76 LUTHER BURBANK 



And doubtless this fact of the permanence of 

 the tree accounts in large measure for the inter- 

 est with which almost anyone will take up the 

 culture of fruits if given the opportunity. Not 

 that we are always thinking of posterity; 

 but one can develop an enthusiasm about the 

 production of something having an ele- 

 ment of permanency that does not attach to 

 such transient things as annual or biennial 

 plants. 



The fruit tree in the old orchard is like an old 

 friend when we get back to it. The mere view of 

 it brings up reminiscences of our youth, and the 

 tree that we planted in childhood may remain 

 as a stimulus to us in old age. 



There is no friendlier compact than that be- 

 tween man and the fruit tree. 



It is an age-long compact withal. Not so 

 ancient as the compact of bees and flowers for 

 as compared with the archaic and honorable order 

 of insects man is a parvenu but far older than 

 human civilization none the less. 



Indeed, it was probably the fruit tree, giving 

 an example of fixity of habitat, that encouraged 

 man to give up the life of a nomad and establish 

 a fixed abode. 



Not unlikely it was the evidence presented by 

 the fruit tree that first suggested to man the pos- 



