THE CREATION OF NEW TREES 
trees, the man who began them would long 
have been dead before anything like important 
results would have been attained, thus largely 
eliminating continuity of effort and_ satisfac- 
tory personal supervision. Again, what was 
there to be gained in attempting to improve 
the trees of the world as they stand? And, 
again, there was the improbability of anything 
like satisfactory results in any fertilization— 
the whole scheme was interesting but specula- 
tive. Nor was there any practical bearing,— 
where could there be found any scientific 
value in the plan? 
In all lines of Mr. Burbank’s work the most 
satisfactory answer to the arguments of those 
who hold that, because such and such a thing 
has never yet been accomplished, therefore, it 
cannot be accomplished, is a fact. It was so 
in this instance. All that was necessary to do 
was to point to a single row of trees standing 
in front of his home at Santa Rosa, just out- 
side the white fence that surrounds his 
grounds. They are noble trees, tall, wide- 
spreading, stately, pleasant to look upon, dig- 
nified and substantial as trees go, not weak or 
irresolute, possessing that indefinable attribute 
45 
