HARDENING AND ADAPTATION 



financial importance to growers, is a feature 

 not less significant than the satisfaction of 

 fruit-lovers in these regions at being able to 

 procure much prized but heretofore unobtain- 

 able supplies near at hand. 



But hardening a plant does not by any 

 means, in Mr. Burbank's use of the word, mean 

 hardening against cold alone. It may be har- 

 dening against heat, against the wind, against 

 rain, against 'drought, diseases or insects. 



A most interesting demonstration of the 

 possibilities in these directions was in the case 

 of the gladioli. In California, and in any 

 warm climate with a rich soil below their feet, 

 the old-fashioned gladioli grew rank and tall, 

 and, in case there was, in their blooming sea- 

 son, considerable wind, they were more than 

 apt to be injured or wholly destroyed. So he 

 bred gladioli to withstand wind. Where the 

 stems were from five to six feet tall he bred 

 them down to three feet, at the same time 

 making the stalk much thicker and stronger. 

 This was done by crossing and selection, 

 always choosing those plants which were ap- 

 proaching nearest the end desired until the 

 required length and strength were attained. 



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