LUTHER BURBANK 



of the apricot with the plum offers at least a pos- 

 sible solution of the vitally important problem of 

 the development of a cosmopolitan apricot. 



Perhaps there is no single problem of orchard 

 fruit development that offers possibilities of 

 greater economic importance. 



Mating With Oriental Cousins 



As to other hybridizations, we may add that 

 there is a quite different species of apricot grow- 

 ing in Japan, known as Prunus mume, which may 

 possibly be of value in the development of new 

 races of apricots, either with reference to the 

 essential quality of hardiness or to the develop- 

 ment of other qualities. 



This Japanese apricot bears 'a small fruit of 

 very poor and acid quality, of uSe only for cook- 

 ing. Moreover, it is not an abundant bearer, and 

 it has few qualities that tend to commend it. It 

 crosses readily with the cultivated apricot, how- 

 ever, and although the fruit is very inferior, there 

 is always a possibility that later generations of 

 such a progeny may develop unexpected qualities. 



Even better results might possibly be attained 

 by crossing our best apricots with the hardy Rus- 

 sian apricots, which will bear fruit in much colder 

 climates, but the fruit of which is but little superior 

 to that of the Japanese apricot, Prunus mume, just 

 described. 



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