46 LUTHER BURBANK 



est and sweetest cherries, and are quite welcome to your 

 share. But why persist in the wasteful habit of taking 

 only a bite from each one, and spoiling so many that the 

 master is compelled to protect any especially choice fruit 

 by covering the tree with netting? 



Here is a ripening seed pod, very precious; for it the 

 master has waited years; along comes an inquisitive little 

 bird, who wishes to try the flavor of those very seeds. 

 Ah, ha, little bird, your habits are known, and a paper 

 bag has been snugly tied over the seed pod. Sometimes 

 an enterprising squirrel or rabbit comes in from a neigh- 

 boring field for a meal of nuts or vegetables. The most 

 unwelcome guests, however, are the little brown gophers. 

 More than once have they destroyed priceless bulbs, 

 which could not be replaced. Yet no enmity is felt by the 

 master toward them, for upon roots and bulbs must they 

 depend for their food. 



The young trees and those plants which require a long 

 time for testing are brought from the Santa Rosa experi- 

 ment grounds, as much of the work begun there is com- 

 pleted here. Many workmen are constantly busy pre- 

 paring and cultivating the soil, planting, trimming and 

 training plants, seeing that sufficient food and water are 

 provided, and that each plant is kept healthy. 



Although only reliable men are employed, yet each 

 plant has Burbank's personal attention, as he alone is 

 able to recognize the slight differences in growth or habit. 



