[Illustration: _Fig. 219. A seven-year-old apple twig and its curious history. (Half size.)_] 1892. Ceased to be a fruit-spur, and made a strong growth on to 12. For some reason, it had a good chance to grow. Perhaps the farmer pruned the tree, and thereby gave the shoot an opportunity; or perhaps he plowed and fertilized the land. In the meantime, one of the side buds grew to 3, and the other to 7, and each made a fruit-bud at its end. 1893. Shoot grew lustily,--on to D. The fruit-bud at 3 bore an apple, which probably matured, as shown by the scar 2. Two side buds were formed beneath this apple, to continue the spur next year. The fruit-bud at 7 bloomed, but the apple fell early, as shown by the small scar. Two side buds were formed. The buds upon the main shoot--1 to 12--all remained dormant. 1894. Shoot grew from D to beyond E. Side bud of 2 grew to 4, and made a fruit-bud on its end; the other side bud grew on to 5, and there made a fruit-bud. Side bud of 7 grew on to 10, and the other one to 8, each ending in a fruit-bud. Buds on old shoot--1 to 12--still remained dormant. Some of the buds on the 1893 growth--12 to D,--remained dormant; but some of them made fruit-spurs,--14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. 1895. Shoot grew from beyond E to 28. Flowers were borne at 4 and 5; but at 4 the fruit fell early, for the five or six scars of the flowers can be seen, showing that no one of them developed more strongly than the other; that is, none of the flowers "set." A fairly good fruit was probably borne at 5. At the base of each, a bud started to continue the spur next year. Upon the other spur, flowers were borne both at 8 and 10. At 10 none of the flowers set fruit, but a side bud developed. At 8 the fruit partially matured, and a side bud was also developed. The buds upon the old stem from 1 to 12 still remained dormant. Some of the spurs on the 1893 growth--12 to D--developed fruit-buds for bearing in 1896. Some of the buds on the 1894 growth--D to beyond E--remained dormant, but others developed into small fruit-spurs. One of these buds, near the top of the 1894 growth, threw out a long shoot, starting from E; and the bud at 26 also endeavored to make a long branch, but failed. 1896. Main shoot grew from 28 to the end. The side bud below 4 (where the fruit was borne the year before) barely lived, not elongating, as seen above 3. This branch of the spur is becoming weak and will never bear again. The side bud of 5, however, made a fairly good spur and developed a fruit-bud at its end, as seen at 6. The side bud of 10 grew somewhat, making the very short spur 11. This branchlet is also getting weak. The bud of 8, however, developed a strong spur at 9. Both 11 and 9 bear fruit-buds, but that on 11 is probably too weak ever to bear fruit again. In fact, the entire spurs, from 1 to 6 and 1 to 9, are too weak to be of much account for fruit-bearing.