172 LUTHER BURBANK 



the fundamental principles of improvement of 

 plants by selection are widely recognized in the 

 land of the Mikado. 



But this, indeed, is a proposition that scarcely 

 needs demonstrating, considering the curious 

 variety of flowers and fruits that have been 

 developed there. That the revered name of the 

 Mikado should be associated in popular legend 

 with the perfecting of the rice is to be inter- 

 preted, I suppose, as an evidence of the impor- 

 tance of this grain to the people of Japan, rather 

 than in any literal sense. 



Rice is to the Oriental people what wheat is to 

 the people of the western world, and it is natural 

 that folklore should associate the perfecting of 

 this most important of foodstuffs with the most 

 sacred office of the ruler who is regarded as the 

 Father of his people. 



RICE AND ITS IMPROVEMENT 



Mention of the perfecting of special varieties 

 of rice implies the existence of different varieties 

 of this grain. 



In fact, rice is a very variable plant, and one 

 that is therefore susceptible of great improve- 

 ment. There are many varieties of rice grown 

 in the Orient. There is, for example, a variety 

 that has a very pleasant aroma when cooked. 



