LUTHER BURBANK 



inches above the ground, never growing upright. 

 The foliage of the plant is pubescent or downy, 

 accounting for its scientific name. In this regard 

 also it is quite different from Solanum nigrum 

 and Solanum guinense. 



The fruit grows in clusters of five berries that 

 droop characteristically and always remain green- 

 ish in color even when ripe, whereas the fruit of 

 most other Solanums turns black on maturing. 



The berries are borne abundantly, and like the 

 tissues of the plant itself they are free from poison- 

 ous qualities. The wholesome nature of the plant 

 is attested by the fact that it is eaten freely by 

 herbivorous animals wherever it grows. Rabbits, 

 cattle, and pigs eat it with avidity. 

 Producing the Sunberhy 



I have already referred to the long series of 

 fertilizing experiments through which I endeav- 

 ored to cross the various Solanums. 



I may add that Professor Hansen, of North 

 Dakota, has also been interested in crossing the 

 two fruiting Solanums of which we are speaking, 

 and from which the Sunberry was ultimately pro- 

 duced. But his efforts at hybridizing these species 

 were unsuccessful. 



These details are mentioned to emphasize the 

 fact that the production of the Sunberry— al- 

 though, as will appear in a moment, it came about 



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