LUTHER BURBANK 



merely by selection of individual specimens that 

 vary in a given direction for a few generations. 



I would emphasize, however, the necessity of 

 operating with a large number of specimens if one 

 is to obtain the best results in the shortest prac- 

 ticable time. The account of the experiment just 

 given makes it clear that by having large numbers 

 to choose from, I was enabled to discard number- 

 less specimens that would have answered the 

 purpose fairly well in favor of the single specimen 

 that showed the desired quality modified pre- 

 eminently. 



The Question of Hybridizing 



This case, as was said, illustrates the possibility 

 of producing striking results in plant modification 

 by mere selection without hybridization. No 

 effort was made to induce the plant to vary more 

 rapidly, first because there seemed no necessity 

 for stimulating it to further variation, and sec- 

 ondly because no plant was at hand which 

 presented such a character as the one I wished to 

 develop. 



Yet it should not be overlooked that there was 

 an element of poUenizing involved, even though 

 the poUenizing was not done by the plant experi- 

 menter. This is almost axiomatic because of 

 course the plant would have produced no seeds 

 unless its pistils had been poUenized. 



[14] 



