NEW CREATIONS IN PLANT LIFE 
greater importance,—the fruit of this graft 
must be superior to all fruits of its kind which 
have preceded it, more nutritious, more deli- 
cious to the taste, more attractive to the eye, 
safer to ship than any of its forbears. All 
these points must be settled, together with 
other important points as to hardiness and 
yielding qualities, and adaptability to various 
soils and climates before the new fruit can be 
given to the world. The demands constantly 
made upon him in the production of a new 
fruit are very many and of great insistence 
before the fruit or flower has been brought 
up to his ideal. 
Some strange things happen in the midst of 
this grafting, and some of these, or others 
quite as curious, may happen to any one who 
takes up this peculiarly fascinating branch of 
plant-breeding. Sometimes in Mr. Burbank’s 
experience the graft will influence the tree 
upon which it is grafted, increasing its foliage, 
strengthening its roots, and otherwise making 
it more thrifty. He grafted a Japanese pear, 
for example, upon a Bartlett pear, and while 
the graft went forward, producing the Japan- 
ese pear fruit, the parent pear tree bearing its 
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