TEH FBUIT-SPUB 



31 



tory which may be clearly deciphered by the 

 observer from its own records. 

 29. A spur from a plum tree 

 is shown in Fig. 27. Let the 

 pupil trace its history. If we 

 begin with the tip of the 

 shoot, we determine that last 

 year's growth began at c, the 

 previous year's at h, and the 

 preceding year's at a. The 

 lower side spur has grown to a a, 

 then to 6 6, then to the end. 

 It will be seen that the buds 

 and side spurs are borne usually 

 near the ends of the growths, 

 but the many scars show that 

 buds were once present on the 

 lower or older parts, but have 

 perished in the struggle for ex- 

 istence. The spur differs greatly 

 from that of the pear, in the 

 fact that the buds are in twos 

 or threes rather than single. It 

 is difficult to distinguish which 

 are leafrbuds and which fruit- 

 buds. The character of the buds is to be de- 

 termined from their positions rather than from 

 their shapes. The first point to notice in de- 



FlG. 27. 

 Fruit-spur of plum. 



