146 LUTHER BURBANK 



He was out early in the morning, when the bees began 

 to hum, preparing the blossoms of Triflora to receive the 

 precious grains of golden dust. When he had finished, and 

 placed tags upon the fertilized blooms, he left them in the 

 care of Mother Nature until the fruit should ripen. Their 

 pits would then be labelled and saved for the next year's 

 work in training. 



When tiny plant pupils from these pits were growing 

 happily, the master came again; this time to select the best. 

 When he found one whose leaves were larger, smoother, 

 or with a more even margin than the others, it received a 

 badge of honor, for it would, he knew, bear a larger, sweeter, 

 or firmer sort of plum. 



The selected ones need not wait six or seven years to 

 bear fruit. Oh, no. Skilful workmen took them from 

 their little beds and tenderly placed them on the sturdy 

 arms of a full-grown plum tree, so that they would have to 

 wait only one or two years to bloom and bear fruit, saving 

 much valuable time in their school life. 



Among these little plant children of Simoni and Triflora 

 were several that bore fruit of rare flavor. But there was 

 one especially that would even fill a room with its delight- 

 ful fragrance, like that of a pineapple. And when it was 

 eaten, one could think of nothing but bananas, it was so 

 delicious. Burbank was so elated with the qualities of this 

 little child that he exclaimed, "This is the Climax!" And 

 now it is known as the Climax plum everywhere, for it has 



