LUTHER BURBANK 



It will further be recalled that among the 

 hybrids were some which showed, on the backs of 

 their petals, streaks of purple, showing that fac- 

 tors for blue color, as well as factors for yellow 

 and red, are present. 



The interest of this experiment, as a mere illus- 

 tration of a new race developed by hybridization, 

 is not inconsiderable. But the chief interest of the 

 experiment centers about the production of new 

 colors which appeared to be alien to the hereditary 

 traditions of the African tribe. 



Properly interpreted, the facts brought to light 

 by these experiments fall in line with a large num- 

 ber of observations having to do with the colors 

 of flowers, and give intimations of an interpreta- 

 tion of the entire subject of floral coloration. 



In attempting to interpret the facts, we should 

 bear in mind what was learned in the preceding 

 chapter as to the variable coloration of the pop- 

 pies, and we shall have occasion to draw other 

 illustrations from plants of a good many different 

 types. We have found reason to believe that most 

 flowers owe their color to a mingling of pigments, 

 or at all events have in their hereditary strains 

 the factors for many different colors, somewhat 

 as even the purest tones on the canvas of the 

 painter are usually the result of the blending of 

 diverse pigments. 



[154] 



