LUTHER BURBANK 



pollen from flower to flower. Every orchardist 

 knows that a protracted rainfall just at the time 

 when his apple, pear or plum trees are in bloom, 

 may prevent the bees from visiting the flowers; 

 and in such case, as is only too well known, there 

 will be a partial, or no crop that season. 



With trees and other perennial plants it is 

 not matter of absolutely vital importance that 

 there should be a crop of seeds produced each 

 season. 



Failing progeny this year, next year or the 

 year after will answer, in the case of a plant 

 which grows on a permanent stalk or from roots 

 outlast the winter. 



But the case of the annual plant is altogether 

 different. 



Should such a plant fail for a single season 

 to produce seed, its entire race would vanish 

 instantly from the earth. 



That thought is rather startling when presented 

 thus tangibly. 



Yet its truth is almost axiomatic. As a rule, 

 the entire seed crop of an annual plant in a state 

 of nature, either germinates or decays the ensuing 

 season after its production. And it is absolutely 

 incumbent on the plants that grow from this seed 

 to produce in turn a store of seed that will carry 

 on the racial stock. 



[76] 



