CHAPTER II 



GENERAL METHODS OF WORK 



BEFORE passing to the individual crea- 

 tions of Mr. Burbank, it will be of inter- 

 est to consider the general plan of his life- 

 work, reserving for later chapters the minutiae 

 of the methods, so presented and so fortified 

 by advice from Mr. Burbank that the ama- 

 teur, no less than the professional, may receive 

 suggestions for the prosecution of plant-breed- 

 ing, one of the most fascinating occupations 

 in the world, and one full of great practical 

 possibilities. Indeed, as Mr. Burbank puts it, 

 results of enormous value to the race may at 

 any time come from the work of any man 

 who takes up plant -breeding with patience 

 and intelligent interest. 



The aim of Mr. Burbank, aside from that 

 paramount object always overshadowing all 

 else, to give aid to the race, is threefold: 



1. The improvement of old varieties of 

 fruits, flowers, grasses, trees and vegetables. 



