LUTHER BURBANK 



just related. Yet even these, in addition to their 

 scientific interest, may be thought to point the 

 way to more practical developments. 



At least they prove that there is no barrier 

 between the tribe of plums and the tribe of 

 almonds that may not be partially broken down. 

 THE ALMOND CROSSED WITH PEACH AND NECTARINE 



Since the almond can be crossed with the plum 

 it may reasonably be expected that mating would 

 be effected with its closer relatives, the nectarine 

 and peach, with even greater facility. 



And in point of fact it has been observed that 

 the almond crosses with the nectarine so readily 

 that it is practically impossible to prevent cross- 

 fertilization when the two trees grow in the same 

 neighborhood. The bees appear to visit them in- 

 discriminately, and to effect hybridization so com- 

 monly that it is impossible to raise fruit from the 

 seed with any degree of certainty when there has 

 been an opportunity for cross-fertilization. The 

 same thing is true, as might be expected, of the 

 peach; which, indeed, as we have elsewhere seen, is 

 scarcely separable botanically from the nectarine. 



Most varieties of almond blossom very early in 

 the season, before nectarines or peaches are in 

 bloom. But where the trees are blossoming at the 

 same time in the same neighborhood the bees are 

 almost certain to mix them indiscriminately. 



[72] 



