The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-09-22
LUTHER BURBANK SAYS
MAN CAN BE IMPROVED
AS WELL. AS PLANTS

| $40 " ASSA <hA1 . A~<AAt ~
Santa Rosa, Calf, Sept. 1S.--I1
tulfillment comes to the hopes anG
ideals of Luther Burbank, foremos
plant breeder of the world, history
also will record his influence in thu
developing of better men, as we'll as
better plants, for he regards improve.
ment of mankind as a greater work
than Improvement of plant species.
Il hope that the same laws, as faI
as practicable, which / have discov.
cred and demonstrated in plant life
VIII be applied to the improvement OF
human life," said the dean of plant
scientists in his Santa Rosa home.
"This 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, specially to the Boy
Scouts, playground activities and
school doings, for in these he sees
the beginning of the application to
mankind OF his principles of plant
breeding.
my time is all too short to do all
wish and hope yet to do" he saws.
The improvements of plants, ac-
ccording to Burbank, is in it's earliest
infancy, but "the possibilities are lin
itless," he declares.
I'm mechanics and electricity great
progress already has been made. but
as every scientist knows, it is hardly
beginning" says Burbank, in COM
pairing mechanical and plant knowl-
edge.
After six years of plant breeding
ne enunciates the principles: "Plants
are pliable and amendable to the will
OF man, but this has never been sur
missed by the general public until the
last twenty-five years."
Agrlculturists a few years ago re-
ported to Burbank that the tall stalks
on which sunfowers grew made it
unhandy to harvest the seeds. Bur
bank set to work on the problem, and
this year is marketing seeds of a new
suntiower, which grows on a three
foot stalk. The bloom has been SO
greatly enlarged that it is heavier
producer OF seeds than other varie-
ties and the seeds are white.
Next year he will give the world
new varieties of fruit, six new peach
es, a new prune which does not need
to be dipped before drying, new
plum and new nectarine. He has
also been working several years ON
potatoes in the hope of producing
new variety which will rival his fam
Gus Burbank, grown and used in
greater quantity than any other, and
after countless experiments has mar
rrowed his experimental varieties
down to sixty, from which he will
eventually bring out one or more va
rieties for the world.
The Santa Rosa plant scientist |
having produced many fruits, berries
vegetables, grasses and grains of |
great benefit to mankind, is today Civ
ing a bit more of his attention than
ever before to the development of
beautiful plants and blossoms, al |
though in no measure giving up his
work and interest in food, clothing
and timber-producing plants.
But it Is in the development of
striking colors in plants and flowers.
of pleasing flower fragrances and
new fiavors in fruits that his expert
ments today show breadths of mag
Hundreds of visitors stop in
each day at the low fenc-
es surrounding his experimental plots
IN this city and gaze enraptured at
the shades of some glorified popular
1oWer-some new zinnia, poppy,
gladiolus or larkspur.
100000 New Color Shades
Burbank has 100000 new color
shades and varieties of the gladioIus,
IN every conceivable color and COM Il
blnation of color and of uneuualed
size and freedom of bloom.
His new amaranthus, "Molten
FIRE." is his newest pride. 1t is a
plant from 3 to a feet in height and |
feet across, and whole leaves de-
'elop in iridescent, fiery crimson, sal
non color, hue never before seen on
and or sea in any plant or anything
Else except the intense heat of the
electric furnace 1t retains it's brill
lance of color for three months. Two
'Sears ago there was only one of these
plants in the world.
Constantly increasing publicity for
3urbank's work has resulted in his
grounds here becoming
he Mecca for thousands of scientists
md world notables in every profess
ION. He receives as many of these
IS possible, but the unnumbered thou
ands who come cannot, of course, be
Omitted to the grounds, or his work
Don would have to be discontinued.
lie has no wan average of $50 callers
day, of whom he can see but few.
IN recent Sunday afternoon auto r
mobiles were parked three deep in
he street for the length of a block
eside his gardens.
II would willingly entertain all who
1sh to visit my grounds, yet the
cry nature OF my work requires alb
olute freedom from interruption"
e says.
All of Burbank's business is car
led on by mail only, necessary
1easure because of the demands made
pom his time.