26 



LESSOIi'S WITS PLANTS 



bud, which is evidently to bear leaves only next 

 year, while the stronger branch (a) has made a 

 thick and rounded bud, which is to bear flowers. 

 This fruit-bud is shown natural size at a a. The 

 short lateral branches are called spurs, in distinc- 

 tion from the longer axial growths. "We have 

 already seen (8) that checking growth induces 



Fig. 24. 

 Formation of the lateral bud on the fruit-spur 



fruitfulness, but on the other hand, starving or 

 greatly weakening the growth generally gives only 

 a weak leaf-bud. 



25. When fruits or flowers are borne on the 

 end of a spur, the direction of the growth is de- 

 flected, as we have seen (Obs. iii.). Fig. 24 is a 

 bearing spur of apple. While the apple is grow- 



