LUTHER BURBANK 



protection of the savages as grateful as though it 

 had been inspired by altruism. 



Planted in patches, instead of straggling here 

 and there as best it could before, the teosinte 

 grass found its reproduction problem made easier 

 through the multitude of pollen grains now float- 

 ing through the air. 



And so, by slow degrees, it responded to its 

 new environment by bearing more and bigger 

 seed. 



As the seed kernels increased in numbers and 

 in size, the cob that bore them grew in length. 



From two, the rows of kernels increased to 

 four, to six, to eight, to fourteen. 



Here again the selfish motives of the savages 

 served to help the plant in its adaptation — for only 

 the largest ears and those with the best kernels 

 were saved for seed. 



So, under cultivation, the wild grass almost 

 disappeared, and in its place there came, through 

 adaptation, the transformed Indian corn. 

 ***** 



"There were two wealthy men in England," 

 said Mr. Burbank, "who took up the daffodil and 

 the narcissus, growing endless quantities of seed- 

 lings just for aiuusement. 



"Both of these men, so it happened, were 

 bankers. One was a rather large, coarse, strong, 



[130] 



