CERTAIN GENERAL FEATURES 
by some superior to that made from any other 
fruit. The fruit in form and size very 
much resembles the Orange quince but is 
smoother and more globular; in color much 
lighter yellow, with an average weight of 
about three-quarters of a pound each.” Still 
other varieties are under way which promise 
to far surpass even the pineapple quince. 
For many years Mr. Burbank has carried on 
extensive tests in berries of different kinds. 
Many tests are still under way at Sebastopol. 
One of the most important features of this 
line of work is the ultimate removal of the 
thorns from all thorn-bearing berries, and 
from roses as well. Mr. Burbank asked me 
one day, as we were walking through the 
proving grounds at Sebastopol, to bend over a 
blackberry bush growing rather close to the 
ground, and rub its stem against my face. It 
certainly was a novel experience—the thorns 
had been entirely bred away from the plant. 
So will it be with all thorn-bearing fruits if he 
shall find time to transform them, for, as in 
this particular instance, all that is essential is 
that a systematic and patient course of selec- 
tion be followed. 
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