LUTHER BURBANK 



It has already been recorded that the first gen- 

 eration hybrids of this cross bore green leaves 

 exclusively, but that purple leaves appeared in a 

 certain proportion of the hybrids of the second 

 and subsequent generation. 



In this cross, the purple-leafed peach was used 

 invariably as the pistillate parent. There is every 

 reason to suppose, however, that the results would 

 have been the same had the cross been made the 

 other way. 



Among the second generation seedlings were 

 not only some with red leaves, but others that 

 showed a combination of colors varying from the 

 pure green almond leaves through different shades 

 to the crimson leaf of the peach. 



There was thus exhibited a pronounced ten- 

 dency to segregation of colors in certain cases, 

 and a combination of the colors in others. 



Selection being made among the trees with the 

 purple leaves, this characteristic, as might have 

 been expected, reproduced itself, and a race of 

 purple-leafed peach-almonds was developed. The 

 fruit of this hybrid is purple fleshed, and as to its 

 general characteristics it is a fair compromise be- 

 tween the peach and the almond, not unlike the 

 hybrid form already described. 



This form of peach-almond has considerable 

 merit as an ornamental tree, and it will probably 



[86] 



