New Britain herald., 1926-04-12
DEATH REVEALS TRAGEDY OF LOST
 LOVE IN LUTHER BURBANK'S LIFE

garden he love dso well,
 Burbank's list written words were Of the spiritual nature Of man.
 Do l ignore what is generally called the spiritual nature Of man :? It Is the corona, the flower of life the fruit Of which is altruism, the desire to help ourselves and others 10 higher and better thoughts and actions-in other words. 10 a more perfect state Of harmony and en- vironmont,"
 Ills last illness came shortly oftcr he made the announcement that he was an "inhdel," explaining that he morcI" meant he was unable to ac- cept the arbitrary handmade creeds and orthodox ideas Of heaven and hell A flood Of telcgrams and per- sonal messages overwhelmed him in his study in his garden.
 Dean Of Plant Breeders
 Acknowledged the dean or plant breeders and leader in modern crea- tive plant development, tho name of Luther Burbank became d household word throughout the civilized world. Virtually his whole life was devoted to scientific plant breeding and many Of his more than 100000 cyperi. ments with various forms of vcecta- ton attained such marvellous results that they won him tho title of Plant Wizard"
 Early In life Burbank evinced T great love for growing things. select ing plants rather than animals as his pets. His first notable success was achieved at the age Of 22. when he happened 10 flud q seed ball of the Early Rose potato, which rarely bear seed. From this he developed inc world-famous Burbank potato that has spread to every portion of the globe and which is said 10 exert Il greater influence upon tho food SUD- pl% of humanity than any other single food plant.
 Moved to California
 soon after breeding this potato, which brought him neither fame nor money at the time. Burbank moved 10 California. where he obtained em- ploynent as farm hand He con- tinued as a laborcr until able 10 ac- quir" small farm in tho town of santa Rosa, some 50 miles north of San T'raOci-ro Iy~itI, ,I,i. z,,.n i, ginning he undertook the series of experiments which long had been uppormost in his mind. Theraftcr his work was continuous and tirelcSs. occupyin" nearly 14 hours . day on the average.
 BurhaNk vas born at Lancaster. Mass, March z. lS49, son Of Samuel W. and Olive (Rossl, Of English and scotch ancestry. H. was the 18th Of , children horn on his fathers @0o nrre farm, He attended the Lancaster Academy. from which he was an honor gra1uate.
 Sp'nelcss Cactus
 Next 70 the potato, tho accomplish. n"Nt which brought first fame to Burbank was the spinolcss cactus, he turned worthless 1eecrt growth into q valuable fcraGo ana rui'ng plant. I> recognition of this work l'o received in 1912 2 United States grant. C. ,gress under special 'ct turning over 7,6<0 acres of nom rrigalnlc land 10 be located either in Nevada CT Arizona.
 l. has been ostimatcd that Bur )auk's 10n,0o0 CT moro experiments with plant life involved the plant nc, pollenation. observation and 'rOpa @a ion or destruction of a bil, ion in1ivilual vee"tarlc growths. ! rom this vast number. however, ! rnly %E5 woro selected and recom- oond"l hy him as of value 10 hu- i rGnity. %on,o Of these were under i lis observation for @I years before . 'oirS given 10 the world. i
 Several fine varieties of spirrlcse blackberry, now grown around the . ' orld, Wern bred from T wild va : iaty that was corsidnred useless in 'S rativc stats. A certain variety ot under Burbank's magic ouNh. inorcasei its Stnlks from the izo of q lead pencil 10 that of T mans wrist and was made perpetual i instead of bearing for few weeks 'nly. Gamers appealed to him for
 perfect pea, on" which would ma