250 SOUTHEEN FIELD CHOPS 



tween a leaf and the main stem. Usually this leaf on the 

 main stem falls before the branch attains much size, Ijut 

 its position is shown l\v the leaf-scar. 



The plant has two classes of l^ranches or limljs. The 

 longer, ascending ones (Fig. 121) are sometimes called 

 vegetative or primary branches, while slenderer or shorter 

 branches on which bolls are attached directly 1;)\' their 

 flower stalks or boll-stems (peduncles) are called " fruiting 

 limbs" (Fig. 122), The primary branches have also been 



Fig. 122. — ,\ Furn-ixu Branth, 

 Showing that the buU-stenis arc Iiorno clirretl\' on the branch. 



called sterile limbs ; this is because no lioll-stem or boll is 

 borne directly on these vegetative limlis, though boll-stems, 

 with attached Ijolls, spring from the subdivisions of these 

 main branches. 



In general, a primary branch supports numerous leaves, 

 and, on its sul)-l.)ranches, some bolls ; while a fruiting 

 limb usually bears several bolls and but few leaves. 



Normally, two branches arise from the axil of a leaf on 

 the main stem (Fig. 123). One of these twin liranches, 

 arising from the same notle of the main stem, is a fruiting 



