The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1904-12-30
An Edison Among Plants

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A work is being done by Luther
Burbank that In its Importance to the
human race will rank with that OF
Edison, Whitney and Morse. Yet 1t
is done so quietly that thousands
know nothing Of 1T, and will realize it
but dimly when 1t is done. This
Yankee went to California some
years ago, is devoting his life to the
creation of new flowers and fruits.
He is the Inventor of the stoneless
plum, the seedless orange, the soft
shelled walnut, free from tannic acid,
the "sugar" prune, large and sweeter
than the old world, together with i'm
proved pears, peaches, ounces, apples,
cherries, other fruits and many
flowers.
At first thought it may seem that,
while remarkable enough, this is not
sort Of thing that greatly affects
mems destinies, although it adds to
the range of diet and will give en-
ployment to thousands in the farms,
gardens and orchards. There is more
in 1T, however; it shows that vegeta-
tion can be radically changed, with
the special purpose of adapting it
more effectively to the uses of man
kind, which has figured as the spoiler,
rather than the creators, and that
the earth can be made to yeid more
ahundantly and more pleasantly than
it does at present. There was time
when Mr.. Burbank's experiments
would have been discountenanced as
interferences with the course of
nature, indeed, we are not sure that
he would not have been burned or
hanged on Salem gallows as a wizard.
Now he reaps only blessings with his
variegated harvest.
This experimenter's Importance in
future national development is in
stanced In bis creation of a spineless
cactus. With this he proposes to
stock the plains, driving out the
present mean and thorny species with
succulent plant to Craze on, yielding
moisture as 1t does, he takes away the
terror Of the desert, for the OK and
horse and burro will now have food,
and man. if driven to it, may at least
moisten his parched lips as he plods
across the waste, making his hundred
miles from spring to spring In search
for gold or the quest for tillable land.
Thousands of miles of our country are
arid and will sustain no vegetable
life except the sagebrush and cactus.
If the latter can be converted from a
plant that is avoided by man and
beast alike to food plant all fear Of
the desert will vanish-providing an
effort is made to extend the cactus
The service of this remarkable
genius IS at last appreciated in the
gift Of ten-year subsidy by the
Carnegie institution for the purpose
1
of releasing him from all commercial
work and worry, so that he may give
his time absolutely to the hybridiza-
tion and development of new strains
In fruit, vegetables, grasses and
flowers. When we consider the vas:
sums our government lays out for
objects that secure no palpable return
but merely suffice to unroll red tape
to keep official treadmills in motion,
it seems a misfortune that no public
appropriations can be made for pur-
poses of actual use. In some ages
and In some countries man like
Mr.. Burbank would not have been
compelled to wait for recognition by a
private corporation. He would be
titled and pensioned and allowed to
pursue his life work In peace and the
assurance Of prosperity, because the
prosperity he enjoyed would be as
nothing to that which he would create