LUTHER BURBANK 



artichoke, a large green variety, and of the 

 so-called Perpetual artichoke. 



The plants when grown from seed vary 

 markedly in size and shape of the leaf as well as 

 in size of the blossom buds. Some of the plants 

 are thorny. The flowers, if allowed to come to 

 maturity, differ little in color, though greatly in 

 size. Some of the flower receptacles when fully 

 matured open out to a breadth of about twelve 

 inches. 



But the flower bud is not permitted to mature 

 to the point of opening when the artichoke is to be 

 used as food. If it reaches the stage when the blue 

 flowerets begin to be visible, the head is altogether 

 too old for eating. The object of cultivating new 

 varieties is not necessarily to increase the number 

 of the flowers themselves, but the flower bud, 

 increasing the size and the quality of the scale-like 

 bud-leaves and the receptacle. 



My work has been carried out along the usual 

 lines of selection, and the results have been very 

 satisfactory. Selection has also taken into consid- 

 eration, as a matter of course, the succulence and 

 especially the flavor of the edible portion. 



The improved varieties have flower buds as 

 large as a good sized fist, and are of excellent 

 quality. When in full bloom they are sometimes 

 a foot or more in diameter. They are reproduced 



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