LUTHER BURBANK 



feel distinctly dissatisfied when assured that in 

 this particular case a result had been achieved that 

 had not been forecast. The plant developer had 

 been like a chemist putting together newly discov- 

 ered elements. He knew that he would probably 

 get something interesting, but just what that some- 

 thing was to be could not be predetermined. 

 Two TYPES OF INVENTIONS 



I recall this incident by way of illustrating 

 another phase of the plant developer's art than 

 that illustrated by the development of the canning 

 pea as detailed in the preceding chapter. In that 

 case, it will be recalled, the plant developer was 

 in the position of an inventor called upon to meet 

 a precise set of specifications. He knew from the 

 outset what was to be aimed at and, having 

 acquired a certain craftsmanship, he knew how to 

 set about securing it. 



A large number of inventions in the mechanical 

 world have such an origin as this. 



When Edison started out to find a filament that 

 would show just the right resistance to the elec- 

 tric current, and yet would not be consumed with 

 its own heat, he knew just what he was seeking, 

 and his problem of the development of an incan- 

 descent light bulb was comparable, in a general 

 way, to the problem of producing a canning pea 

 of just the right size and quality. 



[110] 



