64 LUTHER BURBANK 



For eight years this selection went on, and a beautiful 

 crimson poppy is the result. Since this time, through 

 selection, other varieties have been grown, until now we 

 find little Eschscholtzia maidens in all kinds of beautiful 

 dresses. Some are snow white, others range from light 

 cream to straw color. Many are a deep-purplish crimson, 

 while others have decided to wear pure crimson with golden 

 yellow for trimmings. 



Eschscholtzias of these colors and shades are now being 

 graduated from the plant school and enjoyed by people 

 throughout the world, while the golden blossoms continue, 

 as before, to brighten the hills and valleys of California. 



CHAPTER XIV 

 THE FIRE POPPY 



One day two little poppy pupils, Opium and Oriental, 

 came to the plant school from far-away Asia. They were 

 not at all alike in their habits. Oriental was a perennial, 

 that is it grew from year to year, while Opium was an 

 annual, and must be raised from seed each season. It did 

 not seem possible to combine the two plants and make 

 an entirely new poppy, but the master said, "Wait! Let 

 us see about it!" 



Opium had for a long time borne a bad reputation be- 

 cause of its furnishing a poisonous juice. Strange to say, 



