The San Francisco call., 1909-03-21


UTHER BURBANK has closed the
erstwhile hospitable gates of his
modest home and his wonder
garden to the interested and
kindly public. but there is compensa-
tion at hand in the dependable puonea-
tions-the appreciations and analyses
of his work-that appear from time 10
time The most recent and certainly
the most valuable contribution to the
Burbank photography is volume en-
titled The Scientific Aspects of Luther
Burbank's Work" made up of two IL
lustrated papers. the first by David
Starr Jordan and the second by Vernon
l.. kellogg, both originally prepared
for scientific magazines.
The word scientific need not appall
the lay mind. Both papers are intense
ly human in their attitude, and are
written in the simplest. most direct
English. Their greatest value lies IN
the dispassienate classification of the
work done by this man in whom Cali
fornia has a loving proprietorship, but
whose name the world has and VIII
couple with that of Darwin.
Burbank has. too much work 70 do for
the world in a practical way and for
science In a special way to meet the
casual visitor. so the reader is grateful
TO Dr. Jordan for this comprehensive
pen portrait:
Luther Burbank is a modest quiet,
devoted worker in science. with keen
eye, deft hand, a broad intelligence
and a sensitive SOUL
And TO Vernon Lyman Kellogg for
this one:
Another of Burbank's open secrets
OF success is the great range of his ex-
perimentation-nothi is too bold for
him TO attempt, the chances OF failure
are never too great to frighten him.
And another secret is the great extent,
as regards materials used. of each ex-
pertinent. His beds OF seedlings con-
tain hundreds. often thousands, of indi-
viduals where other men are content
with hundreds Another element in
his work is his prodigality OF time Ex
periments begun 20 years ago are act
ually still under way"
Not every one may agree with DR..
Jordan's way OF handling a university.
but no one will gainsay his mastery
in presenting scientific subject for
the average mind. In nothing he has
ever done is this genius more con-
spicuoasly emphasized than in his re-
view of Burbank's achievements. DR..
Jordan objects to the term wizard as
applied TO Burbank. but that christen-
ing was done most lovingly and that
name will probably be used while the
sponsors-the appreciative public and
press-have to tell of the wonders he
works There may be, as DIR. Jordan
claims. no new principles employed by
Burbank. but his utilization of the
world old ones makes them as good
as new. Objecting TO the name, Dr..
Jordan says:
ITO call him wizard as some men
and magazines do. is TO injure him in
reputation and to befog his great serv-
ice with trivial epithet. Burbank's 9
wavs are natures ways. for Burbank
differs from other men I'm this. that his
whole life is given to the study of how
nature does For all that. which is
interesting and dignitied. there viii be
many who will never think of the
wonders Burbank has wrought with
out thinking OF his garden as one that
he has enchanted.
DR.. Jordan says: Burbank is the
creator of many of our most useful
food forms, roots, nuts. fruits. grains
and grasses. as well as many OF our
most beautiful flowers" Kellogg par
ticularizes and writes Burbank has
originated and introduced a remark
able series OF plums and prunes No
less than 20 varieties are in
cluded in his list OF offerings, and
some of them are among the best
known and most successful kinds now
grown Next in extent probably to
his work with plums is his long and
successful experimentation with ber-
ries OF other fruits Burbank has in
troduced new varieties OF ounces.
peaches and apples. He has produced
very interesting new crossbred wal
nuts. OF new vegetables Burbank has
introduced various potatoes. tomatoes,
squashes. asparagus, ETC."
Jordan tells the story of the spine
less cactus in its scientific aspect and
an interesting one il is. The secret Of
the variations of the California
poppy that Burbank has established
are told. also that which made pos
sible the bewitchment OF the Shirley
poppy until il came out in a blue
gown. DIR. Jordan also tells how the