THE SHASTA DAISY 



jouraged, and gradually, led onward from year 



DO year, the petals multiplied in number, 



crowded closer and closer into the golden 



jenter, until, finally, a completely perfect 



louble blossom was produced, even larger 



than the Shasta, entirely white. In form it 



suggests the chrysanthemum, though quite 



{distinct from its Japanese friend in character 



md promising to become a notable rival. It 



[differs also in length of blooming time, its 



tperiod extending over five to six months in- 



(stead of the one month of the chrysanthemum. 



Hundreds of flowers have passed through 



some such life history as this at the hands of 



fMr. Burbank. Some have been led in one 



direction, some in another, but all led upward 



|to a more beautiful life, all glorified by his 



touch. Many years of his life have been 



[crowded to the utmost with the details of 



[what may be called utilitarian productions, 



[forms of plant life whose chief value is to add 



to the wealth of nations. It would be quite 



impossible to say how many millions of 



lollars he has thus added, nor would it be in 



the reach of the imagination to estimate what 



tthe world is yet to reap from his sowing. 



145 



