46 LUTHER BURBANK 



various parts of the earth generally possess this 

 adaptability in a much higher degree than the 

 monotypic species, for, having been subjected to 

 great variations of soil, climate, and other in- 

 fluences, their continued existence has been 

 secured only by the inherent habits which adap- 

 tation demanded, while the monotypic species, 

 not being able to fit themselves for their sur- 

 roundings without a too radically expensive 

 change, have continued to exist only under cer- 

 tain special conditions. Thus two important 

 advantages are secured to the breeder who selects 

 from the genera having numerous species — the 

 advantage of natural pliability, and in the nu- 

 merous species to work upon by combination for 

 still further variations. 



Before making combinations we should, with 

 great care, select the individual plants which 

 seem best adapted to our purpose, as by this 

 course many years of experiment and much 

 needless expense will be avoided. The differences 

 in the individuals which we have to work upon 

 are sometimes extremely slight. The ordinary 

 unpracticed person cannot by any possibility 

 discover the exceedingly minute variations in 

 form, size, color, fragrance, precocity, and a 

 thousand other characters which the practiced 

 breeder perceives by a lightninglike glance. 



