162 LUTHER BURBANK 



or as inbred or close-bred. So the bulb has very 

 fundamental importance in the plant economy. 

 And it is interesting to reflect that it is cor- 

 respondingly important from a human stand- 

 point, inasmuch as bulbs as well as seeds furnish 

 us our most important food products. 



We have seen that many of the plants that are 

 propagated solely from the bulb or tuber, of 

 which the potato is the most familiar example, 

 may give up the habit of seed production alto- 

 gether under cultivation. But, on the other hand, 

 it is observed that plants that produce compara- 

 tively small bulbs in the state of nature may be 

 stimulated to the production of far larger bulbs 

 and more abundant offshoots under cultivation. 



Making application to the particular case of 

 the Tigridia, it has already been recorded that I 

 have found no difficulty in doubling or even 

 quadrupling the bulk of the bulb of that plant, 

 as well as greatly increasing the tendency to the 

 multiplication of bulbs. 



It will probably be found desirable to culti- 

 vate the plant further along these lines until it 

 finds recognized place in the vegetable garden as 

 the producer of a food of the finest quality, 

 while at the same time retaining value as the 

 bearer of beautiful flowers. 



