LUTHER BURBANK 
fertilized. Doubtless the fact that different 
species bloom at different seasons largely accounts 
for the relative infrequency of natural crossing. 
There is an opportunity to work with the 
catalpa, and I could scarcely mention a plant that 
seems to me to give better promise for experiments 
in crossing and selection than the great family of 
magnolias. 
If the seeds are planted while fresh, they germ- 
inate readily. The seedlings are easily raised— 
almost as easily as apples or pears. 
Among the magnolia seedlings now growing on 
my grounds, there are some that will grow three 
or four feet the first season, while others grow as 
many inches. Some have a branching habit, and 
others form an upright front. The leaf varies in 
breadth and length and in general appearance. 
Some are early bloomers and some are late bloom- 
ers. There are different shades of flowers. All in 
all, there is abundant opportunity for interesting 
experiments in selective breeding. 
Among other interesting deciduous trees, all of 
which afford ready opportunity for experimenta- 
tion, are the acacia and its relative the locust (the 
seeds of which may best be made ready for germi- 
nation by boiling), the alder, which is extremely 
variable and with which I have made interesting 
experiments; the ash, which affords excellent 
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