LUTHER BURBANK 



was able to produce dwarfed varieties, or, on the 

 other hand, the tallest and largest-growing ones; 

 also varieties with broad leaves and others with 

 narrow leaves. 



There were plants that came up thickly and 

 made a compact sod, not having the wild running 

 habit of the original variety. And there were 

 others that sent out runners and spread so rapidly 

 that in a single season one plant would cover the 

 ground for ten feet in all directions. 



These extraordinary diversities were shown 

 among plants selected from the same lot of seeds. 

 In all there were at least twenty quite distinct 

 varieties developed, each marked by one or more 

 obvious and striking peculiarities. 



But as the Bermuda grass is commonly 

 regarded as a weed, none of these were introduced. 

 ORNAMENTAL AND USEFUL GRASSES 



I have at various times taken great interest in 

 the ornamental grass, commonly known as pam- 

 pas-grass, the plumes of which were at one time 

 in great demand. 



The form of pampas-grass that is most grown 

 in California is that known technically as Corta- 

 deria argentea. The plume-like panicles of this 

 grass are familiar ornaments everywhere, and 

 were, in the time of their greatest popularity, 

 articles of some commercial importance. 



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