Arizona republican., 1906-10-01
PHOENIX MANS VISIT
 TO WIZARD BURBANK
Wonderful Things to be Seen On His
 Experimental Farm.

During his summer vacation Profes-
 sOr J. F. StilweIl, superintendent of the i Phoenix schools. spent some time in 1 California fas well as the east. Though
 most of his time was devoted to a study of school methods he found some
 opportunity for other things. Among
 them was a visit to the home of Luther 1 Burbank, known the world over as the
 wizard of plant life. A personal con-
 versatiOn concerning this visit was so ! interesting Professor StilVgell was re- l quested to prepare an ar ticle for The i Republican on the subject of MT. Bur 1 bank and his work as observed by the ! Phoenix educator. He kindly consent
 ed and the article is herewith present. 1 ed;
 Having read considerable of Mir.
 Luther Burbank's work during the
 past few years, a desire to see his ere atiOns in plant life continued to grow until satisfied by a visit to his home
 and proving grounds. There is always
 more or less of doubt concerning any reports when they are accompanied by | seemingly exaggerated statements; | hence, a curiosity naturally arises con- i corning the truthfulness of s,such re- ports.
 On arriving at Santa Rosa. we re- 1 paired lIHlneulaLGlN 10 MT BuEDduh home. The time appointed for admis- | sion had not arrived and we had to take our stand at the gate and await ! the invitation to enter the home. As every minute of Mir. Burbank's time is utilized with profit, he will not suffer ] intrusions. It is only by making anI appointment with him that any wis l itor may be admitted. This fact was appreciated when. upon inquiry. it was ! learned that his correspondence amounts to 75OO letters a week; and his time is valued at S1O0O per hour during
 the week days. From this. it is easily
 understood why we sought to visit him on Sunday. From magazine and newspaper rel ports, one can scarcely get a good idea of the work that is being carried on in the proving grounds at Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. Most visitors are surprised
 to find other things than cacG. pota- toes, trees and flowers growing on the experimental farm. While MT. Bur bank has been known by his creations l of potatoes and cacti. he Is also famous for the new fruits, grasses. nuts. vege- tables and trees that he has created. i
 Indeed. there is scarcely a plant that
 he has not studied. and in many in stances. changed completely.
 1dhe lllt case OL Llle NdIAut- by tue | processes of crossing and selection he l
 has accelerated the growth of this tree ]
 800 fold. The experiment began some ]
 twenty years ago when he made d i cross between the California Black !
 walnut and the common English wal |
 nut. This process was carried on from
 time to time by pOllenation until he |
 had selected the best specimens for
 planting. Twelve years ago, these trees were planted on the sidewalk just 1
 in front Of his home at Santa Rosa. | Today. those trees are two feet in di- ] ameter, about eight feet above the | ground about so feet tall. and have a ! spread of branches of about 70 feet | The trunks Of these trees are long and {. clear of knots, and are useful for lum- 1 Der. The degree of hardness and util- ity Of the lumber made from these trees has been shown to be of the best commercial value. It is very good for finishing, for ca binet work. etc. As a | lumber value, proof of the profits that would accrue from a farm of 16O acres that might be grown in F years he places the estimate of the entire yield at S4S5. GOO for the farm. This would be a profit of S4O0O0 per year. He states that good walnut lumber is worth from S20O to S6O0 per thousand feet and that ' lumber would be at least s25O per thousand feet. It is on this basis that he computes the yield allowing 36 trees to the acre. This estimate also includes the refuse timber which is especially useful sor fuel.
 It is now possible to produce trees at will for practically any purpose: whether for ornamentation. for fuel. or for manufacturing The special forms of the grain in the timber. so rapidly grown, are productive of good effect m quarter-sawn lumber, and add to its value rather than lessen it, as might be supposed. Any degree of softness is bred out of the timber by crossing the walnut with other trees of harder woods. However, this does not retard its rapid growth. Indeed. at will any change can be bred into the tree whether for length of trunk, degree of hardness, amount of annual growth. or color of the wood The life of the tree is fixed and stable It does not yield easily. It is stubborn and per sistent; and it must be pressed upon harder and harder to produce the re- sired change. But when it yields. it yields unreservedly. Supply the right amount of pressure, and the thing is done Then, when it's new life is fixed. it will persist in the new way, as it has done in the old" This statement, made by MT. Burbank, he says is true of any tree of whatever kind. By budding for any one trait, a tree may be made to yield manifold more; whether it be a tree of quinine of camphor. Of tannin. Of maple-sugar or of pitch, or what 1 not. ,
 It is often desirable to hurry the , of a certain tree. A rapidly ( growing tree is then selected for a stock. Upon this stock is grafted the ( tree of fine fruitage. The rapid supply 1 from the stock of rapid growth accel- ' crates the production of fruit and z