LUTHER BURBANK 



Regia, a variety which originated as a sporting 

 branch from the common Isabella on Mr. J. P. 

 Pierce's place near San Jose, Cal. 



This Pierce grape is the same color as its par- 

 ent, the Isabella, but the berries are more than 

 twice as large though not increased in number on 

 the cluster. The vine is very much stronger and 

 the foliage much larger, so much so that the dif- 

 ference is noticeable at a considerable distance. 



Large quantities of seedlings from the Isa- 

 bella Regia were raised, partly for the purpose 

 of noticing whether bud-sports ^ould reproduce 

 themselves from seed and partly because it prom- 

 ised to be a fine variety to work upon for im- 

 provement. 



Among the numerous seedlings which were 

 fruited the variations were most astonishing, 

 much more so than with most grapes. 



Whether this is on account of the Isabella hav- 

 ing been moved to a new climate, thus changing 

 its hereditary tendencies, or whether bud sports 

 in general are apt to produce more variable seed- 

 lings, I am not yet able fully to demonstrate. Some 

 of these selected vines which were fruited are un- 

 usually strong growers, some were as weak in 

 growth as the ordinary cultivated varieties of 

 grapes; some bore enormous bunches of grapes, 

 some had only a few small clusters. 



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