LUTHER BURBANK 



The plants that closely resembled the tobacco 

 parent were, for the most part, weeded out. The 

 ones that gave evidence of their hybrid origin 

 were carefully nurtured. But it was noticed 

 towards fall that although the tops grew splen- 

 didly, there seemed to be an unusual lack of 

 roots. The plants would come to a certain size, 

 and then take on what could perhaps be best 

 described as a "pinched" appearance, from lack 

 of vitality incident to their defective roots. There 

 was, however, a great difference among the indi- 

 vidual plants, some of them remaining strong 

 throughout the season. 



When the plants were taken up, it appeared 

 that the sickly ones had produced only a few 

 long, frail, wiry roots. It appeared to have been 

 impossible for them to develop a thoroughly good 

 root system. Evidently most of the new plants 

 had inherited the rank-growing tops of the giant 

 tobacco and the smaller, less efficient roots of the 

 petunia. 



A visitor whose attention was called to this 

 peculiarity remarked facetiously that my petunias 

 had obviously been stunted in growth and vitality 

 through acquiring the tobacco habit, just as boys 

 are stunted when they make the same mistake. 



It is only fair to recall, however, that the 

 petunias had no choice in the matter. Their 



[278] 



