LUTHER BURBANK 



the tree accounts in large measure for the interest 

 with which almost anyone will tal^e up the culture 

 of fruits if given the opportunity. Not that we are 

 always thinking of posterity; but one can develop 

 an enthusiasm about the production of something 

 having an element of permanency that does not 

 attach to such transient things as annual or bien- 

 nial plants. 



The fruit tree in the old orchard is like an old 

 friend when we get back to it. The mere view of 

 it brings up reminiscences of our youth, and the 

 tree that we planted in childhood may remain as 

 a stimulus to us in old age. 



There is no friendlier compact than that be- 

 tween man and the fruit tree. 



It is an age-long compact withal. Not so 

 ancient as the compact of bees and flowers — for 

 as compared with the archaic and honorable order 

 of insects man is a parvenu — ^but far older than 

 human civilization none the less. 



Indeed, it was probably the fruit tree, giving 

 an example of fixity of habitat, that encouraged 

 man to give up the life of a nomad and establish 

 a fixed abode. 



Not unlikely it was the evidence presented by 

 the fruit tree that first suggested to man the possi- 

 bility of raising a supply of foods from the soil, 

 and thus lured him away from the precarious 



[8] 



