The Forward Movement in Plant-Breeding 323 



His place abounds in interesting and surprising things, 

 just as would be expected of any man's place if conducted 

 under similar conditions (Figs. 101-103), and many of the 

 things will undoubtedly have great value. His work has 

 been so much written about that it is not necessary to 

 make any catalogue of the things that are under his hand. 

 It is not too much to hope that some of his productions, 

 as the plumcots, may be the starting-points of strong and 

 noble lines of evolution. Some of those that have been 

 much heralded are of doubtful economic value. 



The value of Mr. Burbank's work lies above all merely 

 economic considerations. He is a master worker in mak- 

 ing plants to vary. Plants are plastic material in his 

 hands. He is demonstrating what can be done. He is 

 setting new ideals and novel problems. Heretofore, 

 gardeners and other horticulturists have grown plants 

 because they are useful or beautiful : Mr. Burbank grows 

 them because he can make them take on new forms. 

 This is a new kind of pleasure to be got from gardening, 

 a new and captivating purpose in plant growing. It is a 

 new reason for associating with plants. 



