INTERESTING FAILURES 161 



to a universal constituency. In this way 

 Luther Burbank's work is a contribution to 

 the satisfaction of living, and is beyond all 

 price." 



Such, in a way, appreciative though sometimes 

 thoughtless notices of one's work are of course 

 more or less agreeable, and I am bound to admit 

 that what is said about my love of experimenting 

 with any and every kind of plant is altogether 

 true. 



There is one point, however, at which I am 

 forced to part company with the commentator. 

 To me it is a matter of vital consequence as to 

 whether I "produce good commercial varieties or 

 not." It is necessary that I produce valuable, 

 useful varieties, inasmuch as I have all along 

 paid all my heavy expenses by the sale of my 

 products which could never have been the case 

 if they were not improvements on all those pre- 

 viously grown. I have produced hundreds of 

 priceless varieties which have received universal 

 recognition over the whole earth. 



Had I not produced good commercial varieties 

 my practical success would have been something 

 very different from what it has been. 



Profession without possession will do for a 

 time, but the "goods" must be forthcoming for 

 permanent success. 



Vol. 2 Bur. F 



