LUTHER BURBANK 



and decay, the conclusion seems unavoidable 

 that plant tissues also must benefit from "rest." 



The application of these various experiments 

 to the case of our seedling plums seems obvious 

 and fairly convincing. The force of the analogy 

 is emphasized by the reflection that the seeds of 

 plums germinate far more rapidly after freezing. 

 It may be recalled also that certain plants to be 

 forced in the greenhouse in an off season will 

 not respond well unless their roots are first frozen 

 for a brief period. Such is the case, for example, 

 with ordinary rhubarb. 



SUCCESS AT THE OUTSET 



But, of course, I would not be understood as 

 implying that the rest gained by these little plum 

 seedlings in the course of their long journey was 

 the primary cause of the extraordinary vitality 

 that they manifested. 



For the full explanation of that, we must of 

 course look to their ancestry, and we shall have 

 occasion to make inquiry as to this in another 

 connection. 



Nor need we here raise the issue as to pre- 

 cisely what share the new conditions of climate 

 and soil may have had in stimulating the stran- 

 gers. Let what has already been said suffice for 

 the moment as to this, and let us examine the 

 notable members of the company more in detail 



[22] 



