THE TREATMENT OF THE SHOOT 141 



upper portion sinks down into the lower portion when the 

 period of vegetation commences, and can be made use of by 

 the elongating bud. After this has grown out, the useless 

 portion of the shoot above it is removed. 



If a branch is to be completely removed, however, we must 

 decide whether the basal dilatation at its point of insertion is 

 to be removed as well. This basal dilatation enlarges as the 

 shoot grows older, for that portion which is inserted in the 

 main stem also increases by secondary thickening. The shoot 

 which has sprung from a lateral bud was clothed at the com- 

 mencement of its base by bud-scales, which soon fell away on 

 the elongation of the shoot. But these bud-scales subtended 

 very small and rudimentary buds, which generally remain dor- 

 mant (dormant buds) ; now as the base of the branch enlarges, 

 they become covered in by the cortex of the basal dilatation, 

 and, though still present, are invisible from the outside. If, 

 however, the branch is cut away above this enlargement, the 

 two strongest of the dormant buds generally grow out and form 

 two weakly shoots. 



It is therefore only advisable to remove the shoot in this 

 way if a too luxuriant branch is to be replaced by a weaker 

 one. In other cases, it is best to remove this basal dilatation 

 of the shoot as well, and thus get rid of the dormant buds. 



This, however, is scarcely possible in the case of older 

 branches, and we therefore often see in such trees as poplars, 

 limes, and willows, where a branch has been sawn off, numerous 

 small shoots making their appearance. If they are cut away, 

 their basal shoots grow out until the number of shoots may 

 become so excessive that they are killed by mutual pressure. 



In the case of cherries and other stone-fruited trees, a dif- 

 ferent treatment is needed from that applied to pears or apples. 

 In the case of the first-mentioned trees, the branches which 

 have once borne flowers will not do so again, but remain bare. 

 The formation of flowering buds, therefore, progresses gradually 

 towards the ends of the branches, while in pears and apples 

 fruiting spurs may bear flowers year after year, the spurs 

 increasing continually in thickness. 



In some cases, indeed, this thickening of the fruiting spurs 

 becomes excessive ; and the branch differs anatomically, too, 



