The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-10-03
|. BURBANK WOULD
IMPROVE HUMAN RACE
HOPES TO SEE PLANT LAWS
APPLIED TO THE DEVEL-
MENT OF MEN.
SCIENTIST HAS VERY BUSY LIFE
Noted Horticulturist Spends Most of
His Time in Experimenting. Has
Created New Variety of Sunfow-
er for Commercial Use.


er for Commercial Use.
SANTA ROSA, Calf fulhllment
comes to the hopes and ideas of Luth-
er Burbank, foremost plant breeder of
the world, history also will record his
influence in the developing of better
men, as well as better plants, for he
regards Improvement OF mankind as a
greater work than improvement of
plant species.
I'VE hope that the same laws, as
far as practicable, which | have dis
covered and demonstrated in plant life
will be applied to the improvement of
human life" said the dean of plant
scientists in his Santa Rosa home.
his in measure can, must and
will be DONE" he asserted
Although every possible minute of
Burbank's day is given to his plant
experiments he is glad to give time to
civic affairs, especially to the boy
scouts, playground activities d
school doings, for in these he sees the
beginning OF the application to man
kind of his principles of plant breed
ing.
MY time is all too short to do all
wish and hope yet to do" he says
Possibilities Limitless.
The improvement of plants, accord
ing to Burbank is in its earliest infan-
cy, but the possibilities are limitless,"
he declares.
In mechanics and electricity great
progress already has been made, but,
ac e La~
a beginning" says Burbank, in COM
pairing mechanical and plant knowl-
edge.
After 90 years of plant breeding he
enunciates the principles, plants are
pliable and amenable to the will of
man, but this has never been surmised
by the general public until the last Is
years.
Agriculturists few years ago re-
ported to Burbank that the tall stalks
on which sunfowers grew made it I'M
handy to harvest the seeds. Burbank
set to work on the problem, and this
year is marketing seeds OF a new sun
flower, which grows on a, 3-foot stalk.
The bloom has been so Ngreatly en-
larged that it is heavier producer of
seeds than other varieties and the
seeds are white.
Next year he will give the world
six new peaches, a new prune which
does not need to be dipped before dry
ing, new plum and a new nectarine.
He has also been working several
years on potatoes in the hope of pro-
ducing a new variety which will rival
his famous Burbank" grown and
used in greater quantity than any 9TH
er, and after countless experiments has
narrowed his experimental varieties
down to 90, from which he will event
ually bring out one or more varieties
for the world.
Creations Amaze People.
The Santa Rosa plant scientist, hav-
ing produced many fruits, berries,
vegetables, grasses and grains of great
benefit to mankind is today giving
bit more of his attention than ever be-
fore to the development OF beautiful
plants and blossoms, although in no
measure giving up his work and inter
est in food, clothing and timber pro-
ducing plants.
But it is in the development of
striking Colors in plants and flowers,
of pleasing flower fragrance and new
havors in fruits that his experiments
today show breadth of imagination.
Hundreds of visitors stop in amaze
ment each day at the low fences sur
rounding his experimental plots in this
city and gaze enraptured at the shades
OF some glorified popular flower
some new zinnia, poppy, gladiolus OF
larkspur
Burbank has 100000 new color
shades and varieties of the gladiolus,
in every conceivable color and combi-
nation of color and of unequaled size
and freedom of bloom
His Newest Favorite.
His new amaranthus, Molten Fire"
is his newest pride. 1t is a plant from
three to four feet in height and three
feet across and whose leaves develop
an iridescent, fiery, crimson, salmon
color. a hue never before seen on land
or sea, in any plant or anything else
except the intense heat of the electric
furnace 1t retains its brilliance of col
or for three months. Two years ago
there was only one of these plants IN
the world.
Constantly increasing publicity for
Burbank's work has resulted in his ex-
pertinent grounds here becoming the
mecca for thousands of scientists and
world notables in every profession. He
receives as many Of these as possible,
but the unnumbered thousands who
come cannot, OF course, be admitted
TO the grounds, or his work soon
would have to be discontinued. He has
now an average of $50 callers a day,
OF whom he can see but few. On re-
cent Sunday afternoon automobiles
were parked three deep in the street
for the length OF a block beside the
gardens.
Il would willingly entertain all who
wish to visit my grounds, yet the very
nature of my work requires absolute
freedom from interruption, he says.
All of Burbank's business is carried
on by mail, a necessary measure be-
cause of the demands made upon hiss
time.