LUTHER BURBANK 



species, generation after generation, up to the 

 present time, and thus to advance somewhat 

 slowly, although on the whole rather surely, pre- 

 paratory to getting improved varieties of each 

 species for crossing. 



The most promising of the barberries from the 

 standpoint of the fruit grower is probably the 

 common species familiar in many regions as a 

 hedge plant and known botanically as Berberis 

 vulgaris. The genus has many other species, how- 

 ever, and the fact that these tend to vary indicates 

 to the plant breeder that they have inherent possi- 

 bilities of improvement. In the course of this work 

 I have imported other species of barberries from 

 South America, British Columbia, Asia, Europe, 

 and Northern Africa. 



Some of these have proved of value, but the 

 most important advance has been made by the 

 progeny of the common barberry. 



During the course of the twenty-five years of 

 experience with this plant, I have been able by 

 persistent selection to facilitate the development 

 of a fruit much larger than that of the parent 

 form, far better flavored, and with a greatly re- 

 duced proportion of seed. The fruit has not 

 changed very markedly in appearance but is 

 produced much more abundantly. 



It has all along been noticed that when seeds 



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