28 



Lt'Ther Btrbank, Santa Rosa, Cal. 



New Calla. 



The common Callas are destitute of anj^ odor, except once in a while a 

 seedling, which gives a faint odor of muriatic acid or a toadstool. Last 

 summer, while critically examining a block of Little Gem Calla seedlings, I 

 was surprised by a fragrance resembling that of Violets or Water Lilies; as I 

 had long been seeking a fragrant Calla, the one producing the perfume was 

 soon found. 



This season "Fragrance" has proved itself constant in producing its 

 pleasant perfume. The plants are a little more robust and of about the same 

 general appearance as Little Gem, producing flowers as abundantly as any 

 Calla known. 



" I have examined with much pleasure your catalogue of new creations in Horticulture. 

 Your results may be called marvelous, and they put our experiment stations to shame. I 

 have endeavored to do some work in cross-fertilizing plants, but find the limited time at 

 my conmiand at the season of the 3-ear when this work must be done, a very serious trouble. 

 While I am half tempted to be jealous of your success, I must extend to you my sincere 

 congratulations for your wonderful results." Prof. E. S. Goff, Madison, Wis. 



"Allow me to thank you for your catalogue of Nicw Creations in Fruits and 

 Flowers. It is the most interesting catalogue I have ever received. Every one of your 

 new plants is a monument in your honor." Prof. C. C. Georgeson, 



Kansas vState Agricultural College. 



"I am your debtor for a copy of your New Creations in Fruits and Flowers just 

 received. Much as I had heard of your operations in this new and comparatively unoccupied 

 field, I was by no means prepared to expect such a breadth of operations, such breaking up 

 of our old-time ideas as to the possibilities therein, and such wonderful results as are revealed 

 in your catalogue. I have ([uite a number of your earlier " creations " on trial here, several 

 of which I hope to fruit this coming season : and if at any time, or for any reason, you may 

 wish to test of any of your productions in so remote a locality, I will be most happy to serve 

 vou in this way." T. T. Lyon, 



Pres. of Michigan State Horticultural vSociety. 



"Results are problematical, but there is certainly great room for improvement in our 

 blackberries and raspberries. There is entirely too much seed for the amount of flesh. 

 When we consider that our apples originated from a crab in no way superior to many of 

 our own native wild crabs, and the excellence that has been developed by cultivation and 

 selection, what may we not expect from our raspberries and blackberries, which are so 

 much better naturally ?" Bulletin No. 21, Illinois Agricultural Station. 



'' Professor Bailey was fully prepared to say he believed there was nothing random in 

 Nature. Wherever a variety of plant was got it came from some law which to them might 

 be unknown, and it should be their purpose to find out those laws that governed the 

 selection and improvement of plants." 



"Varieties improved from man's point of view must receive kind treatment and 

 richer food than wild forms of the same plant. The cultivated plant, like the domesticated 

 animal, yields in a measure its powers of self-defense to adapt itself to our service. Man 

 must in return provide for its safety and nourishment. In the improvement of plants the 

 action of man, much like influences which act on plants in the wild state, only brings 

 about slow and gradual changes, often scarcely noticeable at first. But if the efforts 

 toward the desired end be kept on steadily, the changes will soon become greater and 

 greater, and the last stages of the improvement will become much more rapid than the 

 first one." " — Vihnorin. 



