LUTHER BURBANK 



quent effort, in which vast numbers of hybridizing 

 experiments have been performed, have failed to 

 produce another variety of potato superior to the 

 one that was virtually a gift of nature. In this 

 field of endeavor, as in so many others, there is an 

 element of uncertainty that adds to its charm. 



Very recently, however, Mr. Burbank has ex- 

 perimented with wild species of potato from South 

 America, and has produced some remarkable new 

 varieties that are about to be introduced. 



MAKING A PEA TO OKDER 



As illustrating about as striking a contrast to 

 the story of the potato as could be found, we 

 might cite the story of the Empson pea. 



Mr. Burbank was asked by a canner of peas to 

 produce a new variety in which the individual peas 

 would be small but uniform in size ; in which they 

 would be uniform as to number in the pod; and 

 would mature at the same time, so that the entire 

 crop could be gathered at once, it being the method 

 in the modern cannery to cut the vines by ma- 

 chinery, carting them to the cannery like loads of 

 hay. Of course it was essential that the peas 

 should retain their quality of sweetness of flavor, 

 and that the vines should bear an abundant crop 

 of pods. 



Mr. Burbank was able to meet these specifica- 

 tions in a period of only three years, by raising 

 two crops of peas each season. And he did this 

 purely by selection, raising large quantities of the 



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