226 LUTHER BURBANK 



development of the flower itself through succes- 

 sive generations of variation. 



We have seen that when any given variation 

 is in question, there is a tendency to much more 

 rapid change after the experiment has pro- 

 gressed a certain number of stages. 



Similarly a flower or fruit that the public at 

 first accepts rather grudgingly may at last 

 become so popular that it is impossible to pro- 

 duce it rapidly enough to meet the demand. 



The Burbank rose, to be sure, did not fail of 

 recognition from the outset. But its gaming of 

 the gold medal as the best bedding rose at the 

 St. Louis International Exposition in 1904 

 doubtless advertised it most extensively, and led 

 to its rather exceptionally rapid acceptance by 

 the public. 



On my own part, I look with particular pride 

 on this rose, not so much because it received the 

 gold medal as because competent judges every- 

 where have admitted that it deserved the recog- 

 nition thus given it as the best bedding rose then 

 known. 



I have produced many plant developments 

 that are much more spectacular than this new 

 rose, and many that have elements of far greater 

 novelty and interest from the standpoint of both 

 plant developer and the general public. Yet I 



