LUTHER BURBANK 



affairs, from learned societies and from institu- 

 tions of learning. 



Thousands of visitors have made the pilgri- 

 mage to his home in Santa Rosa, California, 

 every year. The most determined effort has 

 been made on Mr. Burbank's part to lessen the 

 number of these visitors, not because he has 

 anything secret in his work, for it is all as 

 open as the day, not because he holds himself 

 aloof from people, for no man takes a livelier 

 interest in men and affairs; but because his 

 work demands that he be left alone. His 

 grounds at Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, his 

 larger proving place some eight miles from 

 Santa Rosa, are absolutely private. No person 

 has any right to disregard the plainly written 

 signs which have been posted at his gates. 

 Not only do visitors consume much of his 

 time, thus wearing heavily upon his strength, 

 but they interrupt him in the midst of experi- 

 ments which demand constant supervision. 

 Thus the loss is two-fold, to the man in energy 

 wasted, to the world in new achievements. 



Very much of beginning work in the tests 

 commences at Santa Rosa. Here, on the 

 grounds where Mr. Burbank has his home, are 



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