130 LUTHER BURBANK 



A similar line of experiment is open to anyone 

 who has the smallest plot of ground in which he 

 can grow a few scores of columbines. 



Campanula and Coreopsis 



If you were to seek experiments of a still sim- 

 pler character, j^ou might do well to consider the 

 beautiful campanula, known familiarly as the 

 bluebells of Scotland. 



These are hardy flowers, growing wild in great 

 profusion, even far to the north. On a botanical 

 trip to Canada many years ago I was delighted 

 to see great fields of campanula as far north as 

 Alberta. They are said to grow even in Siberia. 

 So whatever the location of your garden, you 

 will probably have no difficulty in raising blue- 

 bells. The plants, to be sure, are somewhat sub- 

 ject to the attacks of fungous pests and insects, 

 but aside from this difficulty they are easily 

 grown. It goes without saying that a flower 

 that has become famous as the "bluebell" is gen- 

 erally blue in color. Yet it is by no means 

 unusual to see specimens that are pure white. 

 And it is this variation that gives opportunity 

 for some simple experiments in crossing. 



Nothing more is needed than to secure plants 

 of the ordinarj^ blue variety and others that bear 

 white blossoms. The campanulas are easily 



