72 LUTHER BURBANK 



their store of nutriment and moisture beyond 

 reach. 



There is a reason for these spines. 



What other reason could there be than that 

 these are nature's provisions for self-defense? 



Here is the sagebrush, with a bitterness as 

 irritant almost as the sting of a bee, the euphor- 

 bia as poisonous as a snake, the cactus as well 

 armored as a porcupine — and for the same rea- 

 son that bees have stings, that snakes have fangs 

 that porcupines have arrowlike spines — for self- 

 protection from some enemy which seeks tc 

 destroy. 



Self-preservation comes before self-sacrifice 

 in plant life as it sometimes does in human 

 life. 



The apple, cherry, peach, and plum trees in 

 our orchards bear luscious fruits in abundance; 

 the roses, geraniums, and lilies surrounding our 

 dwellings seem to compete to see which may give 

 us the greatest delight. 



But is it not because we have selected, fos- 

 tered, nurtured, and cared for them? 



Is it not because we have made it easy for 

 them to live and to thrive? 



Is it not because we have relieved them of the 

 responsibility of defense and reproduction that* 

 they have rewarded our kindly care by bloom- 



