LUTHER BURBANK

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 September 1927, Page 3

LUTHER BURBANK

THE MAGICIAN OF CALIFORNIA. Miss Jeannie Macdonald contributes to the “National Review” an account of the remarkable work done by the late Luther Burbank, of California, in the breeding and crossing of plants. The son of a New England farmer, his natural bent was towards the study of plants and flowers, and he ultimately devoted his life to it. His first success was in developing potatoes, but his outlook was immensely widened by reading Darwin’s work on “The Variations of Animals and Plants Under Domestication.” In 1875 he established himself in California, where his efforts were further influenced by Darwin’s book »n “The Effects of Cross and Self-Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom,” which inspired him to systematise natural methods. Miss Macdonald quotes the following example of his work: Burbank’s aim was to conduct his experiments along two lines that had never been thought of before. The first was the accomplishment in a few plant generations of what nature , required hundreds or even thousands of years to accomplish. The second was to experiment, not in a circumscribed field of half a dozen plants or varieties of plants, but on hundreds of thousands. This speedingup process started with an ordei- from a man who wanted 20,000 prune trees to plant an orchard, to be delivered in nine months. To fulfill the order for the 20,000 prune trees his first requisite was to get a sturdy but rapidly sprouting tree stock, his choice falling on the almond; as it takes hold readily and grows quickly, unlike nearly all stone fruits. He found 20,000 almond nuts of even quality, and after getting them sprouted and planted out, they were high enough to be budded by the end of June. Meanwhile he had. arranged to be supplied with 20,000 prune buds and these with the help of a large force of experts, were budded into the almond seedlings. When they made good ufiions he broke off the tops of the young trees, and left them hanging; this eliminated the almond side of the family without killing the tree, but forced most of the nourishment in to the' buds. The prune buds took hold, and in a few weeks what had started out as an almond was a plum. Within'the time stipulated for delivery 19,500 trees were ready for the delighted' customer, who declared it was the work of a wizard. The result of this first big experiment was a great satisfaction to Burbank, as it proved his theory that Nature could be hurried, used, and directed by man.