THE LILIES 
had time to adjust themselves; some had 
distinct value in the promise they made of 
greater things. Such as had a prophecy of 
some new and desirable trait,—added vigor, 
greater hardiness, adaptability, unusual form, 
or great beauty,—were preserved, and work 
upon them has steadily progressed. 
Nearly fifty different kinds of lilies were 
chosen from widely separated parts of the 
world. These were planted, and from the 
blossoms elaborate crossings by pollination 
were made through a series of years. The 
work was mainly done by means of the finger- 
tips, with a watch-crystal or small saucer to 
hold the pollen. It was what might be called 
pollination by wholesale; it had never been 
equaled in extent before. For several years 
this work proceeded, until Mr. Burbank 
was planting several pounds of seed per 
year. At last there were enough plants to 
begin the great test, and a hundred thousand 
of them were transplanted to the proving 
grounds at Sebastopol. Here they occupied 
two acres of ground. 
In the carrying forward of the work more 
than a million lily bulbs had been produced 
105 
