112 LUTHER BURBANK 



would by itself go far toward solving the prob- 

 lem of reforestation. The oaks quite frequently 

 hybridize in a state of nature. 



Granted a producer of soft white wood such as 

 probably can be made by combining the white 

 pine with some of its allies; a producer of hard 

 cabinet wood such as a hybrid between the 

 British oak and the American white oak would 

 probably constitute; and the hybrid walnuts 

 already in existence as producers of woods of 

 the hardest and finest texture for cabinet pur- 

 poses — granted further that the other new trees 

 have the capacity for growth which the hybrid 

 walnuts show — and a triumvirate of trees would 

 be attained that could be depended on to go 

 forth and gladden the devastated hillsides and 

 valleys with trees that would jointly meet 

 every need of carpenter and cabinetmaker, 

 adding incalculable billions to the wealth of 

 our nation. 



And of course we need not by any means con- 

 fine attention to these few most typical trees. 

 There are beeches and chestnuts that are near 

 relatives of the oak, each of which serves its own 

 particular purpose as the provider of wood hav- 

 ing unique quality. The beech and birch, for 

 example, are prized by the chairmaker for his 

 furniture, and for the making of carpenter tools 



