LUTHER BURBANK 



The crosses of the somewhat fragrant L. parryi 

 with L. Washingtonianum and L. pardalinum pro- 

 duce bulhs having similarly extraordinary powers 

 of multiplication, although in this regard there 

 was a most amazing variation. Certain individ- 

 uals would produce a hundred bulbs while others 

 of the same fraternity were producing only one or 

 two. 



Some of these seedlings would grow eight or 

 ten feet in height, while here and there would be 

 one from the same lot of seed growing only eigh- 

 teen inches or two feet in height. 



But the most striking characteristic of these 

 hybrids was their exquisite fragrance. Even 

 though the seed were grown from L. pardalinum, 

 which is never fragrant, the hybrids having the L. 

 Washingtonianum cross for the other parent, were 

 so fragrant that when massed together their per- 

 fume saturated the air, and could be distinguished, 

 down wind, at a distance of several miles. 



The individual plants differed widely on close 

 inspection as to their forms and colors, but when 

 viewed from a distance the effect was that of a 

 great gorgeous spread of cloth of gold. 



The variations in form of stem and flower 

 among these hybrids extended also to the bulbs, 

 some of which were flat and of varying colors, 

 from pale rose and crimson to yellow, and others 



[262] 



