LUTHER BURBANK 



prickles, after which the pulp is easily crushed 

 out. 



I have developed several partially thornless 

 varieties of this gooseberry, and have also had 

 partially thornless ones sent me, showing that the 

 species tends to vary. But the seedlings from 

 these partially thornless plants always produced 

 thorny varieties. It is probable, however, that 

 further experiments might reveal specimens that 

 would drop the thorns altogether and would breed 

 true to thornlessness just as the thornless black- 

 berries do. 



This, indeed, should be the aim of the plant 

 developer in connection with all varieties of 

 gooseberries. The plant offers a splendid oppor- 

 tunity for hybridizing and careful selection. 



If it could be induced to shed its thorns and 

 still bear large fine fruit, the gooseberry would 

 gain enormously in popularity. At present there 

 is a not unnatural prejudice against this fruit be- 

 cause the thorns constitute an almost intolerable 

 nuisance, their sting being peculiarly irritating. 



My own experiments were carried far enough 

 to suggest the probability of the production of 

 thornless varieties. As to fruit, several varieties 

 were produced that I thought superior to any pre- 

 viously seen. But I was not able to introduce 

 them properly, and after keeping them several 



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