A spectrophotometric technique after paper chromatography was found adequate for quantitatively determining chlorogenic and caffeic acids in the vegetative apical buds of Pyrus communis L., variety ‘Passe‐Crassane’, de ľOrléanais. Using this method, significant changes in these polyphenols were shown to occur both in tissue concentration and total amount per bud, in samples collected during winter 1973–1974. A close relationship between chlorogenic acid concentration and state of dormancy of excised twigs was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]