I70 PLANT-BREEDING 



starting his crosses. Of Asclepias I noted about 20 species 

 on a plot, of Brodiasa four, of Rhodanthe, Schizanthus, and 

 the fragrant Tobacco all the best and newest European 

 varieties and hybrids. Many other instances will be given 

 in the special descriptions. Among grasses he is now trying 

 species of Lolium, Stipa, Agrostis, and Anthoxanthum, 

 partly for forage and partly for lawns. Of evening prim- 

 roses he had received a large flowered form of the creeping 

 white CEnothcra albicaulis, which he has now selected 

 along with other small and large flowered yellow primroses. 

 Many wild species afford deviations, which are ordinarily 

 considered as monstrosities, but which in his hand may be 

 improved to yield valuable ornamental plants. He showed 

 me a beautiful yellow papaveraceous plant, the Hunnemannia 

 fumariasfolia from Mexico, which in some specimens 

 doubled its flowers on the outside instead of within, in the 

 same way as some Gloxinias. Many other introduced de- 

 viations and hundreds of beautiful species I saw, but there 

 is no reason for mentioning their names here. Very often 

 a wild strain suppHes some valuable c|uality or perhaps only 

 the vigor of growth which fails in its cultivated allies. Many 

 a weak race was made strong by tliis means. 



Among the species and varieties introduced from foreign 

 countries some proved to surpass the corresponding American 

 forms without needing any improvement. In this way very 

 valuable contributions to American fruit culture have been 

 secured. In the beginning of his work, a Japanese agent 

 one day sent him some plum pits. From these he grew two 

 varieties, which he has since introduced under the names of 

 Burbank and Satsuma plums. The first of them was named 

 for him by the United States pomologist at Washington. 

 It was exceptionally suitable to American concUtions and 

 has justified its selection by its present wide distribution 

 and economic value. The Satsuma plum is now commonly 



