184 LUTHER BURBANK 



produce new races of geraniums that have alto- 

 gether exceptional qualities. 



The wild species include some that are white 

 in color as well as those that are pink or white 

 striped with pink or with reddish veins. So there 

 is opportunity to have a wide choice as to color 

 variation. The cross might likely result also in 

 giving the geraniums enhanced vigor so that new 

 races of perpetual bloomers comparable to the 

 best of the pelargoniums would be produced. 

 Few plants among all the popular favorites have 

 greater merits than the geraniums, and none, per- 

 haps, offers better opportunities for interesting 

 experiments that may be made by the amateur. 



A plant which has been worked 

 on by experimenters for two 

 thousand years presents a difficult 

 problem for anyone who strives 

 to develop new races of unusual 

 value. It is like working against 

 the traditions of the ages to 

 attempt to modify the character- 

 istics of such a plant in a new 

 direction, yet by adding new species 

 to the ancient combinations the 

 problem may be solved. 



