186 LUTHER BLRBANK 



varietiet of future plants when he k)oki at old 

 existing varieties. 



But of course the painter, whatever his con- 

 structive imagination, does not always see at 

 Hrst glance e%'erT detail of form and color that 

 will ultimately appeal to hiui. Nor can tlu* T>Innt 

 experimenter claim, by any mamier of niea 

 know always from the outset just what his new 

 plant creations, as a result of these new oomhina- 

 tioQs, will he like. There are numberless in- 

 stances, indeed, in which a plant experimentirr 

 who operates on a large scale may make various 

 experiments in the comhination of different 

 species and Tarietiea of plants; but, on the other 

 hand, it is neotmuj in the pursuit of practical 

 plant developments to have a tolerably precise 

 idea in mind as to the particular direction in 

 which progress is desirable. 



Lacking such an ideal, the breeder of plants 

 would be about as likely to produce new creations 

 of value as an architect would be likely to con- 

 struct a fine building by putting materials to- 

 gether at random without a carefully precon- 

 ceived plan. 



The mind of man has sounded no limits to tintc 

 or space and is learning that all the varied forms 

 and conditions which we know are intimately 

 connected and interdependent upon past condi- 



