LUTHER BURBANK 



the hybridizing of the Rubuses were at their 

 height. Among the hybrids produced were some 

 very curious forms, the variation in the shape of 

 the leaves being especially remarkable. Some of 

 the leaves resembled those of the grape, others 

 were much dissected, like the leaves of a wild 

 carrot. 



The most promising of the hybrids were pro- 

 duced from a cross between the Evergreen and 

 the popular Lawton blackberry. Some selected 

 seedlings from this cross, in the second genera- 

 tion, were rampant growers, thorny, with curious, 

 handsome, palmate leaves and delicate pink blos- 

 soms. The berries ripened late in the fall. Some 

 were rather large and possessed a superior aro- 

 matic sweet quality not found in the common 

 summer varieties. 



One of these promising hybrids was mentioned 

 in my New Creations in 1893. It was never intro- 

 duced into cultivation, however, as its merits 

 were not quite equal to those of some other r iri- 

 eties of different parentage. But there is no do< i>t 

 in my mind that if the experiments with the Ever- 

 green blackberry, of this or some other hybrid 

 combination, were carried to a more advanced 

 stage, really useful varieties would be obtained. 

 THE COMMON CURRANT 



Notwithstanding the importance of the Rubus 



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