186 LUTHER BURBANK 



can we be sure that influences of a less tangible 

 character are not constantly exerted by in- 

 grafted limbs? 



May it not be possible, even, that the influence 

 of cions from many sources on one another, when 

 they are placed together in large numbers on a 

 single tree, as in the case of my colonies of plums 

 and cherries and apples, may be very notable 

 indeed, even though of such character as not to 

 be demonstrable? Is it not at least possible that 

 the improved quality of the new and splendid 

 varieties that appear on the various cions of these 

 multiple trees is in some minor part to be 

 ascribed to the mutual influence of cions of many 

 different strains of past generations, one on 

 another? 



If this thought be permitted, we must rec- 

 ognize in such fruit colonies as those in question 

 an influence exercised by the community for the 

 benefit of the individual that is comparable to 

 the intangible influences through which a com- 

 munity of human beings affects the moral char- 

 acter of its individual citizens. 



All this carries us somewhat afield from the 

 case of our grafted tomato-potatoes, but only to 

 the extent of a natural application of principles 

 clearly suggested by the phenomena exhibited 

 by these extraordinary plants. 



