NEW CREATIONS IN PLANT LIFE 
fruit of one of which is called the Indian fig 
and is much liked. 
One of the Opuntias is hardy even in Alaska 
and in other similar climates, a characteristic 
which has had an important bearing on the 
work. This cactus was called in, also, for the 
scheme laid out contemplated not only a cactus 
without thorns and spicules and preéminently 
a food, but one which should be adapted to the 
arctics as well as the tropics, one, as Mr. Bur- 
bank puts it, which will grow anywhere where 
man can live from the soil. Other varieties 
were also chosen, one for one characteristic, 
one for another, but all essential in the build- 
ing up of the ideal plant. 
Seeds were secured from all the different 
varieties needed and planted by the thousands 
in beds specially prepared. The plants were 
in rows a few inches apart, from two to ten 
thousand plants to a bed. Extensive crossings 
were made by pollination as soon as the blos- 
soms came, this being followed up for several 
seasons. The object of this crossing, or hybri- 
dization, was to break up radically, once and 
forever, the habits fastened upon the plants 
for perhaps millions of years. Seeds from 
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