THE PLUM 315 



were once members of the same clan no longer 

 are to be classified as of the same species. 



All of this was observed from the outset, just 

 as many another man had observed it. Indeed 

 these things are too patent to escape notice. But, 

 unlike many others, I was impelled to inquire 

 whether some useful application might not be 

 made of the observed influence of the California 

 climate on immigrant plants. 



THE PRESCRIPTION APPLIED TO PLANTS 



In following up this idea I was led to 

 apply to a vast coterie of plants the prescrip- 

 tion which has become so popular with the 

 present-day physician in the treatment of his 

 patients. 



"Take a rest, and find a complete change of 

 climate. Go to California and stay there," 

 was the modified form of the prescription as 1 

 gave it to the plants of the remotest regions of 

 the globe to which I could send word. 



And the result of the carrying out of this pre- 

 scription will require some volumes in the telling 

 For the plants that came to me in response have 

 furnished the chief material out of which a large 

 proportion of my developments of new fruits, 

 grains, grasses, trees, vegetables, and flowers 

 have grown. 



