48 



THE VEGETATIVE SHOOT 



the large scar at x indicates that one apple ripened, the small 

 fruit-scar at x on spur e being evidence that the fruit fell from 

 the latter prematurely. 



It must be noticed that after the production of fruit such a 

 spur as this cannot continue growth in the same line ; it may 

 die altogether, but usually one or more lateral wood-buds arise 

 upon it in the axils of its leaves, and these continue its future 

 growth. On spur c the lateral bud o has arisen in this manner 

 during 1898 when the fruit was being ripened. The spurs of 



Fig. 20. A,^ Spur * of pear tree which has borne one mature fruit at x ; a a. fruit-bud. 

 B, An old * spur * from the same tree ; i, z, and 3, growth of three suc- 

 cessive years, forming a sympodium : jr large scars left where fruit has 

 matured and fallen off ; y fruit-buds. 



the apple and pear, therefore, present a zig-zag appearance (see 

 Fig. 20) ; those of black currant are similar. 



The spurs of the p^um terminate in wood-buds, and con- 

 sequently grow in a straight line ; the lateral buds are fruit-buds 

 (3, Fig. 19). 



No hard and fast rule can be laid down in regard to the 

 position of the fruit-buds upon trees, as it is not absolutely 

 constant for any one kind ; exceptions occur due to manuring, 

 cultivation, season, kind of tree, and the pruning it has received. 



