THE WINTER STUDY OF FRUIT TREES. 
25 
number of varieties which are usually classed as smooth in Pomologies 
but which have a certain amount of persistent down, especially just 
above the bud. As this character is reasonably constant, it enables 
us to make a third group, the ' half downy/ 
Representatives of these groups are as follows : 
Wood downy, ' Early Transparent, ' ' Late Orange, ' 1 Czar, ' ' Victoria, ' 
'Admiral/ 'Early Orleans/ 'Prosperity/ 'Late Transparent/ 
Half downy, ' Golden Transparent/ ' Kirke's,' 'Green Gage/ 'Stint/ 
' Rivers' Early,' £ Heron/ 
Smooth. ' Bryanstone Gage/ ' Coe's Golden Drop,' ' Pond's Seed- 
ling/ ' Coe's Violet/ ' Archduke/ 
It is noticeable that the Gage type are represented mostly in the 
smooth group and least in the downy. 
In the wood buds we find that the differences are extremely striking, 
perhaps more so than in any other fruit, and with sufficient study it 
should be possible for most varieties to be easily identified by this 
character alone. 
Taking the shape of the bud, we find several types, those which 
are short and round, such as ' Sultan/ ' Comte d'Althans ' (fig. 15), ' July 
Green Gage/ and 'Primate'; broader and more conical forms such as 
' Green Gage ' (fig. 16), ' White Magnum Bonum ' (fig. 18), a long pointed 
bud as in 'Archduke/ ' Oullin's Gage ' (fig. 19), and ' Curlew' ; and 
lastly a rather short pointed bud which curves curiously inwards as 
'Reine Claude de Bavay ' (fig. 17) and ' Coe's Violet.' 
The direction of the bud varies from one set away from the wood 
almost at an angle of 45 0 (' Reine Claude de Bavay 'and ' Coe's Violet ') 
to the upright direction taken by ' White Magnum Bonum/ and finally 
it may be adpressed to the shoot as in the ' Green Gage,' 'Angelina 
Burdett/ and others. 
As in the Pear, the bud may be closely wrapped (' Comte d'Althans ') 
or very loosely, as ' Curlew,' ' Reine Claude de Bavay ' ; and the scales 
may be downy or smooth. 
The most characteristic appearance of the shoot is given by the 
prominence of the supports. In nearly all the Gages it is remarkably 
pronounced ('Green Gage/ 'Angelina Burdett,' 'Comte d'Althans' 
etc.), while in the other classes of Plums it is much less prominent 
and gradually slopes up to the leaf scar as in ' Victoria,' ' White 
Magnum Bonum,' 'Sultan,' etc. 
In the Damsons the bud types are equally distinct and, as a reference 
to figs. 20 and 21 (' Farleigh ' and ' Frogmore ' Damsons) will show, they 
can easily be distinguished in winter state by the bud alone. The colour 
and hairiness are also, of course, useful aids in these as in Plums. 
It would be easy to add other examples, but, space being limited, 
enough has perhaps been shown to demonstrate that the winter aspect 
of our fruit trees is full of interest, and it has also a practical side which 
does not need exposition. Accurate nomenclature can only be achieved 
by a study of our trees and fruits in all their aspects, and it is evident 
that the winter need not be an off season for the pomologist. 
