LUTHER BURBANK 



lative degree increases in direct proportion with 

 the number of seedlings from which selection can 

 be made. 



Hence one of Mr. Burbank 's hobbies is the pro- 

 duction of seedlings in great quantity. This is 

 not so essential in hybrid seedlings in the first 

 generation, but it is highly important in the second 

 generation, because then the plants begin to show 

 a very wide range of variation f or reasons that 

 we shall examine in another connection. 



So Mr. Burbank saves all the seeds of a plant 

 that attracts his attention, and sows them in a 

 carefully prepared soil in greenhouse boxes. De- 

 tails as to his method have already been given. 

 We may add that the same method is used for 

 seeds of practically every variety, rare exotics 

 of many kinds and the commonest garden plant; 

 seed of the spineless cactus or that of orchard 

 fruit. Whatever the variety, Mr. Burbank nur- 

 tures and transplants the tiny seedlings, giving 

 each one of them a chance to show its quality in 

 open competition. 



RUNNING THE GAUNTLET 



The tiny seedlings of the plum or the cherry or 

 apple or pear or quince are transplanted into a 

 field pretty close together, for economy of space, 

 and are carefully weeded and cultivated until they 

 attain an average growth of about one foot. 



Then Mr. Burbank subjects them to a rigid in- 

 spection. He passes along the row, and gives a 



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