LUTHER BURBANK 



SOME PRACTICAL HINTS 



In developing a hybrid you must of course grow 

 the plant from the seed preferably planted fresh 

 from the berry as already suggested. But when 

 you have secured a plant that bears fruit of ex- 

 ceptional character, you may propagate it in- 

 definitely by root division, or, as already stated, 

 by tips or suckers. 



Thus you may stock your garden with any new 

 variety you develop, regardless of whether it will 

 breed true from the seed. But of course if you 

 wish to accomplish further improvement you must 

 make further selection and grow other seedlings ; 

 and from this second selection after crossing your 

 best results are likely to be obtained. 



Variations appear only among seedlings, ex- 

 cept in rare cases of "bud sports," and variation 

 is the basis of all plant improvement. 



You will do well, then, to study the character- 

 istics of the different plants in your garden, and 

 select for further experiment those that show 

 some variation that appeals to you, prolific bear- 

 ing, or early bearing, or large size of fruit, or de- 

 liciousness of flavor. 



Whatever the quality, you may confidently ex- 

 pect that it will be reproduced and accentuated 

 in some individuals of the progeny of the plant 

 grown from the seed. By selecting the best of the 

 offspring, in the same way, to furnish seed for 

 yet another generation, you may presently develop 

 a variety that has the particular quality in ques- 



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