The Imperial press., 1905-05-13
Luther Burbank's Hypothesis

The simplicity of Burbank's concep- tions of plant nature IS grand-for his purposes. He knew plants changed i; he saw them change with most surpiis- ing speed and range. In handling beans, for example, he SAW, after cros- sing, speckled beans bring forth all black and then he saw these black beans bring forth every kind of bean he ever saw or heard of. Perhaps he looked into the books of beans and saw hosts of them named and described and at the same time knew that he had grown more kinds from the seed from a single pod. He, of course, knows beans better now, but to the youth what could be clearer demonstration that the high botanical barriers of that day could be climbed over by beans and if by beans why not by everything in the plant line. Then Darwin's theory came into his life and backed up his beans, because all plants having been develop ed from lower forms in accordance with various influences, surely they have not reached the ends of their careers at this stage in the worlds progl ess. If they all come from the same origin, along different lines perhaps, why can they not go farther on the same lines and why are they too far apart now to call across to each other to satisfy their pressing needs and to help each other toward new and higher forms? And the strength of this simple philosophy was found in the fact that the plants accepted it, leaped over botanical bar oroooal hofn.n 1,, cultural experience, and changed forms and characters, gained new ones or lost old ones until thousand experi- ences of the man affirmed the revelation which the boy read in the bean pod. And now comes Burbank's definition of heredity, "heredity is the sum of all past environments" Of course the use of the word heredity to signify the possibility of almost infinite change is puzzling to the scientist because he uses the word to express the Tendency to develop in the likeness of d progeni- tor" not to be different, but Burbank simply adds the influence of all environ ments which are toward changes and makes that the heritage of posterity, and in that respect descendant resem- bles an ancestor, but more abundantly. Now what may be the punishment for using scientific words "wth an entirely different meaning, as Dr. De Vries puts it, is foreign to this writing, but it is clear to tho writer, at least, that Burbank holds simple, biological philosophy which has been of inestima- ble value in the progress of his work. To believe that environment is the whole thing, including even the thing which is itself environed, so to speak , is not only grand in the simplicity of it's conception, but for the purpose of plant breeder it is supernal concep- ton and affords warrant and in- centive for trial of everything which can be led to any form of reproduction Failunes will come; they are not in the nature of things but in the environ ment. If Burbank's philosophy had been more conventional or complex he would have refrained from undertaking some things which have notably sue ceeded in his experience, but whether in accordance with his philosophy or in spite of it, only philosopher can de- clare. Burbank laid hold upon what is certainly a grand working Hypothesis in his line,-Edward J. Wickson in Sun sat Mauo1ina