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Burbank, Luther, 1849-1926 / Luther Burbank: his methods and discoveries and their practical application
(1914)
Luther Burbank -- the sum of his work with plant life -- what it has meant to science and agriculture, pp. [155]-[201]
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Page 191
THE SUM OF HIS WORK was presented for the possibility of producing new varieties through hybridizing old species, it should be added that mention was made in a separate section of numerous experiments with seedlings of the ampelopsis, a new type of wax myrtle, and "some charming, crossbred seedling tigridias, new cannas, arums, amaryllis, brodiaeas, aquiligias, asters, and a multitude of other things not yet near enough to perfection to merit a special description; yet some of the hybrids of which are worthy of much study." A list of other species that had been mutually hybridized begins with the peach and almond, and names more than twenty crosses between the various types of orchard fruits-apricot, plum, quince, and apple, as well as peach-in various combinations. Without detailing further examples, it may be said that this body of evidence was overwhelming. It could be supplemented indefinitely, of course, by examples from other plants in my experiment gardens. But without further elaboration, the examples cited in my first two catalogs sufficiently establish the fertility of hybrids of many species of widely different families. Thenceforth there could never be any doubt in the minds of practical plant developers that true species, within certain limits of affinity, may be interbred and produce fertile offspring. [191]
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