48 LUTHER BURBANK 



All of these are matters of minor detail, yet 

 not without their importance. 



RECORDING RESULTS 



In making selection of individual plants that 

 are to be preserved, or from which seed is to be 

 gathered, the most convenient and at the same 

 time the most accurate method is the simple one 

 of tying a small strip of cloth or string about the 

 stem of the plant. 



Visitors to my gardens are sure to notice that 

 each bed of flowers has a half dozen or so plants 

 that are thus decorated. In some cases two or 

 three strings may be attached to a single plant, 

 indicating degrees of excellence. Selection hav- 

 ing been made in this way, the plants may be al- 

 lowed to ripen their seeds, and in due course the 

 workmen may gather them without further direc- 

 tion, placing them in labeled boxes to be stored 

 for the winter. 



As regards new fruits, there is particular need 

 of great accuracy, and here it is impossible to 

 avoid a good deal of detail. It will not do at 

 all, in dealing with a valuable addition to the 

 list of fruits, to leave anything to memory as to 

 its season of ripening, size and form, color, 

 flavor, aroma, size of core or stone, length of 

 stem, or any other essential quality. 



