i86 LUTHER BURBANK 



carelessly torn up and thrown down by the dusty road- 

 side? Did you watch it shrink, shrivel, and die? No 

 seeds were ripened for another season's growth. In just 

 this way many of our most beautiful wild flowers are be- 

 coming each year less plentiful. 



Although the life of each plant begins and ends with 

 the seed, yet each has a definite work to perform. They 

 are sometimes spoken of as idly dancing in the sunshine. 

 In reality they are very busy creatures, no doubt finding 

 joy in their work. The poet Wordsworth says: 



"And 'tis my faith that every flower 

 Enjoys the air it breathes." 



Not only do plants in the days of summer gather nour- 

 ishment for their own life and growth, and prepare food 

 for the little baby plants hidden in the seeds, but it is to 

 their industry that we look for our food and much of our 

 clothing, fuel, and shelter. If for one season they ceased 

 to work, there would be no life on the earth. 



The population of the world is increasing. Cities are 

 growing very rapidly and food is becoming each year 

 higher in price. Better and larger crops must be produced. 

 It is then to better and more productive seeds that the 

 nations are looking for food for the increasing millions. 



Now let us consider what would be the result in the 

 food supply if, in grains alone, snugly packed in each little 



