LUTHER BURBANK 



heredity clamoring for fruit with a stony covering 

 there should have developed in France a member 

 of the tribe, even though it be an inconspicuous 

 outcast, that rebelled against the family tradition 

 and dared to produce a seed that lacked a part 

 of the habitual covering. 



How THE Freak Originated 



As to just how this break with tradition came 

 about, we can perhaps make a better guess than 

 we can as to the precise origin of the tradition. 



It seems likely that the little buUace lost the 

 power to produce a protective stony covering for 

 its seed through the impoverished condition due 

 to some defect in the condition of the soil in 

 which it chanced to grow. Unquestionably the 

 production of the stone makes a strong draft upon 

 the resources of the tree. Obviously the material 

 to supply this dense hornj' structure must come 

 from the soil, and in case the exact chemicals 

 needed are supplied in scant quantity, the shrub 

 might be forced to economize in producing a shell 

 for its fruit kernel, just as a hen is forced to 

 economize in the shell covering of her egg in case 

 lime is lacking in her food. 



The same sort of econom}' is practiced when 

 the human child finds inadequate nourishment. 

 In such case the bones may be not only small but 

 defective in mineral substance, a well-recognized 



[118] 



