LUTHER BURBANK 



I have also attempted to hybridize a species 

 from India, the Fragaria Indica, with other straw- 

 berries, but have been unsuccessful. It does not by 

 any means follow that this cross cannot be ef- 

 fected. But it is perhaps not worth while to de- 

 vote an undue amount of time to the experiment 

 as the qualities of the Indian species are not such 

 as make it certain a hybrid thus produced would 

 have any value, except possibly as introducing a 

 tendency to variation. 



The Indian plant bears a small, insipid berry, 

 and is cultivated for ornamental purposes only. 



There are various wild strawberries growing 

 along the Pacific Coast that offer interesting pos- 

 sibilities of hybridization. It is rather interest- 

 ing to know that some of these are of the same 

 type with the Chilian species that has already 

 been named as the chief progenitor of the culti- 

 vated strawberry. 



One of these, known as the sand strawberry, is 

 quite common along the coast, especially in the 

 northern part of California. 



This is a plant with large, woolly leaves. It is 

 greatly inclined to produce runners. It fruits 

 sparingly, but the berries themselves are sweet 

 and of fine flavor. There is great variation as to 

 foliage and flowers, as well as in capacity for 

 fruit production. 



[90] 



