LUTHER BURBANK 



by the insects afforded the constant stimulus to 

 variation that underlies all evolution, and enabled 

 the plants that entered into the coalition presently 

 to outstrip their fellows. 



Wherever you find a tribe of plants that shows 

 great diversity of form, large numbers of species, 

 and ready adaptability to improvement, you will 

 as a rule find a tribe of so-called "entomophilous," 

 or insect-loving flowers, dependent upon the 

 winged messengers for the consummation of their 

 matings. 



Vast responsibilities then were implied in this 

 coalition of the plants and the insects; but the 

 results have justified the hazard. 



Plants That Did Not Join the Union 



We shall presently see illustrated in detail 

 the curious adaptations of form and color and 

 structure to which the plants of various species 

 were led in their rivalry to secure the good graces 

 of the insects and thus to make sure of perpet- 

 uating their species. 



Every blossom of the entire orchard, every 

 flower of the garden, and with a few exceptions 

 all of the vegetables under cultivation furnish 

 illustrations in point. But it should be recalled 

 that there are large numbers of plants of a lower 

 order that from the outset refused to enter into 

 the coalition, and that even to this day have 



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