276 LUTHER BURBANK 



Even plants of the same species in the same 

 locality vary widely as to size of flower. 



Brodicea capitata grows abundantly along the 

 roadsides, and especially in grain fields. It 

 blooms and produces seed before the grain is cut. 

 Brodicea terrestris has a stem so short that the 

 flowers almost rest on the ground. The blossom 

 is just the color of a blue violet, and the clusters 

 may be mistaken for violets at a little distance. 



In other localities the B. terrestris bears flowers 

 some of which have a white stripe. Sometimes 

 half the blossom may be white, the other part 

 deep blue. Sometimes five or six blossoms will 

 be blue, and a single one white. In other cases the 

 proportions are reversed. 



I have not observed any in the wild state that 

 could be called pure white, but by cultivation and 

 selection pure white varieties have been produced. 



I have worked extensively on the Brodicea 

 capitata, the species just mentioned as growing 

 in the wheat fields. On a poor dry soil this plant 

 grows about two feet in height, and on long, 

 straight, slender, wiry stems. But on good soil, 

 especially in the wheat fields, it sometimes grows 

 to the height of three or four feet, or even more, 

 bearing a much larger cluster of blossoms. 



In looking over a field of brodiseas of this 

 species, one may expect to find one in ten thou- 



