LUTHER BURBANK 



Growing side by side in a bed of wild larkspurs 

 of this species may be found plants bearing flowers 

 varying from deep blue, pale blue, dark rosy pink, 

 pale pink, and yellow, to almost pure white. The 

 flowers of these are quite large and showy, but the 

 colors, although so variant, are seldom brilliant 



The larkspur known as D. Calif ornica is a giant 

 species, often found in canons toward the coast. 

 For a larkspur it towers to a great height, some- 

 times reaching seven or eight feet, but the flower 

 is insignificant when compared with most other 

 varieties both in size and color. They are purplish 

 blue or dingy white in color. 



My attempts to cross this species with some of 

 our cultivated ones have not resulted in producing 

 anything of value. 



Still another species is known as D. hespirium. 

 It grows in sandy or heavy black soil as the case 

 may be; is about two feet in height, and bears flow- 

 ers that are almost invariably of deepest blue, 

 although sometimes pink, pale blue, and white 

 ones are found. 



These wild species are mentioned somewhat in 

 detail, chiefly to show the variation among them, 

 suggesting the possibility of interesting develop- 

 ments when the various forms are combined. I 

 have utilized them all more or less in experiments, 

 and in addition have grown nearly all the lark- 



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