LUTHER BURBANK 



large numbers of crossbreed strawberries from 

 various importations that have prospered. 



In the coiu-se of the past forty years I have 

 probably grown and fruited strawberry seedlings 

 to the number of more than half a million; and 

 among these have appeared some varieties that 

 have had qualities of a high order, yet among them 

 all I have not until somewhat recently secured one 

 that was thought in all respects superior to some 

 existing variety. Therefore, none of these were 

 introduced. Ten or twelve years ago I had one that 

 was nearly perfect but which proved to be a poor 

 keeper and therefore not suitable for the market 



But more recently, as the strawberry strains 

 became blended, a variety was produced which 

 not only excels in quality but has the highly de- 

 sirable characteristic of persistent bearing. 



The new strawberry has been developed 

 through hybridizing stock that had among its 

 ancestors such well known varieties as Long- 

 worth's prolific, Brandywine, Monarch, and the 

 Arizona Everbearing, and one or two varieties 

 from Texas. 



The later hybridizations, through which the 

 perfected strawberry was finally secured, have 

 involved crossing the Chilian strawberry with the 

 white strawberry from Virgina and with the wild 

 Pacific Coast strawberry. 



[96] 



