LUTHER BURBANK 



trees, is in some minor part to be ascribed to the 

 mutual influence of cions of many different strains 

 of past generations, one on another? 



If this thought be permitted, we must recognize 

 in such fruit colonies as those in question an 

 influence exercised by the community for the 

 benefit of the individual that is comparable to the 

 intangible influences through which a community 

 of human beings affects the moral character of 

 its individual citizens. 



All this carries us somewhat afield from the 

 case of our grafted tomato-potatoes, but only to 

 the extent of a natural application of principles 

 clearly suggested by the phenomena exhibited by 

 these extraordinary plants. 



A GLANCE AHEAD 



Let us repeat that the grafting of these two 

 plants is not a difficult procedure. 



It is well worth the effort of any amateur to 

 repeat these experiments (so far as I know, this 

 has not been done until recently, and its signifi- 

 cance has never been fully appreciated), and to 

 observe for himself the curious phenomena that 

 will result. 



Possibly the results of my own early experi- 

 ments might not be exactly duplicated. But there 

 is little doubt that interesting and encouraging 

 developments would result. 



[144] 



