The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-04-01
EDUCATIONAL,
(By G, w. Meisnest,)
LUTH Err BURBANK

In the pretty little vineclad town of
Santa Rosa, California stands fine
substantial school building. over the
arched entrance between the two tow.
ers one reads: Luther Burbank
School"
Within this schoolhouse named in
his honor as within scores of schools
scattered over the Sunset coast, March
I is annually celebrated as special
day commemorating the birthday ami
versary of the famous naturalist, Luth-
er Burbank.
March I is legal holiday and arbor
day in the State of California where
Luther Burbank has lived and labored
for nearly forty years, and where he
has performed those unique hortcult-
ural experiments which have ranked
him high as a savant and world bene-
! factor.
Though SO long resident and work
er there, Luther Burbank has not al
ways been Californian. His roots
are deep in Old and New England soil
Born near Boston, in Lancaster, Mass,
| in 1870 he is the son of Samuel Walton
Burbank, cultivated man Of English
origin, from whom he Inherited his
| philosophical bent. His love of nature
was fostercd by his mother, Mrs. Olive
| Ross Burbank, of Scotch ancestry, in
whom the lsve of beauty was a strong
| trait.
Luther Burbank laid the foundation
of his scientific training in boyhood.
| Before he was twelve, he had devoured
every scientific book which he could
| obtain and he had acquired an uncom-
mon knowledge Of the outward forms of
nature. He had the eagerness to learn
which inspires the teacher.
He attended the country school near
| the farm home, then went to Lancaster
Academy, where he studied during the
winter months, for several years work
ing in summer on the farm and in a
plow factory in Worcester.
Agassiz (of whom his professor-cou-
sin was personal friend and Emer-
son (of whom his minister.uncle and
his father were personal friends) were
| Burbank S ideals, He read and stud
led the works of both
Luther Burbank had no difficulty in
| choosing his vocation. The thought of
what he would best be and do seems to
have been clear to him in youth and to
have led him steadily to his goal in
face OF opposition, loss and discourage
ment He held to his outdoor profes-
sion and begun market gardening and
seed-rasing in a small way, in spite of
the fact that friends urged him to make
speciality of invention, because of
his having constructed a useful labor
saving machine while at work in the
factory,) which brought him instant
recognition and substantial reward.
Invent he would, but in different
lines. The lure of nature study and
experiment drew him To California, in
1910, "a slender, thoughtful youth of
twenty-one destined to achieve sig
nal success and add TO the wealth and
prosperity of his chosen state.
Burbank was practically a pioneer.
California was new field for the hort
icplturist then And the difficulties of
getting a start nearly swept him off his
feet 1t is a pathetic record of priva-
tion, which marks his first year or two
on the Pacific Slope. At times he was
reduced to absolute want, without
money to pay for either lodgings or
food. He was attacked by fever; and
his life was saved by the generosity of
a poor woman who gave him pint of
milk a day.
The sun of prosperity soon arose,
however, ana by patience and energy
| Burbank became the proprietor of one
of the greatest nurseries on the coast,
netting nearly ten thousand dollars a
year.
y
had kept the vision before hlm-to be-
come not merely raiser of plants but
an "improver and creator" His long
experience OF twenty years had reveal
cd the possibilities of plant creation.
He had from time to time, made eX.
perments which only whetted his APP
petite for greater work.
one of these early successes was the
Burbank potato now known the world
around.
Regardless Of consequences, In 1893,
Luther Burbank disposed Of his ex-
tensive prosperous nursery and brave
! ly embarked on the uncertain sea Of
| experiment. On the big sunny slopes
around his coy cottage home in Santa
Rosa and at Sebastopol, eight miles
distant, he established Burbank s
Experiment Farms" (which have be-
come the Mecca for plant-lovers and
plant breeders the world around) and
began the costly and extensive expert
mehts which have amazed and enrich
ed the world and have inspired plant
breeding everywhere.
AS result Of rare ability and whole
souled devotion 10 his work Luther
Burbank has become the producer of
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