The Grit-advocate., 1905-06-09
THE FARM AND RANGE
Luther Burbank's Great Work.

A dispatch from Santa Rosa, Cal!for.
MIA, says:
Luther Burbank. the wizard OF plant
life, astonished the world again to-day
by the statement that experiments in
hurrying the growth of trees would, in
few years, revolutionize forestry. 1t
will be no longer necessary to wait a
lifetime for trees to grow. A chestnut
tree. for instance. has been made to
produce nuts in eighteen months.
THE forces Of steam and electricity
were playthings for ages. and later fur
nished interesting laboratory expert
ments. Now they have been applied
marvelously for the benefit OF men.
THE forces embodied in plant life
have never until very lately been un-
derstood. These forces are destined to
produce greater changes for the bene-
fit of mankind than has as yet been
produced by steam and electricity"
The remarkable statement came
from the lips of Luther Burbank, the
creator of SO many new plants, flow
ers and fruits, as the climax of an in
terview had with him by the News cor
respondent. Burbank spoke with so
much earnestness that the effect was
thrilling. The talk tonight had been
about the possibilities of his work
1t is conceded that Mr. Burbank's Won
derful work has already revolutionized
mans attitude toward plants. The
great scientists admit it is not only the
great men, learned in science and
thought OF the time, that are interested
in Luther Burbank's work
Kings and rulers of the world are
writing to him now, asking him Ques-
tions, and in some instances almost
imploring him to interest himself in
the creation or upbuilding Of some
form of plant life in their domains.
1t is a fact that within the past week
there have come to Burbank's home in
this city Of roses personal letters
from kings and rulers of the old world
The News correspondent held in his
hand tonight letter from a king
which came to-day, asking Mr.. Bur
bank some questions concerning
branches Of his work Mr.. Burbank
will not permit the letter to be made
public or the identity of the sender
learned. He regards as personal
matter the import of the royal writ
ings.
There is almost a pathetic side to
some OF the correspondence Mr.. Bur
bank receives. In reply TO questions
tonight he said he had received letters
from missionaries in far-off Africa
and other countries imploring him to
send them, IF only seed,' of his Gre
alton of a "spineless cactus" SO that
It may grow and save these people
from starvation.
Burbank's spineless cactus has
stirred the world to its uttermost
parts. To all these hundreds of letters
Mr.. Burbank has received about the
cactus he has replied that not one
seed Of the plant has left his hands as
yet. The plant must be fully perfect
before his task is completed.
You may say" said he, though, to
the News correspondent, that not a
single spineless cactus has been sent
out, despite the reports that have come
from the different places that people
have received my thornless cactus
He was asked something more about
the production of rapid-growing trees.
referred to in this mornings News. He
said that by crossing and constant Sc
lection rapid growth could be produced
in any tree or plant. The possibilities,
he said, were wonderful along this
line. A new age of forestry is going to
dawn.-Denver News.