LUTHER BURBANK 



"I found the wild Yam which I hunted for so 

 much in Massachusetts, also the yerba buena, a 

 vine which has a pleasant taste like peppermint. 

 (I send you a few leaves.) I also found a nut that 

 no one has seen before (have planted it), and sev- 

 eral (to me) curious plants. I mean to get a piece 

 of land (hire or buy) and plant it, then I can do 

 other work just the same." 



The intention to hire or buy a piece of land 

 was not realized for a long term of months after 

 it was thus confidently expressed. But the time 

 came, after weary waiting, when it was found pos- 

 sible to hire a few acres. Then, although working 

 at carpentry during the day, I was able to devote 

 the long summer evenings to preparation for start- 

 ing a small nursery. 



I had come to California in October, 1875, and 

 it was not until the autumn of the following year 

 that the start in the line of work that had been 

 planned was thus tentatively made. And even 

 then my time of trial was by no means over. For, 

 as has been said, no capital was available with 

 which to push my enterprise, and it was necessary 

 to feel the way, step by step. 



To be sure I could have appealed to my broth- 

 ers, and they would very gladly have helped me, 

 but I was averse to doing this, both from an inher- 

 ent sensitiveness about money, which is almost as 



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