SOME RESULTS OF MR. LUTHER BURBANK'S LIFE WORK. 



known to require description here. His many marvelous originations have proved of 

 enormous value to humanity. Among those which have perhaps been of the greatest 

 usefulness is the Burbank potato, which, it is estimated, has been worth twenty mil- 

 lion dollars to the people of the United States. Mr. Burbank has lately originated a 

 variety of rhubarb, much superior in quality to any known rhubarb, which grows the 

 year round. His wonderful Shasta daisy flares out with snowy brilliancy. The plum- 

 cot, a cross between the apricot and plum, and the white blackberry are well known. 

 Mr. Burbank has often been called a wizard, but he is not a wizard; he is a scientist. 

 His results are not the results of an instant, but of a lifetime. He took the shell of 

 the walnut and thinned it until the birds could peck through it; conversely, he thick- 

 ened it again until It became of its greatest commercial value. He is the Edison of 

 plant life; the bold and daring originator who seizes upon an idea and by the subtle 

 alchemy of hard work, natural aptitude and long experience, impresses his idea upon 

 nature so that it remains thereafter stamped for all time. Mr. Burbank has lived in 

 California for almost a generation. He chose to live here because he found conditions 

 best suited to his experiments, with thousands of plants of the temperate and semi- 

 tropic zones. 



Personally, Mr. Burbank is delightful. Last year six thousand visitors called upon 

 him, and to each of them he gave at least five minutes of his time and to some he gave 

 much more. His secretary says that on one occasion some frail plants were perishing be- 

 cause they required attention, yet Mr. Burbank continued to talk with his visitors 

 rather than turn them away, although his loss could not be replaced by several thou- 

 sand dollars. In person, Mr. Burbank is slight, almost frail, and owing to the tremendous 

 strain upon his constitution, for several years he has not been in the best of health. 

 It is a pleasure to know, through the press, that Mr. Andrew Carnegie has created a 

 fund which will enable Mr. Burbank to devote his whole time to his researches. If 

 Mr. Carnegie had never done anything else but this he would deserve to be remem- 

 bered for all time. Mr. Burbank is modest and it is through the recognition of his won- 

 derful services as a plant-breeder, and not to his individual efforts for himself (for he 

 has made none) that Mr. Carnegie has created this fund. Mr. Burbank has a gentle 

 face, almost sad, but in conversation It illumines up immensely. I should say his age 

 was about 55 years. 



A reproduction of Mr. Burbank's spineless cactus will be found on the frontispiece 

 of this issue. * * * * * 



WHAT SETTLERS SAY-Continued 



CHICO, California, Dec. 23, 1904. 



The California Promotion Committee, San Francisco, California: — 



Gentlemen: Yours of recent date received requesting that I write brief- 



ly my impressions of the State. I will gladly do so, knowing that the work of your Com- 

 mittee is doing a great deal of good, both in our State, and also to those in the East 

 who are contemplating a change of location. For nearly a year before coming here I 

 read very carefully the literature received from you to find out, as best I could, where 

 was the best place to locate, having but moderate means at my disposal. I got valuable 

 information from your Committee, and finally made up my mind to come to Chlco. 

 Thirteen months ago we left our home in Illinois and came directly here. There were 

 seven In our party, as a relative and family came with us. Landing in Chico, we at once 

 set about to find a suitable house to establish our families in, but we found that all 

 were taken, so we bought a house which was soon to be completed. We have found 

 everything fully up to our expectations. 



I have found a very satisfactory business in my line (bookkeeping) and am so well 

 pleased with the 8tate that In addition to my home In Chlco, have bought ten acres of 

 land near the city and Intend to buy more as soon as I can dispose of my property In 

 Illinois. 



You ask how I compare California with my Eastern home. I have many good things 

 to say of my Eastern home, but for climate and other conditions, California far out- 

 strips all, and I have had a home In Maine, Minnesota, South Dakota and Illinois. I 

 would advise anyone having $1000 or more, who contemplates a change, to come to 

 California. I have no desire to move back to the East. 



Thanking you for your courtesies to me, I remain, 



Very truly yours, (Signed.) WILLIAM F. KENNEDY. 



