LUTHER BURBANK 



ties that are of exceptionally fine fragrance and 

 that produce a relatively large percentage of the 

 essential oil for which the plants are usually 

 grown. 



When a new variety has been obtained, it is not 

 necessary to fix it so that it will breed exactly true 

 from the seed; for the most of these plants can be 

 increased by division. 



The mints hybridize naturally where various 

 species grow in the same vicinity, as we have 

 pointed out in another connection. 



In this way natural hybrids are sometimes 

 produced that are so vigorous as to replace the 

 original parent plants in the state of nature, driv- 

 ing them out of existence on their own ground. 

 Among hybrid mints, whether natural or produced 

 by hand pollenation, there will be seedlings that 

 grow with exceptional rapidity, and that present 

 peculiar shapes and much variation as to rough- 

 ness and smoothness of leaves and form of the 

 spikes and blossoms. In my work with all these 

 plants, I found that quality was the one thing 

 lacking. In any lot of seedlings grown from the 

 pot-herbs or plants some individuals have odors 

 that are positively disgusting, and those of some 

 add nothing to the value of the plants, but detract 

 when mixed with the better ones. 



All this is quite what might be expected when 



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