156 LUTHER BURBANK 



ISTo one as yet, however, has worked out in 

 detail the combinations of hereditary factors for 

 the bean as Mendel worked it out in the case of 

 the pea. Such an investigation would constitute 

 one of the most interesting experiments in plant 

 breeding that anyone who has time for it could 

 undertake. It is true that the hybridizing of the 

 plant of this genus is rather difficult, inasmuch as 

 the flowers must be opened and the stamens 

 removed with a pair of small forceps to avoid 

 self-fertilization. 



But, on the other hand, once cross-fertiliza- 

 tion has been effected there are obvious advan- 

 tages in later generations in working with a 

 plant that is normally self-fertilized, the pollen 

 of which is inaccessible to insects. 



All in all, I think the bean offers as many 

 inducements for improvement as any other plant 

 under cultivation. 



Although much has been and may 

 be accomplished with peas and 

 beans by mere selection, these 

 plants offer exceptional opportuni- 

 ties also for improvement through 

 hybridization. 



