Producing a Thornless BlacKberry
Some "Variations T,in-Canes Secured by Crossing'
THE thornless blackberry will find a
ready welcome from those who have
known the scratched, bleeding hands
that result from a day of berry picking.
Hut this was not the motive -.which
BurbanK Thornless Blackberry, Bearing
actuated, Luther Burbank to .produce a
blackberry which grows upon a stem as
smooth and devoid of spines as the stalk
of the smoothest flower.
Mr. Burbank's theory -in beginning
these experiments many years ago was
that blackberry thorns arc a needless
waste that it takes energy to make
these tacks energy which would other
wise go into leaves and later into an
increased yield of fruit.
Mr. Burbank's theory further was that
the tack or thorn was produced by the
blackberry as a means of defence from
being devoured by wild animals that
some time or other in the early history
of the plant the stalks were smooth
but that in self-defence the thorns ap
peared and grew.
Today, grown with the kindliest care
to serve the appetite of mankind, the
blackberry has no need of thorns. Its
growers protect it from the ravagesfrom
which it used to have to protect itself.
The illustration above shows some of
the results obtained by crossing different
kinds of berries.
The illustration at the right below
shows the absolutely thornless blackber
ry which through these and other cross
ings, and by selection, Mr. Burbank was
finally able to produce. The illustration
at the left shows the new thornless
berry bearing fruit.
Although tlic thornless blackberry now
produces luscious berries in large quan
tities, the experiment is not yet at an
end. It gives assurance of being as sue-
6
ccssfiil as-- .at first hoped for. And it
stands as another proof of the forces of
eyolution in .'plant development an
other object-lesson of how they may be
employed, almost at will by man.
wr. - -
Smooth Cane of theThornless Blacltberry