210 
BUDS 
The formation of flower buds is known to be closely related to 
the food supply.!. Flower buds are formed in greatest abundance 
when there is more reserve food than is needed for growth. When 
a plant is growing rapidly and using all the food as fast as the 
Fic. 190. — Fruit buds of the 
Apricot, in which case a fruit bud 
contains a single flower and no 
leaves. After Bailey. 
leaves make it, few flower 
buds are formed. Further- 
more, if a tree has exhausted 
its food supply in producing 
a heavy crop of fruit, not 
many flower buds are 
formed, and as a result the 
tree will bear very little fruit 
the following year. Any con- 
dition that leads to an ac- 
cumulation of reserve food, 
such as checking growth by 
the removal of terminal buds 
or by cutting down the water 
supply from the roots, favors 
the formation of flower buds. 
Fic. 191. — Twig of the Crab Apple 
at time of blooming. The terminal shoot 
(a) has developed from a leaf bud, no 
flowers being produced, while the lateral 
shoots (b) have come from mixed buds, 
both leaves and flowers having been 
produccd. 
1 Studies in Fruit Bud Formation. Technical Bulletin 9, New Hampshire 
College Agr. Exp. Sta., 1915. 
Some Effects of Pruning, Root Pruning, Ringing and Stripping on the For- 
mation of Fruit Buds on Dwarf Apple Trees. Technical Bulletin 5, Virginia 
Agr. Exp. Sta., 1915. 
