TWO HOURS WITH LUTHEB BURBANK, ETC. 



381 



ten hold of, what is the secret of his method of getting quick re- 

 sults. I was a little apprehensive that I would have no chance to 

 learn. He is a man who will not sell his time for $250.00 an hour. 

 The moments are as diamonds to him. He is very jealous of his 

 time, but all the same he treated me royally and did not charge me 

 a cent. I took pity on him in his overworked condition and did 

 not want to be with him too long, but thought I would ratner come 

 again. 



Original tree of Burbaiik Plum. Millions of trees have been grown from it. 



His secret, as I see it, is the application of the law laid down 

 by Darwin in regard to the variation of plants : "Excess of food 

 causes variation." He has three or four acres around his house, 

 and this made up into beds, and the soil is filled as full of commer- 

 cial fertilizers and plant food in general as it is possible to get it. 

 This "excess of food causes variation." Take a wild plant from its 

 accustomed environment where for thousands of years it has ac- 

 quired fixity of habit. Put a plant of that nature in this highly 

 favorable environment, and it will soon show variation. This is the 

 practice he follows with plants, and it saves an immense amount of 

 energy and time. Through ages of natural selection a species of 

 plant acquires characteristics which it transmits true to seed. This 



