LUTHER BURBANK 
just related. Yet even these, in addition to their 
scientific interest, may be thought to point the 
way to more practical developments. 
At least they prove that there is no barrier 
between the tribe of plums and the tribe of 
almonds that may not be partially broken down. 
THe ALMOND CrosseD WITH PEACH AND NECTARINE 
Since the almond can be crossed with the plum 
it may reasonably be expected that mating would 
be effected with its closer relatives, the nectarine 
and peach, with even greater facility. 
And in point of fact it has been observed that 
the almond crosses with the nectarine so readily 
that it is practically impossible to prevent cross- 
fertilization when the two trees grow in the same 
neighborhood. The bees appear to visit them in- 
discriminately, and to effect hybridization so com- 
monly that it is impossible to raise fruit from the 
seed with any degree of certainty when there has 
been an opportunity for cross-fertilization. The 
same thing is true, as might be expected, of the 
peach; which, indeed, as we have elsewhere seen, is 
scarcely separable botanically from the nectarine. 
Most varieties of almond blossom very early in 
the season, before nectarines or peaches are in 
bloom. But where the trees are blossoming at the 
same time in the same neighborhood the bees are 
almost certain to mix them ind‘scriminately. 
[72] 
