FRUIT GROWING 293 



trace the development of a chick until it is fully formed. 

 Similarly, by cutting open buds every week from the first 

 of July until the first of the following April, and examining 

 them under a powerful microscope, we can trace the de- 

 velopment of a blossom. 



At some time about the middle of the growing season, — 

 often as early as July first with apples, plums, peaches and 

 cherries in the central parts of the United States — a 

 slight protuberance may be found within the protecting 

 scales at the base of a leaf bud. It is the beginning of a 

 fruit bud ; and as the season advances, the parts of the 

 flower are slowly formed within the bud, — first, the sepals, 

 next, the petals, then the stamens and lastly the pistil. 



When the warm days of spring come on, the protecting 

 scales open and the full flower expands. 



225. Conditions which favor the Formation of Fruit 

 Buds. ■ — While it is not possible for a fruit grower to 

 control all the conditions which surround his plants, it is 

 surprising how many things he can do that favor the for- 

 mation of fruit buds ; and we must remember that an 

 abundance of fruit buds usually means a crop of fruit the 

 following year. 



Two principles must be kept in mind ; and with these to 

 guide him, the fruit grower is able to control in a measure 

 the yield of fruit from his orchard from year to year : 



il) Fruit buds form when the plants are in a healthy 

 condition and full of reserve food. (Section 70.) 



(2) Fruit bvds form when there is a check in the growth 

 of the plants. 



We can readily see how a grower may keep his plants 

 in healthy condition and full of reserve food by cultiva- 

 tion, by pruning, and by the addition of organic matter 

 to the soil if need be; and how he may favor their 



