INTRODUCTION 



modest, and as the writer was given permission 

 to make snapshots quite without restriction, we 

 are able to present unique views of Mr. Burbank 

 in action views that will be highly appreciated 

 by plant lovers who have not been privileged to 

 visit Santa Rosa in person, and to whom the per- 

 sonality of the famous experimenter is the sub- 

 ject of legitimate interest. 



It will be seen that the subject-matter of the 

 present volume is divided into three parts : the 

 first dealing with the life and personality of Mr. 

 Burbank, and with an outline of his theories ; the 

 second with a detailed treatment of his practical 

 methods as applied in orchard and garden and 

 field and forest ; and the third with an attempt to 

 interpret his work in its possible application to 

 what he has picturesquely spoken of as the breed- 

 ing of the human plant. The last-named subject 

 carries us somewhat afield from Mr. Burbank 's 

 direct activities, but it deals with matters of obvi- 

 ous importance, and matters in which Mr. Bur- 

 bank himself takes the keenest interest. It should 

 be added that the chief part of the matter in- 

 cluded in this concluding section of the present 

 work has appeared as a series of monographs is- 

 sued by the Luther Burbank Society (distributed 

 to its members only), and is reproduced here by 

 courtesy of that organization. 



[xii] 



