356 LUTHER BURBANK 



from the stage of culture to which selection has 

 brought it. The reason for this is that the con- 

 ditions imposed by cultivation are different from 

 the conditions of nature and the special develop- 

 ment of the plant has taken place along the lines 

 of man's tastes and needs without special regard 

 to the needs of the plant itself. 



But if you remove the artificial conditions, so 

 that the wild conditions of nature again prevail, 

 then selection will take place in accordance with 

 the needs of the plant itself, and this will imply a 

 partial reversion, in the course of a few genera- 

 tions, to something like the original wild state 

 of the plant. 



Unnatural Standards of Civilization 



Now the conditions of human civilization are 

 no less artificial. 



Standards of excellence among civilized men 

 are quite different from the standards of excel- 

 lence among barbaric races. We do not count a 

 man as the foremost individual in his community 

 because he has the physical ability to wield a 

 heavier club than his neighbor, nor because of the 

 ruthless freedom with which he exercises his 

 superior strength. 



Among savage tribes mere physical strength, 

 coupled with brute cunning and ferocity, may 



