Luther burbaKK 



in that, giving every moment of spare time to the 

 work of investigating the mysteries of plant life. 



Every plant in the garden and every shrub and 

 tree and herb in field or woods was scrutinized 

 now with new interest, always with first thought 

 as to its tendency to variation. Where I had cas- 

 ually noticed before that individual flowers of a 

 species differed in details as to form or color or 

 productivity, accurate notes were now made of 

 such variations and the query was raised as to 

 whether they gave suggestion of the possibility of 

 developing new races under cultivation. 



Some of the early experiments were full of 

 interest, and the knowledge gained through mak- 

 ing them laid the foundation for later successes 

 in plant development. But I had not proceeded 

 far before it seemed clear that such experiments as 

 were contemplated could not be carried out to 

 best advantage in the climate of New England. 

 My thoughts turned to California, whither two of 

 my half brothers had gone many years before. 

 What was reported of the climate of the Pacific 

 Coast region suggested this as the location where 

 such experiments as were planned might best be 

 carried out. 



And when the first conspicuous success in the 

 development of a new race of plants had been 

 achieved, through the production of the Burbank 



[58] 



