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XCII. Upon the proper Mode of Pruning the Peach Tree, in 

 cold and late Situations. By Thomas Andrew Knight, 

 Esq. F. R. S. §c President. 



Read May 6, 1817. 



£ he buds of fruit trees, which produce blossoms, and those 

 which afford leaves only, in the spring, do not at all 

 differ from each other, in their first state of organization, as 

 buds. Each contain the rudiments of leaves only, which 

 are subsequently transformed into the component parts of 

 the blossom, and in some species of the fruit also. I have 

 repeatedly ascertained, that a blossom of a Pear or Apple 

 tree contains parts, which previously existed as the rudi- 

 ments of five leaves, the points of which subsequently form 

 the five segments of the calyx ; and I have often succeeded 

 in obtaining every gradation of monstrosity of form, from 

 five congregated leaves, (that is, five leaves united circularly 

 upon an imperfect fruit stalk) to the perfect blossom of the 

 Pear tree. The calyx of the Rose, in some varieties, presents 

 nearly the perfect leaves of the plant, and the large and long 

 leaves of the Medlar appear to account for the length of 

 the segments, in the empalement of its blossom. The calyx 

 of the blossom of the Plum and Peach tree is formed pre- 

 cisely as in the preceding cases, except that the leaves, which 

 are transmuted into the calyx, separate at the base of the 

 fruit and become deciduous, instead of passing through and 

 remaining a component part of it. 



Every bunch of grapes commences its formation as a 



