The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-04-12
SIMPLE RITES
FOR BURBANK
Continued From Page y

'uIuerStand1ng winch followed MS
expressions on religion, and which
brought down upon him both con-
domination and applause.
"DO | ignore what is generally
called the spiritual nature of
man? No, il is the corona, the
flower of life, the fruit of which is
altruism, the desire to help our
selves and others to higher and
better thoughts and actiOns-in
other words, to a more perfect
state of harmony with environ
ment," he wrote.
Thousands of kilograms Of condol-
ence have poured in upon the widow
and other members of the household
while tribute to the dead naturalist
has been widespread.
Burbank's death was peaceful. He
passed away in room which over
looked the gardens he loved, his life
slipping away like the dropping of
a plant which had borne it's fruit.
Medical science prolonged the II
year old naturalist S life a few hours
but was baked at every turn In its
attempts to save him following a
h cart attack and physical breakdown
which had kept him abed since
March IS.
Game Fight
The end was anticipated since Sat
urday evening, when DIR. Joseph NJ.
Shaw announced that Burbank was
sinking rapidly and would not live
out the night. His game fight for
life had exhausted him.
With Burbank when he died were
his wife and sister and DR. Shaw,
an old friend Of the Burbank family.
Until the very last day of his ill
ness Burbank held to the hope that
he would soon again be working
with his plants. He had given orders
that his gardeners remain at their
tasks until he could join them.
DIR. Shaw said his breakdown
was due to the mental strain which
he suffered after his recent sensa-
tiOnal declaration that he was an
'infidel." His god was natural
god" he said.
Many persons began writing to
him concerning religious questions,
and in his characteristically friendly
way Burbank attempted personally
to attend to all his communications.
It was impossible. The long hours he
spent in his garden and the tedious
task of his letters soon broke his
health.
Indicative of his natural spirit, the
first day after his illness Burbank
told DR.. Shaw:
Doctor, I am wasting time in
here. ought to be out in the gar
den" The physician forthwith is
sued orders that friends must not
talk to Burbank about his garden
or about religious matters. He
needed complete relaxation.
His Contribution
Burbank's contribution to science
was both individualistic and far
reaching. BY selection and polleniza-
ton he developed $50 new crea-
tons in the fruit, flower and vege-
Fable world which he considered
worthy of preservation.
To obtai nthese he performed ap-
proximately 100000 experiments
in his tireless botanical pursuits.
Among his most outstanding con.
tributions to the plant world were
the Burbank potato, Shasta Daisy
thornless cactus and mammoth
blackberry. He produced many diff
ferent varieties of apples, pears,
plums, and other fruits and vegeta-
bles, adapting them to certain eli
mates and uses.
Carnegie Award
Slowly at first and then more rap
idly came his recognition as a mas
ter in the world Of vegetation. In
1905 the Carnegie Institute award
ed him $4,000 a year for ten years
for experimental purposes.
Burbank was born in Lancaster
Mass, March T. 1S49. His mothers
love Of flowers and her constant
work in her gardens was probably
one Of the main factors in making
him the plant lover that he was He
attended Lancaster Academy, but it
was the study he made himself,
rather than his school work, that
earned him his high position as a
scientist.
In recognition Of his ability Tufts
College gave him the degree of
doctor of sciences in 1905.
He was honored with membership
in various scientific bodies at home
and abroad, including the Royal
Agricultural Society of Sweden and
the Italian Royal Agricultural So
ciety
Lectured ON Evolution
He became special lecturer on
evolution at Stanford University.
In 1915, he married Elizabeth J.
Waters, Hastings, Mich, his sec
rotary. She continued to help him
with his experimental work, and
turned nurse when she became i'll.
Burbank's last public appearance
was March 7, on his seventy-seventh
birthday anniversary. The Ameri-
can Legion of Sonomo, Cal, held a
picnic in his honor at the Luther
Burbank Park.
He laughingly posed for a SQUAD
Of movie men and welded a huge
carving knife over a gigantic cake,
that was covered with seventy-seven
candles. He was jovial and active,
and apparently in good health.
Then, in barely fortnight, came
the stroke that brought. the end