MEN INFLUENTIAL IN IMPKOVING AGRICULTURE. 31 



years to grow the prune trees. But what he did then started the 

 agricultural world along a new route. The almond is very closely 

 related to the prune, and he decided to make the almond tree bear 

 prunes, since the almond could be planted at once. Therefore, he 

 planted a large quantity of almond seed, inserted prune buds in the 

 almond plants, and in nine months he was ready to fill the order. 

 This achievement brought him money and considerable fame, and 

 within a short time he left the nursery business and became a plant 

 breeder. 



For many years his great talent has been devoted to the improve- 

 ment of trees, flowers, vines, shrubs, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. 

 This improvement is brought about in three ways: (1) By improving 

 the old plant, (2) by combining the good qualities of wild plants 

 with those of their cultivated relatives, and (3) by originating 

 entirely new varieties of plants. In carrying out this work he first 

 takes the pollen from one plant and puts it on the stigma of another 

 plant of the same kind; then he gathers and plants the seed which 

 ripens from the flower he has thus pollinated. As the new plants 

 grow, he selects for perpetuation those which show the qualities he 

 desires. 



Constant improvement upon nature has been Mr. Burbanl^'s life- 

 work. Some of the most wonderful results which he has obtained by 

 scientific breeding and crossing of plants are: A Wickson plum as 

 large as a turkey's egg; the plum-cot, which combines the taste and 

 appearance of the plum with those of the apricot ; the " shasta daisy," 

 vrhich has several rows of petals and produces flowers 4 inches 

 across; a calla lily 3 feet in circumference and another one only 1 

 inch in diameter; black roses, and an amaryllis as big as a football. 

 In addition, Mr. Burbank has made very many practical improve- 

 ments on the potato, the plum, the walnut, chestnut, and many kinds 

 of flowers. He has also " invented " several new kinds of berries, by 

 ingeniously crossing a number of varieties from all over the world. 



On Mr. Burbank's estate in California as many as 80,000 lilies are 

 in full bloom at the same time. " No horticulturist ever worked on 

 so vast a scale nor in so scientific a manner as Mr. Burbank." He is 

 still busily engaged in producing new fruits, flowers, and vegetables 

 to nourish the bodies and please the senses of all humanity. 



So successful has he become that the feeble lad who once did menial 

 service and slept with the chickens is one of the most famous men in 

 the world. Wealth has come to him, as well as fame, and his work 

 is studied by learned men the world over. He knows the habits of 

 plants as the mechanic knows the movement of machinery, as the 

 sailor knows the motion of the waves and the wind, and as you or I 

 know the peculiarities of our neighbors. 



