LUTHER BURBANK 



raised from my own vines were three anomalous 

 vines, of great interest. One of these was the 

 exact counterpart of the California wild grape. 



The second was closely similar though not 

 quite identical; and the third might be called a 

 hybrid in general appearance. 



As there were no wild California vines grow- 

 ing within fourteen miles of the place where these 

 grapes were growing, I can only accotmt for the 

 appearance of these degenerates, as they might 

 be called, on the theory that our wild California 

 grape and the eastern wild grape from which the 

 Isabella originated were descended from a com- 

 mon stock, and these three plants were reversions. 



Two of these vines grew the first season to the 

 height of nearly eight feet when the other seed- 

 lings had grown to only one or two feet in height. 

 The third one grew twelve feet or more, while 

 most of the others had grown only about as many 

 inches. The foliage was exactly like the Cali- 

 fornia wild grape, as was the wood, fruit, and 

 general appearance throughout. 



These seedlings have created much specula- 

 tion as to their origin among experts who have 

 seen them. They are best explained, I think, on 

 the theory proposed above. 



Nearly three-fourths of the Isabella Regia 

 seedlings bore partially seedless fruit. About 



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