THE SHASTA DAISY 
couraged, and gradually, led onward from year 
to year, the petals multiplied in number, 
crowded closer and closer into the golden 
center, until, finally, a completely perfect 
double blossom was produced, even larger 
than the Shasta, entirely white. In form it 
suggests the chrysanthemum, though quite 
distinct from its Japanese friend in character 
and promising to become a notable rival. It 
differs also in length of blooming time, its 
period extending over five to six months in- 
stead of the one month of the chrysanthemum. 
Hundreds of flowers have passed through 
some such life history as this at the hands of 
Mr. Burbank. Some have been led in one 
direction, some in another, but all led upward 
to a more beautiful life, all glorified by his 
touch. Many years of his life have been 
crowded to the utmost with the details of 
what may be called utilitarian productions, 
forms of plant life whose chief value is to add 
to the wealth of nations. It would be quite 
impossible to say how many millions of 
dollars he has thus added, nor would it be in 
the reach of the imagination to estimate what 
the world is yet to reap from his sowing. 
145 
