CHAPTER XXVIII. THE JOYS OF 

 CREATIVE GARDENING 



PERHAPS it is a mistake to discourse 

 in one brief volume on supergar- 

 dening, as well as on ordinary gar- 

 dening, but the conditions described 

 in Chapters XXIV-XXVI are so 

 discouraging that I cannot resist 

 the temptation to add a few pages for the pur- 

 pose of encouraging the retired rich (as well as 

 others who want a life-prolonging hobby and 

 have money enough to engage in creative gar- 

 dening) to become amateur Burbanks, for the 

 purpose of thwarting the vegetable and fruit 

 men who are doing their best to eliminate va- 

 riety and flavor, two things that make eating 

 a source of health as well as of pleasure. 



I have already intimated that the producing 

 of new kinds of plants brings a man nearer the 

 Creator than anything he can do; and the joy 

 of creating is beyond all other pleasures. On 

 page 181 I gave a glimpse of the happiness that 

 comes to Luther Burbank from seeing his new 

 ornamental or useful plants that human eyes 

 had never before beheld. The following final 

 pages of this book are intended to urge on others 

 to share these pleasures of creating, by giving 

 glimpses of the great plant breeder in his magic 

 gardens, besides quoting some of his hints to 

 those who may wish to follow in his footsteps. 

 'The amateur who enters this fascinating field 



