LUTHER BURBANK 



condition of the bulbs, selecting always those that 

 were largest, firmest and soundest. And the reason 

 for this was not merely that such bulbs usually 

 produce the best flowers, but also that it is worth 

 while to improve the size and quality of the bulbs 

 quite on their own account. 



The particular reason for this is that the bulbs 

 of the Tiger Plant are edible. When cooked like 

 potatoes, or made into a stew, they constitute a 

 really delicious vegetable. 



To my taste the bulb of the tiger plant is at 

 least the equal of any vegetable under cultivation. 

 It is also highly nutritious. I am not sure that it 

 has an equal among the vegetables of our gardens 

 in its combination of nutritiousness and appetizing 

 flavor. 



These very qualities lead to its destruction by 

 all kinds of animal and insect life, like the Lilium 

 Brownii, which has no bitter principle, containing 

 sweet and nutritious matter, and which also is 

 attacked and appropriated by insects and other 

 creatures. 



As yet the tigridia is too tender to gain a place 

 in the vegetable garden on a footing with the 

 potato and allied bearers of bulbs and tubers. But 

 when through further breeding experiments, it 

 has been rendered more amenable to general culti- 

 vation, its bulb being at the same time still further 



[88] 



