit-buds are also visible as late as 

 the latter part of August, so that apparently there is actual differentiation of buds occurring through- 

 out the summer." With us the blossom-buds begin to appear towards the end of the year, and their 

 formation is continued throughout the summer months of December, January, and February. The 

 blossom-buds are thus laid down, while the coming crop is rapidly growing and developing. Both 

 require to be nourished simultaneously, and if the nutritive materials required by the growing fruit 

 are limited, then the supplies for the blossom-buds may be deficient. The effect of one season is carried 

 on to the next, and determines to a certain extent the abundance or scarcity of bloom. 



Thus while the crop is still on the trees the nature of next season's crop is being determined, and 

 the quality and amount of fruit settled by the development of the fruit-buds. Nature looks ahead, 

 and while the one fruit is maturing, its successor is being prepared to take its place. It will be evident 

 from this brief sketch what a critical time the tree passes through during the summer months, and while 

 the soil and climate, heat and moisture all influence the conditions, an important part is also played 

 by pruning, which regulates the number of buds retained, their distribution on the tree, and the access 

 of air and light to stimulate them. Even the picking of the fruit is now seen in a new light, for if 

 carelessly done, the fruit-buds for next season are torn from the tree along with the ripe fruit. In 

 the case of a tree inclined to shy bearing, this loss of fruit-buds is serious, since it not only causes loss 

 of crop, but may disturb the balance between the reproductive and vegetative processes, and thus 

 favour the occurrence of Bitter Pit. 



