16 BULLETIN" 1477, IT. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTUEE 
commercially cultivated varieties. It may be contrasted with the Apple 
variety, which also belongs to the triflora group. The two varieties make a 
similar growth in the cooler coastal region ; but in the hot interior valleys of 
California the Apple is inclined to produce only short, slender twigs, while 
little difference is noticed in the growing habits of the Burbank. Kelsey and 
Wickson, other Japanese varieties, are similar to the Burbank but unlike the 
Apple in that they grow well in the warm sections, but they show decidedly 
lower vegetative vigor than either in the cool regions. 
CLIMAX 
Tree spreading, rather open, vigorous ; produces both twigs and spurs, al- 
though it is more inclined to produce spurs than twigs. The annual growth on 
trees which have been headed back is not as heavy as on those of most Japanese 
varieties which have had the same pruning treatment. 
The new shoots develop mostly on the stubs of cut-back branches, although an 
occasional large shoot grows from an old branch and smaller shoots and twigs 
grow from terminals of branches and spurs. The new shoots are not as numer- 
ous nor as long as on some other Japanese varieties, but are more stocky. 
They often branch during their first summer's growth and are heavily leaved, 
so that after the branching there is often a dense shade in the interior of the 
tree. On trees severely headed back in winter most new shoots grow erect, 
although a number grow outward from the side of the tree. These laterally 
growing branches increase the breadth of the tree from year to year by the 
amount of them which is left after pruning. The new growth of lateral 
branches is greater on trees lightly pruned than on those severely pruned. 
Trees regularly and severely pruned produce numerous twigs as well as 
large shoots. These grow from the terminals of branches, spurs, and twigs as 
laterals on the new shoots. On thrifty open frees a large number of them grow 
from spurs. Those which are produced on the new shoots are, for the most 
part, on the larger more stocky shoots and appear rather early in the season. 
The twigs are slender and as they fruit heavily they soon become drooping. 
If the tree is kept open the fruiting twigs live for a number of years, produce 
numerous spurs, and fruit well. As fruit of this variety sunburns rather easily, 
there is an advantage in having the fruiting twigs distributed along the older 
branches which do not bend readily with a load of fruit and where the fruit 
is protected by the outer branches. The pruning system which is followed in 
unirrigated orchards to insure a good wood growth and large fruit results in 
the growth of many twigs and therefore much fruiting wood. 
Spurs form on almost all nodes of 1-year-old wood except near the base of 
the larger 1-year-old shoots, even at nodes of slender twigs where fruits have 
set. They are rather short, broad, branch but little, and are prolific. Large 
clusters of fruit often set on them. Few of them grow to twigs unless the 
tree is induced to make rather a vigorous growth by heading back or by 
thinning the branches. The spurs are sensitive to shade, and many of them 
are lost from this cause when they become 2 or 3 years old or older. Although 
trees of this variety are very decidedly of the spur-producing type, many of 
the spurs disappear if the tree is not kept open. The vegetative vigor of the 
branches is centered in the newer part of the branches much more with this 
than with most Japanese varieties, as is shown by the few shoots which appear 
along the older branches as contrasted with such varieties as Beauty and 
Santa Rosa and also by the early loss of spurs in the interior of trees which 
are producing a vigorous growth from the cut-back branches. Although severe 
heading back results in large fruit, it also causes an early loss of spurs if the 
tree is not kept open. If the tree is growing well and is kept open by the regular 
thinning of branches, many spurs remain thrifty and productive for a long 
period. 
The fruit of this variety is borne both on spurs and at nodes of 1-year-old 
twigs. The twigs are very vigorous, as is indicated by the numerous spurs 
that are formed at nodes along them which are also bearing fruit. The 1-year- 
old spurs bear well, and some of these which bear fruit produce leaves also, 
if not in a shaded part of the tree, but many are leafless if fruiting and die 
before the following year. The 2-year-old and 3-year-old spurs manifest less 
vigor than the younger ones and less than is usually found in Japanese varieties. 
Many of these which bear fruit die after the harvest. This is more especially 
true if the trees are headed back at the annual pruning and are making a 
