164 LUTHER BURBANK 



found its reproduction problem made easier 

 through the multitude of pollen grains now float- 

 ing through the air. 



And so, by slow degrees, it responded to its 

 new environment by bearing more and larger 

 seeds. 



As the seed kernels increased in numbers and 

 in size, the supporting coblet which bore them 

 grew in sturdiness and length. 



From two, the rows of kernels increased to 

 four, six, eight, twelve, and now, in some varie- 

 ties, to forty or more./ 



Here again the selfish motives of the primitive 

 races served to help the plant in its adaptation as 

 naturally the largest and best developed ears 

 would be saved by some one. 



So, under cultivation, the wild grass through 

 adaptation was transformed into Indian corn. 



There were two wealthy men in England who 

 took up the daffodil and narcissus, growing end- 

 less quantities of seedlings for amusement. 



Both of these men, so it happened, were bank- 

 ers. One was a rather large, coarse, strong, 

 dominating type of man — not a repulsive man 

 by any means, but lacking a little in refinement 

 and the more delicate sensibilities. 



The other banker was a highly sensitive, nerv- 

 ous, shrinking man with a great eye for detail. 



