The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-04-13
PLANT WIZARD
TO BE BURIED
!. TOMORROW EVE


his pets. His first notable success
was achieved at the age of %, when
he happened to find seed ball OF
the Early Rose potato, which rarely
bears seed. From this he developed
the world-famous Burbank potato that
has spread to every portion Of the
globe and which, is said to exert a
greater influence upon the food sup
ply of humanity than any other single
food plant.
Soon after breeding this potato
which brought him neither fame moi
money at the time, Burbank moved
to California. where he obtained en-
tinued as a laborer until able ia
acquire Il small farm in the town OF
Santa Rosa, some so miles north OF
San Francisco. With this small begin
ming he undertook the series Of ex-
periments which long had been upper
most in his mind. Thereafter his
work was continuous and tirelcss,
occupying nearly II hours day on
the average.
Burbank was born at Lancaster,
Mass. March Z. 1849, son Of Samuel
w. and Olive (Ross), of English and
Is children born on his fathers 300
acre farm. He attended the Lancaster
Academy, from which he was an honor
graduate.
Gets Congressional Grant
Next to the potato, the accomplish
mcnt which brought first fame to
Burbank was the spinelcss cactus.
whereby he turned a worthless desert
growth into a valuable forage and
fruiting plant. In recognition of this
w1rk he received in 1912 q United
States grant, Congress under special
act turning over 1850 acres of nom
irrigablc land to be located either in
California, Nevada or Arizona.
1t has been estimated that Bur-
banks 100000 or more experiments
with plant life involved the planting.
pollenation, observation and propaga-
lion or destruction Of billion i'm
dividual vegetable growths. From
this vast number, however, only 3S5
were selected and recommended by
him rs Of value to humanity. Some
of these were under his observation
for IS years before being given to
the world.
Several fine varieties OF spinclcss
blackberry, now grown around the
world, were bred from wild variety
that was considered useless in it's
native state. A certain variety Of
rhubarb. under iBurbank's magic
touch, increased it's stalks from the
size of lead pencil to that of
mans wrist. and was made perpetual,
instead of bearing for a few weeks
only. Gamers appealed to him for q
perfect pea. one which would mature
all of it's crop. retain uniformity of
size and all ripcn at the same time.
After three years of work he met the
demand.
Flowers, fruits, grains, grasses, We
getables. even orchard and forest
trees were improved and given to the
world in new usefulness Though
months and years of patient and fire.
qucntly disc0uraging experiments.
Patience Was Chief Requisite
Wonderful as many of Burbanks
achievements with vegetable. plant
and flower life seem to the layman, the
methods by which they were accom-
plished were not in themselves re-
markable. Patience was the chief re-
quisite t0shis success. Deciding first
what he wished to create, re-makc or
improve upon in the vegetable world,
he began by carefully selecting ro-
bust specimens, allowing them to 60
to seed. then experimenting with the
seeds under widely different condi-
tions Of climate, fertilization and
nourishment. The product would in
turn be submitted to radical changes
from it's natural elements and the pro-
duet Of this would undergo further
experimentation and so the artificial
evolution progressed until the final
result either net the wizards rel
quircmcnts or was abandoned as uscL
less.
When experiments with seeds alone
were not entirely satisfactory. graft
ing upon the seeds or upon fresh
young shoots often was employed.
It was through . combination Of these
methods, fortified BY his inexhausti-
pie patience, that enabled Burbank