LUTHER BURBANK 



far larger than a man's head, and their flowers 

 seem intermediate in character between those of 

 the parents. But the two plants are evidently 

 pretty nearly at the limits of affinity, and while 

 the hybrids put forth flowers abundantly, they do 

 not have viable seeds. 



Of course the new plants may be propagated 

 indefinitely from bulbs, so that the hybrid crinums 

 constitute interesting permanent varieties. But 

 the experiment cannot be carried beyond the first 

 generation because the hybrids are sterile. Such, 

 at least, has been Mr. Burbank's experience. It is 

 quite possible, however, that it may be feasible to 

 find species of crinums or individual flowers that 

 would produce fertile offspring when crossed with 

 the amaryllis. At least further experimentation 

 along this line is worth making. 



It would also be of interest to attempt to cross 

 the crinums with the hippeastrum or tropical 

 amaryllis, a combination that Mr. Burbank has 

 attempted many times, but hitherto without 

 success. 



All in all, the plants of the amaryllis tribe fur- 

 nish rare opportunities for experiment in the 

 hands of the amateur, particularly since Mr. Bur- 

 bank has developed species that are sufficiently 

 hardy to thrive out of doors in our northern lati- 

 tudes. A good deal of patience is required, to 

 be sure, in awaiting the maturation of the flowers ; 

 but experiments in cross-pollenation may be begun 

 without delay, if you start with mature bulbs. 

 The pollenizing of the flowers presents no difficul- 



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