LUTHER BURBANK 



night, and worked in a damp soil by day, until my 

 strength gave out, and I was stricken with fever 

 and returned to Santa Rosa very ill. But for the 

 kindly ministrations of a good neighbor who, see- 

 ing my need, furnished me fresh milk without 

 hope of reward, it is doubtful whether I should 

 have pulled through. These were indeed dark days. 

 The Land of Promise 



Yet even in this time of trial I was not for a 

 moment oblivious to the natural advantages and 

 beauties of the country to which I had come, not- 

 withstanding the inhospitable reception. Letters 

 of the period, as preserved by my mother and sis- 

 ter, are filled with enthusiasm over the marvels 

 of the new land. I may quote one of these letters 

 as showing the impression that California made 

 on me, and the opportunities that it appeared to 

 offer for carrying out my treasured project, if ever 

 means could be found to make a beginning. 



"Santa Rosa is situated," I wrote, "in a mar- 

 velously fertile valley containing one hundred 

 square miles. I firmly believe from what I have 

 seen that this is the chosen spot of all the earth 

 as far as nature is concerned. The climate is per- 

 fect; the air is so sweet that it is a pleasure to 

 drink it in; the sunshine is pure and soft. 



"The mountains which gird the valley are 

 lovely; then the valley is covered with majestic 



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