LUTHER BURBANK 



I have raised large numbers of conifers of 

 many species, and have experimented with them 

 in the way of selection, producing in some cases 

 varieties of considerable interest. 



I have, for example, developed several beauti- 

 ful varieties of the spruce, including some very 

 conspicuous forms with weeping foliage; also some 

 that grew very compactly, being strikingly differ- 

 ent in appearance from the usual spruce with its 

 long, graceful branches. 



Variations in the color of foliage have also been 

 given attention, especially in the case of the Colo- 

 rado yew cypress (Abies nordmanniana) . I have 

 observed variations from budding sprouts in the 

 case of this cypress that were of interest. In par- 

 ticular I have seen a branch in a wild species (a 

 bud sport) that would droop several feet below 

 the other branches. Such a branch may generally 

 be propagated by grafting or from cuttings, and a 

 race of trees having this habit may thus be devel- 

 oped. There are corresponding variations in 

 cypress and other conifers grown from the seed. 



The Douglas Spruce is a common California 

 form that is quite variable, and in this also the 

 variations sometimes appear as bud sports. The 

 Douglas Spruce has exceptional interest, because 

 it is a tree of very rapid growth. In many cases 

 where a tract of land has been burned over or the 



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