Bui. 1477, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 
Plate 23 
Fruit-Spur Development and Bearing Habits of the Golden Drop 
Plum in Relation to Pruning and to Soil and Other Conditions 
A.— Outside branches of a tree which has been headed back each year. The tree is in fertile 
soil and has been well irrigated. (Photographed after the annual pruning. Niles, Calif.) 
B.— Vigorous spurs from a tree which has been annually headed back and is growing in fertile 
irrigated soil 
C. — Branches of a tree which has been headed back each year and is growing in fertile irrigated 
soil. The branch at the left is at the outside of the tree, and the one at the right, which 
made a little less vigorous growth, is in a more shaded portion. Note the production of 
fruit at leafless nodes on 1-year-old twigs on the branch at the left and on leafless spurs on 
the one at the right 
D. — Secondary branch of an 18-year-old tree which has been headed back each year and is grow- 
ing in fertile irrigated soil. Note the barren section where spurs have died after fruiting 
and the leafless barren spurs which will die after the fruit ripens 
