The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-09-19
Onion WITHOUT ODOR
ACHIEVEMENT OF OLD OKLA.
HoMA HoRTIcUETuRIsT.
New EVoIutions In Plant Life by David
Jagsers, Known Among Indians
as Luther Burbank of Col
llnsville."

Collinsville, /. T.-David Jaggers,
better known among the Indians as
Luther Burbanks Of Collinsville,"
conducts a ten-acre experimental sta
tion just on the outskirts of this city.
He has lived among the Cherokee In
dians for the last 81 years, having
come direct from London, England, in
1850, where he was born 86 years ago
1t was he who taught the Indians the
art of horticulture, and who is respon-
sible for many large orchards and
vineyards In this part of the proposed
new state of Oklahoma.
This grand old man worked for the
last 20 years trying to get perfect
cross between common cabbage and
turnip, and it was only by accident
that his success was known. Some
bad boys ente$ed his garden of the
Wizard of o." as the white people
here call his place, and In the dark
ness stole what they supposed were
number of cabbages. These were
sold to the Hotel London. The land.
lady noticed how peculiar they ap-
peared. but cooked them for dinner.
A number of commercial travellers In
Quired how she managed to get such
a perfect combination and the lady
told of the purchase and explained
how the vegetable had been cooked.
The writer heard of the story and
set about to learn the truth from the
old gentleman. Upon being asked
what discoveries he had made in plant
life, and for statement for publica-
ton Mr.. Jaggers replied:
Il was not ready to give the news
of my turnip cabbage combination to
the public, but the boys stole them,
and | guess the secret is out. l have
been working along lines similar in
many respects to Luther Burbank, but
mine have been almost exclusively in
vegetables and fruits. The Cherokee
Indians have furnished me with mon
ey for nearly 5S years to carry on my
experiments, and to-day they are
among the greatest orchardists in the
world. They are apt students and are
enthusiastic over fruit and berry cul-
ture.
my odorless oE.on and several
crosses between the sweet and Irish
potatoes are probably the greatest
achievements yet made by me. The
cabbage and turnip combination, as l
call it, makes a most delicious dish,
but am not satisfied with 1t entirely.
1t has occupied many years of my
time, but | hope yet to make 1t
more pleasing to the taste.
when | came among the Indians
in 1850 they eyed my work with sus-
picion, but 1t was not long until they
realized the importance of horticulture
and plant life. They told me that
fruits and berries were what they
wanted, and later they would expert
ment with flowers and vegetables.
have found them a most delightful and
honorable class Of people to deal with
and l am sure the general reading
public is not acquainted with them
If they were they would respect them
for their true worth.
mo, I am not personally acquaint
ed with Burbank, but l read of him
often, and admire him greatly. | an
a mere novice in plant life when com
pared to him, although much of my
work is along the same lines, but CT
very limited scale. / have never
attempted to do more than assist my
noble friends and benefactors In hor
ticulture, berries, and vegetables. JUS
how we'll have succeeded can be de
termined by visit to the many mag
nificent orchards scattered about ovel
the Cherokee nation. The Indiar
peach, a large, blood red, and th'
Elberta are the most noted peache!
| in the southwest. The "Arkansav
I black" apple ranks first among the or
[ chards in this country. These hav'
been greatly improved by me, and
, feel that my work has been well wortl
the time and trouble"