The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-10-06
No Secrecy Back Of His Plans,
Says Curtis.
Willing to Explain All He
Knows to Visitors
Mode of Treatment Set Forth
In An Interview.

Nv. E. CURTIS IN CHICAGO HERALD. ]

[w. E. CURTIS IN CHICAGO HERALD
I Santa Rosa, CAL, Sept. Every
plant has its own individuality and
character" said Luther Burbank, the
plant breeder. "Plants can be trained as
well as animals. Science is training ev-
erything but men, and it is curious that
we should neglect the highest order OF
animate. beings. Heredity exists in
plants just as it does in animals and
men; and it can be, transmitted. Ac-
quired characteristics as well as natural
qualities and peculiarities can be trans
mitted by cultivation and care. The
characteristics of plants are very sim
pie, while the characteristics of men are
complicated. Hence it is easier to
change the nature of plants than OF
men. 1t is easy to change the nature of
gold, iron or other metals by applying
powerful forces. 1t is next easiest to
change the nature of plants. AS they
are more responsive, less powerful
forces are required. Sunshine will not
affect iron, nor the application of mois-
ture, but those two agencies will do ev-
|erything with plants. Some plants re-
spond more readily than others. Ami
mails are more responsive than plants.
Lions, tigers and horses can be controll-
ed by the voice. Dogs are mind-read-
ers. Finally, children are the most re-
sponsive to influence of ala living things
in the entire universe. Every influence
that they may be placed under will af-
feet their conduct, their health and their
happiness either one way or the other.
Plants have both good and bad quail
ties. Both or either may be natural or
acquired, and both may be transmitted
to their descendants.
ut is necessary to understand these
principles before one can appreciate
what l am doing and how it is done.
have here a plant scholar academy
for fruits, flowers, berries, vegetables
and trees-and / am trying to teach
my scholars how to develop their good
natural qualities and to learn other vir-
tues | am trying to train them for
greater usefulness; to teach them new
virtues, new qualities, which will make
them better and brighter-which they
can pass along to the next generation,
! just as if they were men and women"
Mr.. Burbank speaks in low, quiet
tone. He has musical voice and when
he talks becomes intensely interested
in his subject. In other words, he is an
enthusiast. He is totally absorbed in
his work and thinks of nothing and
cares for nothing else He has no Sc
crets, and is willing to explain his
methods to everybody whenever he can
! spare the time. All other plant breed
ers are perfectly free to follow in his
path, but it is always difficult to imi-
tate a genius, and he has natural gifts
of perception which no other man pos
sesses. Without them he could not
have made the great successes he has
accomplished.
For example, he had 10000 specimens
Iof blackberries growing in his gardens,
Iall in full bearing. Within a few days,
really within a few hours, he went
through that entire garden, selected
the best plants with unerring accuracy
and simply by glance. These were
taken out and replanted in another
place, perhaps twenty or thirty of them
which, to his accurate eyes, had at
tanned the perfection which he desired
them to reach. The remaining $3.50
plants, more or less, were dug up and
burned. Those plants were worth thou
sands of dollars. He could have sold
them to any nurseryman at his own
price. Any plant that comes from Bur
banks gardens is worth hundred or
thousand times more than if it were
grown in ground belonging to another
man. But he will not sell his rejected
specimens. He will not allow his name
to be used for profit. When his exper-
iments are completed and he selects the
few samples that he desires to pre-
serve, the rest are destroyed. We saw
bed in his garden from which 50, 500
worth of dahlias had been torn out by
the roots and were lying in pile
awaiting the torch. When l asked him
why he did not give those plants to
! hospitals or schools, or to private indi-