The Crime of the Sunberry (Wonderberry) 
"I was reading the other day of the experience of a famous and honored scientist 
who had, after years of patient effort, produced a new food berry which meant a new, 
cheap, useful and delightful food for the whole race. You all know the man, for his 
wonders in the creation and propagation of new and beautiful forms of flower, plant 
and fruit life have made his name a household word. But about the new food berry. 
"When the discovery was given to the world, it and its discoverer were instantly 
attacked, and although the assailants had never seen the new fruit and knew nothing 
about it, they set up a great hue and cry that it was worthless, and even poisonous. 
''From this starting point other horticulturists took up the cry against him and 
the new fruit, and the most malicious and untruthful reports about it became current 
all over the world. Never in the history of horticulture was such a well-organized and 
so persistent a crusade against a man ever launched, and all based absolutely upon 
false assertions. Not one of the envious and jealous had any personal knowledge of 
the new food berry whatsoever, but seeds were procured early and started under glass. 
By April some small seedling plants, three or four inches high, had set and partly 
ripened a few fruits. As might be expected under those conditions, the berries were 
small and tasteless. Here then was proof positive that the thing was worthless, and 
all its enemies and rivals were happy. They met to felicitate one another, to pass 
resolutions, and to write press notices condemning the new fruit, and kept at it until 
the middle of summer, inducing tens of thousands of people who had the plants to 
pull them up and throw them away, thus helping along the crusade against it. 
"By the end of July plants, grown under proper conditions in the open ground, 
all over the country began to mature fruit, and a shower of favorable reports set in. 
At this time the head of the New York Botanical Garden made a report that was 
favorable, after a careful study of the plant growing in the grounds of the Botanical 
Garden, by himself and associate professors. 
"Before the middle of August 'the crime' of the new food berry was fully exposed 
and the motive generally understood. Then came the wailing of those who had been 
misled into destroying their plants. 
"By September it was fully vindicated in all parts of the country and its creator 
was deluged with letters praising it. 
"The discoverer had not been injured, but great damage and annoyance had been 
done to innocent people — how many, the world will never know — more than 350,000 
people had planted seed of the new food berry." — Editorial, "The Woman's Magazine," 
February, 1910. 
"One way to measure your success is by the earnestness with which your com- 
petitors lie about you." 
"The dowers and fruits of California are less wonderful than the flowers and fruits 
which Air. Burbank has made. lie is a unique great genius. In the hope of seeing 
what he has done is the greatest reason why T should come to America. Fie has 
carried on the breeding and selection of plants to Fixed ends. Such a knowledge of 
Nature and such ability to handle plant life would only be possible to an innately high 
genius, lie is a man of whom California and the world should be proud. He is 
already in California highly treasured but not in the right way. He is a man to be 
honored and he should' also be generously helped, but in whatever help is given to 
him he should remain undisturbed. The time will come when he will be as well known 
and as highly cherished in California as he is now among the scientific men of 
Europe."— Dr. Hugo De Vries, Amsterdam, Holland. 
Aug. 30, 1910. 
"ft is amazing what opposition one has in experimenting and the ignorance there 
is to contend with; therefore, my sympathy and admiration of the great work you 
have done is very hearty indeed, and should T be of any use in Europe I shall esteem 
it a privilege." — E. McD., Bristol, England. 
