LUTHER BURBANK 
pollen of its nearest relations (except the almond) 
unwillingly, and as yet no useful product has 
come of such union. 
Yet the peach is not more isolated in this re- 
gard than its relative, the apricot, seemed to be 
until I was able, after many futile efforts, to 
break through the barriers and hybridize that 
fruit with the plum. The hybrid that resulted, 
named the plumcot, is virtually a new species. It 
combines the good qualities of both parents and 
is a very valuable addition to the list of orchard 
fruits. It seems not unlikely that some future ex- 
perimenter will be able to effect a correspondingly 
useful hybridization of the peach; then the way 
will be open for the development of a race of 
peaches that will combine with the existing quali- 
ties of fruit production the qualities of hardiness 
and resistance to disease that the present peach 
tree so notably lacks. 
Bia Fruir AND FREE BEARING 
Size of fruit and prolific bearing are charac- 
teristics of such obvious desirability that they 
cannot be overlooked even by the tyro. 
Yet the average amateur, who has a group of 
fruit trees in his garden or even a fair-sized 
orchard on his country place, is content to buy 
large, handsome, and well-seasoned fruits in the 
market, taking it for granted that his own trees 
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