820 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 
example, that is dormant will bear the conditions 
without injury that would kill it if germination was 
taking place. The delicate structure at the center 
of a flower not only needs to be kept, by the infold- 
ing bud scales, from being exposed to the elements, 
but, most of all, it requires that an inactive condi- 
tion within itself shall prevail. 
A well-prepared bud is like a 
seed, and becomes most sus- 
ceptible to sudden changes 
only when it is unfolding 
or preparing to grow. It is 
not so much the opening of 
the bud seales as the grow- 
ing condition within, result- 
ing in the unfolding, that 
permits the dangerous results. 
“The pistil is the part 
first to show that the flower 
bud is blasted and worthless. 
The green, fresh appearance 
is replaced by  brownness, 
and the former plump, upright organ becomes 
shriveled and drooping. In Fig. 52, at «, is shown 
a healthy pistil, as seen in a live bud. To the 
right, at b, is another pistil that has reeently been 
killed, and was turning brown. The stamens are the 
next to change, in the same way, from the normal 
color to the brown of death. The other less vital 
organs of the blossom finally die, and after a short 
time become a dark and worthless substance. If the 
hae Bibs 
Fig. 52. Live and killed pistils. 
