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 fife 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 fife, 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. 



1*5 



