NEW CREATIONS IN PLANT LIFE 



greater importance, — the fruit of this graft 

 must be superior to all fruits of its kind which 

 have preceded it, more nutritious, more deli- 

 cious to the taste, more attractive to the eye, 

 safer to ship than any of its forbears. All 

 these points must be settled, together with 

 other important points as to hardiness and 

 yielding qualities, and adaptability to various 

 soils and climates before the new fruit can be 

 given to the world. The demands constantly 

 made upon him in the production of a new 

 fruit are very many and of great insistence 

 before the fruit or flower has been brought 

 up to his ideal. 



Some strange things happen in the midst of 

 this grafting, and some of these, or others 

 quite as curious, may happen to any one who 

 takes up this peculiarly fascinating branch of 

 plant-breeding. Sometimes in Mr. Burbank's 

 experience the graft will influence the tree 

 upon which it is grafted, increasing its foliage, 

 strengthening its roots, and otherwise making 

 it more thrifty. He grafted a Japanese pear, 

 for example, upon a Bartlett pear, and while 

 the graft went forward, producing the Japan- 

 ese pear fruit, the parent pear tree bearing its 



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