CHAPTER VIII 



LUTHER BURBANK 



TN any consideration of the dominant forces 

 -*- manifested in this regeneration of the 

 earth, we may not overlook the powerful influ- 

 ence of the greatest of all plant-breeders, 

 Luther Burbank. As the study of new con- 

 ditions involves the earth and its products as 

 well, we may turn briefly to the work of Mr. 

 Burbank as particularly suggestive of great 

 and novel events. 



The New Earth abounds in surprises. It 

 has apparently discarded its older prosaic self, 

 partly because it has become so much more 

 a source of happiness for man, partly because 

 so many strange, and, indeed, spectacular, 

 changes have been effected. It has been a 

 rare alchemy which has been wrought in the 

 alembic of the agriculturists, the transmut- 

 ing of the lead of the commonplace and often 

 the iron of the obnoxious into the gold of 

 dehght and the sterling silver of service. 



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