HOW MAY I DO IT TOO ; BREEDING 



lays special stress upon this, to save only one 

 and that the very best of all; no matter if 

 there be a hundred plants or a thousand, save 

 only the very best. 



Naturally one who has been long expert at 

 the work will be able easily to choose a good 

 many plants of relatively the same value in 

 order to secure quicker results as a test pro- 

 ceeds ; but, even then, when the final test of 

 all comes, there must remain but one as the 

 basis of the world's stock. 



So on and on from year to year the work 

 should go, the best plant of each succeeding 

 generation approaching nearer the end sought 

 until, at last, a flower is produced which 

 reaches, which may indeed surpass, the model 

 set before the mind. 



One may have, for example, a certain variety 

 of sweet peas which are not exactly to one's 

 liking, make them over to suit you. If the 

 stems are too long, shorten them. If they are 

 too short, lengthen them. If the blossom is 

 not large enough, make it larger. If the color 

 is pink and you want it red, teach it to take on 

 the crimson hue. Pick out beforehand, is Mr. 

 Burbank's advice, the particular improvement 



237 



