Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-09-26


Santa Rosa, TIE county seat Of
Sonoma county, is about so miles
north from San Francisco. 1t is called
the Mecca of California But, although
an attractive city of 10000 inhabitants
1t is not the place in Itself that draws
SO many visitors. The avalanche of
strangers, pushing into Santa Rosa,
comes to see the wonders performed
by the wizard of the west, Luther
Burbank. Over 5000 visitoIs were re
ceived by him in 1904.
The public imposed upon the genius.
His work was neglected and his
health breaking down. Friends came
to his rescue, and put stop to the
position Now, no one is admitted eA.
cept by special permission from the
committee or coming with letter of
introduction that his secretary sees
fit to consider. | was one of those few
who was granted the admittance and
the pleasure of meeting Mr.. Burbank.
My good fortune was due to .he
courtesy of the editor of the Fenni-
more Times and the Madison Demo
crat.
Burbank's home is a modest cottage
surrounded by trees and flowers, and
located in a corner of his four-acre
Santa Rosa farm. With him lives his
aged mother who is now over 80 years
of age He has no elaborate labora-
tory but rather just enough of a work
room for practical purposes. His tools
are simple in the extreme. The green
house is near the dwelling. The home
and surroundings have a decided New
England atmosphere about it. That IS
not strange, however, for he came to
California from Massachusetts some
thirty years ago.
Years and hard work have left their
traces. He is slender, stoop-shouldered
and quite gray. His features are regu-
lar and mis- large gray eyes are mild
and wonderfully keen. He is as timid
as his attire is plain. In speaking of
him a prominent San Franciscan
said Burbank is as bashful as
school-boy" Those who know him de-
clare he does not care for the great
fame that has come to him. He thor
oughly enjoys his work and feels
that the results obtained are reward
enough.
Among other things ne said. II be-
lieve / am the busiest man in the
world 1t is not that dislike to meet
people who are interested in what
am doing but cannot see them and
do justice to myself end my expert
ments. My health is failing. Yes, you
may see my place. l will find some
one to show you around who can tell
about the plants"
The assistant called, cheerfulIy
pointed out and explained every plant
group on the farn,-a rare treat in
deed.
A short time ago, Burbank told u
San Francisco reporter: Il have $780,.
000species of plant life upon which
am operating at the present time"
Reader, perhaps the figures give you
an idea as to the amount of work the
man is doing. and what a marvellous
mind he has. Our greatest scientists
recognize his superiority, and come
imagine that he visitor of day gets
but very little general notion of the
whole, unless great deal of reading
has been done beforehand He has all
kinds of plants that in any way can
be of good to man. The finer expert.
ments are at the Santa Rosa farm.
the others at his farm near Sebasta-
pol, eight miles to the southwest
Burbank works upon the principle
OF Darwin's theory of selections. The
process of artificial selection is used
in all cases.
Farmers are familiar with the Bur.
bank plants. They know they are good
Still, the inventor is striving for some.
thing better. Shortly before l visited
the farm, 1000 varieties were planted
In one day; $4,000 were to be planted
during the season. There are potatoes,
wild and cultivated, from all parts of
the globe. A new wild one had Just
been brought from South Africa. He
hopes to invent a species that will be
a still better producer, finer flavor and
that will be able to resist diseases
few years ago the United States
department of agriculture at Wash
ington made an official statement that
the Burbank potato is adding to the
agricultural productivity an annual
amount of $17,000,000. To convey al
idea of the enormous number OF Bur.
bank potatoes some one has calculat.
ed that If the tubes produced in one
year were arranged in row. touch
ing each other, the line would be
thrice the distance the earth to the
moon.
If variety of potatoes could be
produced that will surpass the ordin-
airy by one tuber to each plant the re-
suit would be a production of 90 ,000,-
900 bushels more than the varieties
cultivated at present. estimate what
Burbank's work means to the world.
Professor Woodward of the Car.
negie Institution at WASHINGTON,
spent several days with Burbank last
June and has said since he returned
east: Il know I shall be regarded as
a crazy man when tell you that the
work being done by this one man will
produce more wealth than the entire
endowment of the Carnegie Institu.