CERTAIN GENERAL FEATURES 



by some superior to that made from any other 

 fruit. The fruit in form and size very 

 much resembles the Orange quince but is 

 smoother and more globular; in color much 

 lighter yellow, with an average weight of 

 about three-quarters of a pound each." Still 

 other varieties are under way which promise 

 to far surpass even the pineapple quince. 



For many years jMr. Burbank has carried on 

 extensive tests in berries of different kinds. 

 Many tests are still under way at Sebastopol. 

 One of the most important features of this 

 line of work is the ultimate removal of the 

 thorns from all thorn-bearing berries, and 

 from roses as well. Mr. Burbank asked me 

 one day, as we were walking through the 

 proving grounds at Sebastopol, to bend over a 

 blackberry bush growing rather close to the 

 ground, and rub its stem against my face. It 

 certainly was a novel experience — the thorns 

 had been entirely bred away from the plant. 

 So will it be with all thorn-bearing fruits if he 

 shall find time to transform them, for, as in 

 this particular instance, all that is essential is 

 that a systematic and patient course of selec- 

 tion be followed. 



16S 



