112 



LUTHER BURBANK 



In the school were strawberry pupils brought from the 

 sand-hills near the coast. In their native home they are 

 wise little plants, for they learned to protect their fruit 

 by growing close to the ground. They sometimes even 



Strawberries. 



hide their red berries in the sand or under their leaves, so 

 that the children have difficulty in finding them; and 

 only those who have learned their habits return from a 

 berry hunt with baskets filled with the sweet, juicy fruit. 



A blending of these two new plants was undertaken, 

 and the master soon had a class of berry pupils ready for 

 Gold Ridge. The day for final examinations came all too 

 soon. The teacher was disappointed, for out of the 

 thousands of plants under training, not one had the de- 

 sired qualities. So more education must be given. 



