366 LUTHER BURBANK 



The best seedlings which I have ever produced 

 were from the grape called Pierce or Isabella 

 Regia, a variety which originated as a sporting 

 branch from the common Isabella on Mr. J. P. 

 Pierce's place near San Jose, California. 



This Pierce grape is the same color as its par- 

 ent, the Isabella, but the berries are more than 

 twice as large though not increased in number 

 on the cluster. The vine is very much stronger 

 and the foliage much larger, so much so that 

 the difference is noticeable at a considerable 

 distance. 



Large quantities of seedlings from the Isa- 

 bella Regia were raised, partly for the purpose 

 of noticing whether bud sports would reproduce 

 themselves from seed and partly because it prom- 

 ised to be a fine variety to work upon for im- 

 provement. 



Among the numerous seedlings which were 

 fruited the variations were most astonishing, 

 much more so than with most grapes. 



Whether this is on account of the Isabella hav- 

 ing been moved to a new climate, thus changing 

 its hereditary tendencies, or whether bud sports 

 in general are apt to produce more variable seed- 

 lings, I am not yet able fully to demonstrate. 

 Some of these selected vines which were fruited 

 are unusually strong growers, ;3ome were as weak 



