The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-07-03
EXPLAINS GROWTH
OF NEW CREATIONS
Luther Burbank Says Nation Is Not
Enjoying Hundredth Part of
Agricultural Possibilities.
BY n. D. Wheeler.

SANTA ROSA. Cal. July 3.-As we
walked across the streets from the
home OF Luther Burbank 70 his ex
| perimcntal farm, the plant wizard .
wonder garden. the pussy cat follow
ed us He was just wee pussy cat,
not very much different from other
kittens OF his age and education. But
when We reached the entrance 10 the
farm with the Visitors Keep Out IN
big black letters over II. Burbank
stopped and turned.
The busiest man in the u. s." held
The gate open and waited while the
pussy cat romped through the forbid
den entrance Then, as the kitten
scampered away In pursuit OF an Clu-
sive bug. Burbank, the man who IS
"busier than the President" turned
TO me with "A laugh OF the keen"st en-
joyment.
II was Burbank. the man. the lover
of growing things, be they flowers,
grasses. fruits-or pussy cats
A moment later he was Burbank
the wizard
II told you over there" he said as
we stroled between beds OF monster
scarlet poppies--he was referring To
our plcNlOuS ldlh III INC NOOi SNuAN "a
his home-"that II the farmer is TO
get ahead through the cultivation OF
new varieties better adapted to the
changing conditions Of his soil ne
must look TO the horticulturalst. the
plant breeder. who has the time for
experimentation and discovery
Will See New Varieties.
I'm the very near future. this coun-
try Is to see new varieties IN fruits.
vegetables. grasses and grains that
will perhaps double the capacity of
the land This nation is not yet en-
Toying n hundredth part of its asr.cul-
tural possibilities. When the popua-
ton OF this nation is doubled. or trip
led or quadrupled. the people will
then be just as comfortable as they
are now. and will be laboring urder
no more strain than at the present to
secure their livelihood from nature.
Now will try to show you why
We were in a bed OF young spine
less cacti the wonderful Burbank
"Opuntias." which are destined 10 re-
come the most important food product
for man and beast in the great deser:
wastes
Here is just one example" said
the wizard Now, how did the discov-
cry Of this new variety come about
I'VE must remember first, that
every plant. animal and planet ecu
pies It's place in the order of na1aie
by the action Of two forces. the IN
herent. constitutional life force With
all it's acquired habits. the sum OF
which is heredity; and the numerous,
complicated external forces. or en-
viropment. To guide the intera oton
of these two forces. both OF which are
only different expressions OF one eter-
nal force. must be the sole object Of
the breeder. whether of plants or OF
animals"
The pussy cat abandoned her chase
Of the bug and regarded the wizard,
with big. round. wondering eyes.
I'VE know. for instance" continued
Burbank, that the race horse. the
draft horse. the Shetland pony, III
fact all breeds or varieties, have come
from a common stock. Ii is the same
with the other animals. We have the
Jersey COW for cream, the Holstein
for milk and others for other special
purposes.
1T Is the same with plants as WITH
animals
The Spineless Cactus.
when the farmer CT fruit raiser
wants a plant that will Withstand
frost. or resist diseases, insect pests
or poor culture, he looks to the plant
breeder
Food was wanted for man and
forage for beast in the desert. and the
improved rapid growing varieties or
spineless cactus were produced.
This discovery" | interrupted.
was it oy accident. or by putting two
and two together"
Burbank smiled.
1T was more like putting eight mil
lion and sixty-nine thousand together
and dividing by four hundred sixty.
seven.
"Invenung new agricultural ma
chimes. plants, Is not very different
from inventing new electrical ma.
chimes. The inventor searches the
world over for just one new thing,
combines it with one other new thing,