El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-17

he makes countless grating expert
ments. One old apple tree, which is as
much beloved by Mr. Burbank as a
human friend has carried gratis and
fruit An old cherry tree has borne
500 different kinds Of cherries and
plums and has played no small part in
the work of developing the stOneless
fruit which is no longer an imaginary
product In the Development OF eacn
new species some special object is
aimed for 1t may be q certain flavor
or fragrance to the fruit For in
stance, a ounce has been produced
having an indisputable pineapple fla
vor. The plumcot is a new fruit which
IS a cross between plum and the april
cot, and is an Improvement upon
both Of the parent fruits.
Upon one part Of his California eX-
pertinent farm Mr.. Burbank has TO-
600 different kinds of plum trees
growing in two rows. Each one Of
which may be developed OF disregarded
according to its value in improving the
quality of the fruit.
Carnegie Institution Aids Work.
In the year 1905 the Carnegie insti-
tuition Of Washington made an appro-
pr1atlon amounting to 100000 in all,
extending over a period Of five years,
TO be devoted 10 the furthering Of Mr..
Burbank's experiments and the scien-
ufic recording Of the results. Micro
well as full detail Of the life history
OF the plans under test, viii by this
means be available to the scientists OF
the future. The object OF the appro-
priadon now has been accomplished
and the wealth Of material secured, it
is believed, is greater than that OF any
similar study ever made in the world.
Ihls Is now in process Of preparation
Tor publication and some printed re-
ports regarding it are expected to be
issued within the coming year
Congress Contributes Land.
While the recognition of the value Of
I Burbanks work by the Carnegie instt-
luuon ana the appropriation Of FUNDS
was helpful at a time most needed, II
IS not as important from a utilitarlan
standpoint as was the bill passed by
congress last August giving Mr. Bur
Dank grants OF lands for conducting
MS experiments regarding the spine
less cactL The bill provides for the
placing OF twelve sections Of desert
land at his disposal in locations to be
selected by him in California, Nevada
Arizona and New Mexico, each section
containing $40 acres Of land. While
the stories Of the spineless cactus and
It's possibilities as an addition to the
1000 and industrial resources Of the
country were ridiculed at the begin
nlngs the demonstrations already given
by Mr. Burbank are convincing proof
OF its practicability.
Study Of spineIess Cactus.
ABOUT ten years ago he began 70
STUDY the cactus with a view to max
ing Il useful to the human race IN
stead Of the enemy it always has been
regarded He recognized its good
QUANTITIES, namely, that it was hardy
and you'd grow where nothing else
would IN the blisterfng heat Of the
oesefI, and that it had much nutrition
stored IN its thick leaves and golden
or crimson fruit His first two objects
were the removal of the sharp thorns
covering the branches, leaves and 1ruit
Whlcn made them indigestible. me
cactus selected by Burbank for his eA-
perlments was the Opunta species, ma
i've TO Mexico and South America
Hundreds of thousands Of seeds were
planted and extensive crossings were
made between the pOllens of the uoW-
eIs- In making the thOrnless cactus
MI Burbank recognized the fact tnat lt
took much Of the vital force Of the
cacu to develop the powerful thorns
and supply the leaves with fibres. IN
breeding these away he gave nature
Shance to devote her energy to improY-
ing the fruit He has accomplished
TINS IN a manner that seems absolutely
marvellous. The fruit of the cactus is
like fat cucumber in appearance,
slightly flattened at the ends. 1t is
delicious for jelly and jams. and one
variety has a pineapple flavor The
juice has been found invaluable for
mixing paint and the cOlOring Of the