HOME GARDEN FRUITS 53 



hands and last, but by no means least, nurserymen and farmers — 

 who had no "college training" in agriculture, who in no sense 

 considered themselves scientists, but who used what knowledge 

 they had to solve pomological problems for the love of still better 

 knowledge to give to the world. 



Perhaps the greatest service they have rendered is in the origina- 

 tion of new varieties. In this work they were largely gropers 

 because the laws of plant breeding a generation ago were far less 

 understood than today. Through enhanced knowledge this same 

 field of variety origination offers even more wonderful opportunities 

 than in the past. While beyond the scope of this address, I am 

 eager to point out that herein lies the greatest interest for the 

 amateur — this matter of variety origination; for, just as in the 

 past, the originator of new varieties may do his work in a back 

 yard, as did Edward Staniford Rogers in his garden, of which 

 IMarshall P. \Yilder wrote, " It is 150 years old; a cold matted soil, 

 filled with old apple and pear trees, currant bushes, flax and every- 

 thing mingled together ... a close, hived up place in the city of 

 Salem"; nowadays with increased knowledge of the laws of plant 

 breeding we have far greater chances of making fortunate combina- 

 tions of parents and of finding varieties superior to those now under 

 cultivation than in bygone years. 



In support of this contention let it be remembered that Luther 

 Burbank, himself a Massachusetts product, started his business 

 life as a factory hand but became a grower of vegetables and seeds 

 before he became a variety originator. Though the practical 

 results of his work have been exploited, magnified, distorted, and 

 even caricatured by the press, they doubtless compare favorably 

 with those of other less conspicuous plant breeders; but his results, 

 though great, seem to be of smaller consequence than his influence 

 in awakening general interest in plant breeding. He has proved 

 that plants unlike anything hitherto known can be originated, 

 so his work has become an inspiration to countless amateurs who 

 seek to follow in his footsteps or blaze new trails for tliemselves. 

 In this direction therefore lie the greatest rewards, not perhaps of 

 money, but of interest and service in the growing of home garden 

 fruits. 



