THE LILIES 



had time to adjust themselves; some had 

 distinct value in the promise they made of 

 greater things. Such as had a prophecy of 

 some new and desirable trait, — added vigor, 

 greater hardiness, adaptability, unusual form, 

 or great beauty, — were preserved, and work 

 upon them has steadily progressed. 



Nearly fifty different kinds of lilies were 

 chosen from widely separated parts of the 

 world. These were planted, and from the 

 blossoms elaborate crossings by pollination 

 were made through a series of years. The 

 work was mainly done by means of the finger- 

 tips, with a watch-crystal or small saucer to 

 hold the pollen. It was what might be called 

 pollination by wholesale; it had never been 

 equaled in extent before. For several years 

 this work proceeded, until Mr. Burbank 

 was planting several pounds of seed per 

 year. At last there were enough plants to 

 begin the great test, and a hundred thousand 

 of them were transplanted to the proving 

 grounds at Sebastopol. Here they occupied 

 two acres of ground. 



In the carrying forward of the work more 

 than a million lily bulbs had been produced 



105 



