42 LUTHER BURBANK 



and qualities that they may be of greater worth to the 

 world. 



Pupils come from every land seeking admission, many 

 of them having very interesting histories. Some are from 

 the gardens of the King of Italy, others from the royal 

 gardens of Japan, and some have been sent from far-away 

 Siberia and India. There are pupils from Australia and 

 New Zealand, from Alaska and Patagonia, from Europe 

 and South America. 



To secure rare and strange plants men have climbed 

 mountain precipices, forded overflowing streams, and 

 crossed barren plains, many times meeting discomfort and 

 danger in the work. Always, however, the trees and 

 plants of our own land form the largest groups. Not 

 only are those which are commonly cultivated given a 

 place, but often a despised or neglected weed has become 

 a prize pupil in the school. 



Not always because of apparent good qualities do plants 

 obtain a place. Some have hidden properties of great 

 value; others are simply lazy members of a good family, 

 and, by patient care, may be corrected and reformed, so 

 as to become useful citizens of the plant kingdom. Still 

 others are chosen because, under the direction of the mas- 

 ter, they are likely to form new habits and characters. 



Luther Burbank, the teacher, sees wonderful possibili- 

 ties in plant life; but he knows that each desired shade and 

 tint, form and grace, perfume and flavor, must be devel- 



