54 LUTHER BURBANK 



the seeds that had been kept in sand were in 

 better condition than those preserved in the ster- 

 ilized redwood sawdust. Those kept in charcoal 

 differed little from the other lots. The ones in 

 cold storage had suffered from blue mold more 

 than the others, but both lots were in fair 

 condition. 



All were planted on the same day in rows side 

 by side. The seeds that had been kept in cold 

 storage germinated at once, and in a week were 

 all practically above ground. The seeds of the 

 other lot, which had come from the same trees, 

 did not commence to germinate for about six 

 weeks. Yet later in the season very little differ- 

 ence could be seen between the two lots; on the 

 whole the cold storage seeds gave rather the 

 poorer growth. 



FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS OF METHOD 



An even better method of preserving the seed 

 was presently developed, and I was finally able 

 to preserve the stoneless seeds almost as securely 

 as if they had their original protective covering. 



My new method consists in washing the 

 stoneless seeds in clear fresh water when first 

 removed from the fruit; immersing them for a 

 few minutes in a weak solution of "Bordeaux 

 mixture" (sulphate of copper and limewater), 



