New Britain herald., 1922-09-15
NEED BETTER MEN
 AS WELL AS PLANTS
Burbank, Grower of Flowers, : Makes New Experiments

Santa Rosa. Cal, Sept 15.-(By the Associated Press )-If fulflment comes to the hopes and ideals ot Luther 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 improvements of mankind as a greater work than improvement of plant species.
 T hope that the same laws, as far as practicable, which I have aiscov- cred 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,
 This in a measure, can, must and will be done he asserted,
 Makes Experiments.
 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 saya.
 The improvement of plants, accord ing to Burbank is in its earliest !n- fancy, but the possibilities are linn itless" he declares
 Tn mechanics and electricity great progress already has been made, but, as every scientist knows, it is hardly a beginning" says Burbank, in com pairing mechanical and plant knowl- edge.
 After sixty years of plant breeding he enunoiates the principle Plants are pliable and amenable to the will of man, but this has never been sur missed by the general public until the last twenty-five years"
 Agriculturists a few years ago re- ported to Burbank that the tall stalks on which sunhowers grew made 1t unhandy to harvest the seeds.
 Starts On Problem.
 Burbank set to work on the prob lem, and this year is marketing seeds of new sunflower, which grows on a three foot stalk. The bloom has been so greatly enlarged that it is a 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 drying. a new plum and a new nee tarine. He has also been working several years on potatoes in the hope Of producing a new variety which will rival his famous Burbank" grown and used in greater quantity than any other, and after countless experiments has narrowed his eyper- imental varieties down to sixty, from which he will eventually bring out one or more varieties for the world
 The Santa Rosa plant scientist, having produced many fruits berries, vegetables grasses and grains Of great benefit to mankind, is today gi-ing a bit more of his attention than ever before to the development Of ! beautiful plants and blossoms, all 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,
  favors 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 ganze enraptured at the shades of some glorified popular fower-some new zinnia, poppy,g gladi- olus or larkspur.
 New Colors Made
 Burbank has a hundred thousand new color shades and varieties of the gladiolus, in every conceivable color and combination of color and of un- equaled size and freedom of bloom.
 His new amaranthus Molten Fire" is his newest pride It 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