LUTHER BURBANK 



But, even so, there is no dearth of material. 

 America is richly stocked with forest trees. More- 

 over these represent, so the geological botanists 

 assure us, a flora of very ancient origin which has 

 shown its capacity to maintain itself through suc- 

 cessive eras during which there have been tremen- 

 dous climatic changes. 



It follows that our native forest trees have in 

 their heredity the reminiscence of many and 

 widely varying environments. And by the same 

 token they have capacity for variation, and there- 

 fore afford exceptional opportunity for diversified 

 development. 



It is not necessary here to analyze in great 

 detail the qualities of the different groups of forest 

 trees. A brief summary of the characteristics of a 

 few of the more important groups will serve to 

 suggest the abundance of native material, and to 

 give at least an inkling as to what may be ex- 

 pected, in the light of what was revealed by the 

 experiments with the walnuts, as to possibilities of 

 development of the different tribes. 



Of course the great family of cone-bearers 

 stands in the foreground, represented by many 

 species, and known as the timber trees that give 

 us the pine lumber which has everywhere been the 

 chief material for the carpenter, and an important 

 foundation material for the cabinet-maker. 



[172] 



