Luther Burbank

Class rV/^^p/j PKKSKNTBI) BY Sunset Magazine Department, Southern I LIBI?.^^I?,"5r San Francisco, Califomi; ;i year. Its circulation i tliat faithfully tells, by U. S. Department of Agriculture. California, and of the Na for the number and art; tributors are among thi eountry. The represent pages. If you want to i. iixTTTxint-anu-ine Tresi^ reau SuxsET regularly. LUTHER BURBANK MAN, METHODS and AC HIEVEM ENTS AN APPRECIATION EDWARD J. WICKSON Professor of Agricultural Practice, University of California 39^ illustrated from photographs by SHAW, SANTA ROSA TABER, SAN FRANCISCO AND TIBBJJ",TS, SAN FRANCISCO REPRINTED FROM "SUNSET MAGAZINE" BY Southern Pacific Company SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA U-S.p3pt.AgrI. 4 O'03 Taber, Photo ldther bdkbanKj of santa rosa^ iiokticultltral scientist Not only horticuUuristSj hut all who honor men who do things, will find interest, instruction and entertainment in these papers concerning Luther Burhank, of Cali- fornia, written originally for Sunset Magazine, ly Mr. Burhanh's friend and horticultural associate. Professor Edward J. Wiclcson, University of California. Wherever "the round world over" men Mow flowers and fruits, know of their origin, their development and their creation, there is Luther Burhank recognized as a man of wondrous power. He has done things. Like that soldier hero, who at the outbreak of the Spanish war, carried this Nation's message to Garcia, Mr. Burhank, without flourish of trumpets, luithout asking for fame, has heen quietly at work for years at his home farm near Santa Rosa, Califoi-nia, developing and making fruits and flowers. Patiently, tenderly, enthusiastically, he has worked with such results that all men who know them give him the highest honor and praise. A Nature lover, primarily, he is not a man content merely to sit idly by and admire Nature in her various moods and creations. He has ventured to sport with Nature; to see how bright flowers could he made brighter; small blossoms, larger; imperfect fruits, perfect. Thoreau, a Nflture lover, too, was content to rest idly by IfaJJen Pond, hut will be famous chiefly through communing with tree, bud and blossom. Burroughs and Muir have roved through forests and over mountains, gain- ing enjoyment and health for themselves and making the world richer by telling of Nature's grandeur. Different from them, and yet like them, in his simplicity of heart and modesty of manner, Mr. Burhank, week after week, month after month, year after year, has patiently tended gardens of flowers and experimental orchards and berry patches, selecting, rejecting, exchanging , cultivating , watching, waiting and succeeding. The story of it all has been known to comparatively few. To magazine writers and those who sought to give the publicity which he surely has deserved, Mr. Burhank has been extremely reticent. To Professor Wickson, in these papers, he has confided many of the secrets that Nature has told to him. He was fortunate in his confidant, for the writer of these papers by reason of his scientific attainments, his sympathetic nature, his skilful pen, has accom,pUshed well n task that must ivin appreciative praise. CHARLES SEDGWICK AIKEN, Editor Sunset. ;ioijl%ftoi]tB)(fiiHik^ Man.Methods ana Achievements. BY EDWARD J. ]YICKSON Of the University of California FIRST PAPER— MAN the close of the century tlie world of the man of science, the philanthropist, AThad paid half a billion dollars for the statesman because they involve new California fruit and fruit prod- contributions to the sum of human ucts, for which reward the California knowledge and are new gifts to the ele- growers had gathered from trees and vation and advancement of mankind. vines half a trillion pounds of fruit. Above even these lofty achievements, Through two most responsive centers of the origination of new fruits and flowers human interest, the purse and the palate, is a manifestation of creative power in California has impressed her existence the mind of man and a demonstration of and horticultural resources strongly up- potentiality in human aspiration, insight on the attention of the world and has and devoted effort. Thus the recent ac- won distinction. But great as is this complishment of the horticulturist tran- achievement, both in itself and in its in- scends horticulture. It also opens new fluences, it is not the only horticultural vistas to the biological sciences. It sug- achievement of California and it is not gests to those who have set metes and the one which the world will most de- bounds upon evolution in the vegetable light to honoi'. Certainly results are be- kingdom that God's way is not as their ing achieved in California in higher hor- way and that no matter how great the ticultural arts which