278 LUTHER BURBANK 



As an inkling of some of the expected develop- 

 ments that as yet are only at their beginnings, 

 I may add there is among my plants one that 

 bears an eighteen-petaled flower, and which is 

 otherwise exceedingly handsome, and there are 

 several others with a double row of petals. This 

 did not breed true as to the production of excess 

 petals, but there is little doubt that by selective 

 breeding it will be possible to produce a double 

 amaryllis which will be an entire novelty. 



In the matter of hardiness also, there is oppor- 

 tunity for great improvement. My amaryllis 

 plants are grown out-of-doors, the seedlings 

 being started in the greenhouse in boxes very 

 much as other bulbous plants are started, but not 

 in a high temperature. There is opportunity, 

 however, to increase their hardiness by selection, 

 or by crossing with some hardier species. 



It is true that the hybrids of Crinum and 

 Amaryllis have hitherto been sterile, but there 

 is reason to hope that other combinations might 

 be found that would produce fertile offspring. 



These and other like developments, however, 

 await the experiments of future seasons and 

 future experimenters. But, even as it stands, the 

 colony of bulbs of the amaryllis and its allies 

 constitutes one of the most interesting groups 

 of plants anywhere to be found. 



