LUTHER BURBANK 



varieties, produced by blending the strains of 

 eight or ten species, show an extraordinary range 

 of variation both as to form and color of flower. 

 The petals of some varieties have a singular 

 frosted appearance. Some of them are bell- 

 shaped, others have petals that are fluted and 

 feathery, bearing a curious resemblance to ostrich 

 plumes. 



Unfortunately some of the new varieties of 

 clematis are somewhat lacking in hardiness. 

 There are several wild species, however, that 

 grow in the regions of northern Canada where 

 the mercury goes fifty or sixty degrees below 

 zero. It is certain that further hybridizing ex- 

 periments in which these hardy species were util- 

 ized would result in giving new varieties that 

 would combine the qualities of flower of Mr. Bur- 

 bank's beautiful clematis with the hardiness of the 

 northern race. 



Other ornamental vines with which Mr. Bur- 

 bank has worked extensively are the bignonia, the 

 wistaria, and the bellflower. He points out that 

 a good deal of work remains to be done by cross- 

 ing the hardy bignonias with the tender ones, 

 there being excellent prospect that new varieties 

 of value will thus be produced. The wistarias, 

 also, he says, offer interesting possibilities. They 

 are difficult to pollenize because their flowers are 

 papilionaceous, like those of the peas and beans. 

 But anyone who has experimented with the latter 

 will have no difficulty with the wistarias. Mr. 

 Bnrbank suggests that some very striking varia- 



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