appeal to the results by natural selection hitherto, ar- world's sense of greatness more strongly tificial selection may surpass them all. than do our great undertakings in com- Along this pathway sublime the world mercial fruit growing. now concedes leadership to a Californian To originate new fruits of distinctive and is eager to know more of him, his characters and value is a higher horticul- methods and his achievements. tural art than to multiply the product of old fruits. New achievements in the lat- Luther Burbank, of Santa Eosa, Cali- ter line often of necessity invade estab- fornia, was born in Lancaster, Worcester lished trade and the vanquished but illy county, Massachusetts, March 7, 1849. brooks the conquest which exalts the vic- He was the thirteenth of fifteen children tor, but the production of new fruits is born to Samuel Walton Burbank by hailed everywhere with delight and three marriages. The elder Burbank honor. The volume of the California was a man widely known and in all busi- product, and the profit therein, interest ness and social relations recognized to the counting room ; the beauty and qual- be strong in conviction and unswerving ity of the fruit enrich and adorn the in his moral standards. He was an ad- fair, the market and the sideboard, but mirer and personal acquaintance of Em- the new fruits, with characters hitherto erson, Webster, Sumner, Beecher and undreamed of and possibilities beneficent other strong men of his day. He de- and boundless, command the admiration scended from an ancestry of indoor peo- MAN, METHODS AND ACHIEVEMENTS pie, chiefly active in pedagogical and and developed an improvement in the manufacturing affairs and disclosing no wood-working machinery of the factory notable taste for open-air pursuits. which was so valuable that the owners In the records of his mother's family, offered to multiply his wages more than one who delights in evidence of the trans- twenty-five times if he would remain and mission of tastes and traits can find the give the concern the products of his work source of notable horticultural inherit- as an inventor. He decided, however, ance. His mother's father, Peter Goff that the society of plants was worth more Ross, was a grower of seedling grapes, to him than shop work, even at its high- some of which had very good points, and est levels, and he soon entered upon a other members of the family indulged in horticultural career on the foundation similar avocations. On the mother's side of a seed and plant business. also were the Burpees, well known in Before this his attention was fixed horticultural annals. upon the origination of improved varie- Whether this thirteenth child of his ties by the discussion, in the agricultural father was thought to lie beneath the papers of the time, of the desirability of ban of an unlucky number or not, his better potatoes and he soon attracted no- start upon life was not strong and his tice by his achievements in this direc- promise not remarkable, even to those tion, through exhibits made at the coun- who could be expected to see deeply into ty fairs. His first great success was the such matters. He was slight of build, Burbank potato, the relation of which rather serious in manner and retiring in to his other work will be discussed later. disposition. At a very early age he be- He was proceeding well with the orig- gan to make playmates of plants and his ination of new varieties and in regular doll was a cactus plant, fondly carried seed and plant business when he became about until an accident shattered the convinced of the desirability of Califor- plant and a young heart at one opera- nia as a field for horticultural pursuits tion. In school he was a diligent pupil, and a decision to emigrate was quickly but never able to overcome the fear of made. He reached Santa Rosa in the the sound of his own voice in the pres- fall of 1875 with few resources except a ence of a throng. He was, however, apt resolute, confident spirit and ten Bur- with the pen, free in composition and es- bank potatoes which he reserved by caped the terror of declamation by com- agreement when the whole stock of that pounding with the schoolmaster for twice first great achievement of his was sold the prescribed volume of essay writing. to a leading Massachusetts seedsman. Quantity was no hardship to the pupil His first business announcement in Cali- and the quality pleased the teacher. fornia was an offer of new potatoes and When quite a boy Luther began work it won patronage from enterprising in the shops of the Ames Plow Company growers who were fully assured of the in which his uncle, Luther Eoss, occu- deterioration of the common sorts and pied a position of responsibility.

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