278 LUTHER BURBANK 



ers. These plants have been grown extensively 

 from seed, to produce new varieties, but the ex- 

 periments were carried out only to the extent of 

 increasing the yellow and crimson colors. 



I have grown the Bloomeria aurea also exten- 

 sively and have made minor improvements in it 

 through selection. The plant has a bulb like the 

 brodiaea, growing deep in the earth in dry, sandy 

 places. In the wild state the stalks vary in height, 

 and there is also a slight variation in the color of 

 the flower. So there is opportunity for selective 

 breeding. Moreover, judging from physiological 

 characteristics, the plant should cross readily 

 with the brodiasa, although I have not attempted 

 to make the cross. It is, however, certain that 

 improved varieties might be obtained by 

 hybridization. 



There is a bulbous plant called Alstrcemeria 

 that is botanically related to the Amaryllis rather 

 than to the true lilies, which offers possibilities of 

 tuber improvement. The plants are natives of 

 western South America. I grew seedlings and 

 hybrids by the ten thousand for several years, and 

 became convinced that if the roots and tops could 

 be taught to grow in a more compact form this 

 would become a very popular flower, and perhaps 

 also a very valuable food plant, as the roots are 

 sometimes eaten and are quite palatable and 



