THE PLANT 



new and old varieties, improve varieties of fruit, vegetables, and 

 flowers, and create new ones. 



One of the most famous plant breeders of the present day is 

 Mr. Luther Burbank, who lives in California. He has produced 

 new species, among others the plum' cot, a union of the plum and 

 the apricot, and the 

 prl'mus berry, a union 

 of the raspberry and 

 the blackberry, having 

 the general appear- 

 ance and combined 

 flavors of both. 



Keeping up a Vari- 

 ety. It is not enough 

 to originate a good 

 variety. It must be 

 kept good by care and 

 attention. All im- 

 proved varieties tend 

 to deteriorate, or grow 

 worse. They are arti- 

 ficial products, and the tendency is to return to the state of nature. 

 Scientists say they 'revert to type,' or go back to the character- 

 istics of their wild ancestors. Farmers say the ' seed runs out.' 

 In different terms, scientists and farmers express the same truth. 



Plant improvement can easily be maintained and increased. 

 First: Seeds or buds should be selected from plants having the 

 qualities it is desired to maintain. Second : Good varieties should 

 be protected against mixing with inferior ones. Third : They should 

 be given such care and cultivation as suit them best. Plants can, 

 to some extent, adapt themselves to unfavorable conditions of soil, 



From photograph furnished by Mr. Burbank 



PLUMCOTS 



