THE BURBAXK CHERRY 127 



followed out. According to strict Mendelian 

 reasoning, it is clear that we must deal with 

 thousands of seedlings in order to stand a chance 

 of securing a single one that shows a desired 

 combination of qualities, when six or eight qual- 

 ities are in question — and I seldom work with 

 less than twice this number in view. 



And the case is even more complex than this 

 computation would show, because I am always 

 concerned not merely to combine a half dozen or 

 a dozen desirable qualities, but to have a wide 

 range of choice among numerous individuals 

 showing this combination, that one may be found 

 which exhibits the desired qualities in the super- 

 lative degree. 



It is fair to assume, then, that I should never 

 have secured the Burbank Cherry, and following 

 it my newer varieties of cherries that: (1) fruit 

 weeks before the usual cherry season, and 



(2) produce a superabundant crop of fruit of 



(3) the largest size, (4) best color, (5) firmest 

 texture, and (6) finest quality; growing in (7) 

 easily gathered clusters on (8) trees of fine shape 

 that are (9) hardy and (10) immune to the 

 attacks of insects, had I not extended my experi- 

 ments far beyond the narrow limits of hand 

 pollination, with the aid of my hosts of indis- 

 pensable helpers, the bees. 



