Foreword to Volume VIII 



Corn, Wheat, Oats, Barley and Hay are crops 

 which receive attention in this volume, as well as 

 the textile plants and those which yield useful 

 substances to commerce and chemistry; also the 

 complete story of the Cactus, which has often been 

 hinted at, but never before told, is given here. 



All of the work described in this volume is new, 

 and the public, hitherto, has known but little of 

 Mr. Burbank's efforts along these lines. 



His work with corn, that already much 

 improved crop, is in particular noteworthy. In 

 addition to the many practical pointers on method, 

 which Mr. Burbank outlines in this volume, there 

 will also be found scores of suggestions for further 

 plant improvement — concrete ideas which have 

 come to Mr. Burbank in his work, but which he 

 has not yet had time to carry out, 



THE EDITORS. 



