LUTHER BURBANK 



have seen that there is a curious reciprocal rela- 

 tion between the formation of seeds and the forma- 

 tion of tubers, under certain circumstances. 



In certain cases, for example, the growth of the 

 roots of a plant or even of the plant stem may be 

 promoted by the removal of the blossoms. 



We saw this illustrated in the case of the 

 huckleberry. 



We saw also how the potato that was grafted 

 on the stem of a tomato might grow aerial tubers 

 from the axils of the leaves in the position that 

 would normally be occupied by the flowers — and 

 ultimately by seeds, had not the potato given up 

 the habit of seed production. 



Another illustration of the affinity between 

 bulbs and flowers is shown by the onion, which 

 sometimes grows a bulb at the top of its stalk, to 

 perform the function of seeds in storing nutrient 

 matter and at other times divides at the base like 

 many other similar plants to forni off-shoots from 

 which the new plant will grow in another season. 



But in all these cases nature is substituting one 

 means of reproduction for another, or supplement- 

 ing one means with another, and the essential 

 purpose of race preservation is nbt for a moment 

 overlooked. 



In the case of the sugar-cane, however, it might 

 almost be said that nature has abandoned the idea 



[136] 



