LUTHER BURBANK-HIS 

 PATIENCE REWARDED 



THE PERIOD OF GREAT ACHIEVEMENT 



THE purchase of the farm at Sebastapol was 

 made, as recorded in the preceding chap- 

 ter, on the 28th of December, 1885. As 

 this was to be the important testing ground for 

 the chief companies of my trees and flowers, it 

 may perhaps be of interest to describe somewhat 

 in detail the farm itself and its topographical sur- 

 roundings. In particular an idea should be given 

 of the indigenous flora of the region, because many 

 of the wild species were utilized in experiments of 

 great interest and sometimes of importance. 



The picture thus presented of the environment 

 of the work will serve, perhaps, to give a clearer 

 understanding of some of its details. 



The plot of land at Sebastopol was known at 

 the time of its purchase as the Gold Ridge farm, 

 and that name has been retained, although the 

 place has usually been referred to in the preceding 



[VOLUME XII CHAPTER III] 



