HARDENING AND ADAPTATION 
financial importance to growers, is a feature 
not less significant than the satisfaction of 
fruit-lovers in these regions at being able to 
procure much prized but heretofore unobtain- 
able supplies near at hand. 
But hardening a plant does not by any 
means, in Mr. Burbank’s use of the word, mean 
hardening against cold alone. It may be har- 
dening against heat, against the wind, against 
rain, against drought, diseases or insects. 
A most interesting demonstration of the 
possibilities in these directions was in the case 
of the gladioli. In California, and in any 
warm climate with a rich soil below their feet, 
the old-fashioned gladioli grew rank and tall, 
and, in case there was, in their blooming sea- 
son, considerable wind, they were more than 
apt to be injured or wholly destroyed. So he 
bred gladioli to withstand wind. Where the 
stems were from five to six feet tall he bred 
them down to three feet, at the same time 
making the stalk much thicker and stronger. 
This was done by crossing and _ selection, 
always choosing those plants which were ap- 
proaching nearest the end desired until the 
required length and strength were attained. 
195 
