344 LUTHER BURBANK 



berry with its relative the fig. Notwithstanding 

 the lack of success of these experiments, mostly 

 no doubt from lack of time, it seems possible that 

 further experiments along the same line might 

 lead to interesting, and perhaps to very valuable, 

 results. 



As to the other berry-producing tree just men- 

 tioned, the elder, the possibilities of fruit devel- 

 opment are even more inviting. 



The common European elder, Sambucus ni- 

 gra } has developed into a number of handsome 

 ornamental varieties, most of which are offered 

 by the American nurserymen. Our native east- 

 ern species, the Sambucus canadensis, the com- 

 mon elder of the eastern United States, has also 

 developed several forms; and there is a Califor- 

 nia species, S. glauca, that shows a like tendency 

 to variation, both as to size of tree and size and 

 quality of fruit. 



The berries of the elder are borne in large 

 clusters, sometimes in enormous profusion, so 

 that the bushes fairly break under their weight. 

 The fruit is generally bluish black, with a very 

 thick white bloom. 



A curious anomaly is sometimes shown by an- 

 other European or Asiatic species, S. racemosa, 

 a variety of which grows in various parts of 

 northern California and northward along the 



