THE FBTTIT-SPCTB 29 



eral bud developed. In 1882, this bud gave rise 

 to a shoot. The "rings" whence it started are 

 plainly seen at a a. It is noticeable, also, that 

 the spur ceased to grow in the direction a. In 

 this year 1882, the shoot grew to the rings h b, 

 and there developed a fruit-bud. In 1883, this 

 fruit-bud opened and produced jlowers, one of 

 which bore fruit, as shown by the large scar (6). 

 The short growth from & & to 6 is that which took 

 place in the elongation from the bud in this spring 

 of 1883. While this fruit was developing, a leaf- 

 spur pushed out from just below the fruit (5), and 

 grew to the next series of rings (c c). A weaker 

 bud also developed, which in 1884 pushed toward 

 c. The six years' growths can be traced on this 

 side shoot, and it once made a flower-bud, and a 

 fruit set at c ; but the small size of the scar 

 shows that the fruit never attained maturity. It 

 probably fell in very early summer. It is ap- 

 parent that there is an alternation in the fruit- 

 bearing of the pear, as in that of the apple; 

 from this we may infer that there is something 

 like an alternation of effort, or division of labor, 

 in the successive growths of many plants. 



28. The further history of this interesting pear 

 spur may be summarized as follows: 1884, the 

 barren shoot grew to e e, and made a fruit- bud; 

 1885, pear borne and carried to maturity at e. 



