LUTHER BURBANK 



made when the plants were about half an inch 

 high, and before they had put forth their second 

 leaves. At this stage a fairly correct judgment 

 can be formed as to which plants will be rapid 

 growers. 



In general, the plant that will ultimately tower 

 above its fellows is found to show superiority in 

 its earliest stages. 



By selecting the plants that seem to give most 

 promise, and planting these in rows where the 

 soil is practically the same throughout, it is not 

 difficult to discover the most rapid growers and to 

 weed out the others. 



The brome-grasses are much more variable 

 than is commonly supposed even by those who are 

 familiar with them. In point of fact, even within 

 the same species, it is difficult to find two plants 

 that are precisely alike. Some have broad leaves, 

 and some narrow, and the leaves may be variously 

 curled or twisted, as well as variant in color, some 

 being much darker than others. 



Some specimens go to seed without producing 

 much foliage; others grow abundant foliage but 

 are tardy of seed-production. 



The plants that show this propensity to produce 

 foliage rather than seed are, other things being 

 equal, the ones to select, except from the view- 

 point of the seedsman, who does not appreciate 



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