so THE VEGETATIVE SHOOT 



There is considerable difference in the age to which fruit-spurs 

 attain ; some, like those of apple and pear, live many years ; upon 

 red currant they remain productive longer than upon the black 

 currant ; the spurs on the Morello cherry are shorter lived than 

 those upon the other varieties. In pruning those trees with 

 spurs of short life, endeavour should be made to secure relays of 

 young long shoots at frequent intervals. 



14. Dormaut Buds. — On examining trees in spring when the 

 buds are beginning to develop, it will be observed that some of 

 them remain inactive and continue in this condition all the 

 summer. Not only may they refuse to grow in what may be 

 termed their proper season, but they frequently remain unde- 

 veloped for long periods. Such buds are termed dortnant or 

 resting buds, and are met with upon almost all kinds of plants, 

 chiefly near the base of the stems, as at d, 4, Fig. 19. 



Although many dormant buds soon die, some remain capable 

 of development for several years after their formation, and may 

 give rise to what are termed deferred shoots. In fruit-trees they 

 are termed ' water-sprouts ' ; if they spring from beneath the 

 surface of the ground they are known as ' suckers.' They not 

 uncommonly arise upon ' stocks ' which have been grafted or 

 budded. 



Destruction of the terminal and lateral buds near the top 

 of a stem tends to promote the growth of deferred shoots from 

 dormant buds at its base. This is well illustrated in shoots of 

 fruit-trees and roses when they are pruned severely. Moreover, 

 pinching out the terminal buds of herbaceous and other plants 

 is often practised with a view to insure the development of all the 

 lateral buds upon it, and the formation of a bushy plant instead 

 of one with a single main stem and few branches. 



The grazing and mowing of grasses promotes the full develop- 

 ment of all their buds, and a consequent increase of leafy 

 stems. 



Not only does cutting away or pinching off the terminal buds 



