THE CREATION OF NEW TREES 



trees, the man who began them would long 

 have been dead before anything like important 

 results would have been attained, thus largely 

 eliminating continuity of effort and satisfac- 

 tory personal supervision. Again, what was 

 there to be gained in attempting to improve 

 the trees of the world as they stand? And, 

 again, there was the improbability of anything 

 like satisfactory results in any fertilization — 

 the whole scheme was interesting but specula- 

 tive. Nor was there any practical bearing, — 

 where could there be found any scientific 

 value in the plan? 



In all lines of Mr. Burbank's work the most 

 satisfactory answer to the arguments of those 

 who hold that, because such and such a thing 

 has never yet been accomplished, therefore, it 

 cannot be accomplished, is a fact. It was so 

 in this instance. All that was necessary to do 

 was to point to a single row of trees standing 

 in front of his home at Santa Rosa, just out- 

 side the white fence that surrounds his 

 grounds. They are noble trees, tall, wide- 

 spreading, stately, pleasant to look upon, dig- 

 nified and substantial as trees go, not weak or 

 irresolute, possessing that indefinable attribute 



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