OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19762, 13 April 1926, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR LUTHER BURBANK. A NOTED BOTANIST. (Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright ) NEW YORK, April 11. A message from Santa Rosa, California, says that Mr Luther Burbank, the noted plant cultu’Hst, died early on Sunday at his home after two weeks’ illness. His death was attributed to nervous exhaustion, complicated by heart attack. The scientist’s age, which was 77, together with his inability to assimilate any but limited quantities of nourishment, proved a handicap.—A. and N.Z. Cable. Luther Burbank, usually known as “the Plant Wizard,” has probably contributed as much as any man in his day and generation to the real benefit of mankind. He succeeded by careful selection and breeding in producing almost numberless plant “mules,” often of infinitely greater food value than the parents, and often resisting disease better tnan the stocks from which they were bred. This truly reat man was esteemed for his extreme kindness, his modesty, and his remarkable lack of ostentation. He was born in Massachusetts on March 7, 1849, and was educated at Lancaster Academy. He was always devoted to the study of Nature, especially plant life. He moved to Santa Rosa, California, in 1875, where he conducted Burbank’s experimental farms. He was the originator of numerous plants, and had over 3000 extensive experiments under way, and had over distinct botanical specimens from all parts cf the world. He raised more than 1,000,000 plants a year for testing. He was special lecturer on evolution at the Leland Stanford, Jun., University, and was the author of several works on botanical subjects. ADMIRAL MARTEN. LONDON, April 11. Tlie death is announced of Admiral Marten, the German admiral, who was commander at the Dardanelles in the early stages of the Great War.—A. and N.Z. Cable.