Stories of Luther Burbank's plant school

Front matter

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Introduction

Luther Burbank is a new manner of man, doing a new work. This book tells the story of how the man became what he is, and hov/ he learned to do the wonderful things SQ many have heard of, but about which so few really know. It is written for the children, yet many an older person can glean with interest from its pages, and no doubt it will be the cherished volume of many a nature lover, — a thoughtful gift to many a lover of flowers, serving to open wide the hidden laws of plant and tree life.

The thought of these stories is in line with the spirit of the age. To unfold the use of natural law and to use natural force as a leverage to make mankind more comfortable and happy, giving the soul a chance to expand— that is the problem of the ages. We have harnessed water power, steam, electricity. We have vaguely kinown that species of plants were susceptible of improvement. Even the Indian by a sort of unconscious selection improved his corn. Now suddenly it has burst on the world that plants by cross-pollenation and selection, by care, study of habits and fertilizers, may have their power as food producers and for beauty multiplied by the score or even by the hundreds. How is it done ? How can it be done? This little book is an attempt to open this door to knowledge.

Among certain classes of American people the drift is clearly to the farm. In fact farm life has a charm for most people that cannot be conquered. The effect of rapid transportation, quick and easy communication, is to put the farm a dozen miles from the city's center closer than the villa which, a score of years ago, was a mile's walk away. Once educate the public into the riches of scientific growth of plants and animals and the farmer will no longer be falsely looked upon by the city-bred as plebeian or peasant. New methods of farm life are to make human life, as far as it can be on this globe, the Eden where "every day turns a fresh inspiring page, each season is a stronger chapter, and life is a continual joyous revelation."

The aim in writing this book has been to build an interesting and practical science reader for children. In further spirit of the times it has been couched in story form. Selections from the stories, with comments by the teacher, may be read aloud to the fourth, fifth or sixth grade, and this with great advantage.

Its most effective work is to be done in the seventh and eighth grades where it will go very far to make a success of nature study, agriculture and school gardening. Being the work of successful and experienced teachers, all of whom have lived within the shadow of the Santa Rosa experimental gardens, who have known the famous plant creator personally, and who have had his sympathy, suggestion, and criticism, the schools of California are to be congratulated upon the opportunity to get, first hand, Burbank's spirit and method. Much or all of these pages have been tried out in the class-work of these story writers. The work has, therefore, been planned to please the pupils, but as well, to instruct. Mrs. Beeson, Mr. Burbank's sister, has put into her share of the work many things never before in print and these will help the public to understand the life and instincts of her brother.

The plant-master himself, has a great love for children and has taken from his own busy life, over-crowded with duties bearing upon his great study, to pass upon, and criticise chapter after chapter of the following pages. It was like the intense, inspired worker he is, to do this, for he always sees the thing necessary to be done, and even in the touches of attention given to these stories, there is evidence of the same lesson of toil and application, the intention to carry to a successful issue any problem he undertakes to solve. In its ultimate analysis, his work always proves a work of the spirit.

He writes his name upon the garden leaves, And conjures with the blossom hour by hour ; And like the mystic basket-maker, weaves His soul into the beauty of the flower.

This book, it is hoped, will blaze a clear trail to new and better work in making plants what they should be — better producers of sustenance for man, and better bearers of that beauty which is food for his soul.

He:nry M^ade: Bland, Department of English, State Normal School, San Jose, CaL

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I.— The Plant School i

IL— The Plant School— Continued 5

Chapter II. The Plant School—continued

The Gold Ridge proving grounds, where the more extensive work is done, are eight miles west of Santa Rosa, near Sebastopol. On an eastern sloping hillside sixteen acres are devoted to the growing trees and plants, all in working attire, seeking perfection. Just inside the enclosure is the pretty cottage occupied by the superintendent of the grounds, and in which has been furnished an office and rest room.

The view from the place is very picturesque, overlooking the beautiful Santa Rosa valley, with its wooded hills and low mountains as a background and Mt. St. Helena purpling in the far distance.

Narrowing bands of deepest crimson, delicate pink and many other shades and tints, extend from the entrance up and over the hillside. These magnificent flowers are the new gladioli. Wonderful new Shasta daisies glisten in the sunlight like banks of snow. Great flaming amaryllis, golden lilies, watsonias, crinums and scores of other flowering plants form lines of exquisite beauty.

The location of each variety is designated by a small neatly painted stake; and all are arranged with reference to their needs in regard to soil, moisture, cultivation and test, rather than for artistic effect.

Blackberry, raspberry, Phenomenal, Primus berry and other vines, and many kinds of native and foreign shrubs, are also growing in long rows, marked by similar wooden stakes. So familiar is the master with his pupils, that were all these stakes removed he would at once recognize each. But that all the work be scientifically accurate, plan books are also kept, having plots and maps showing the exact location of each class and giving its record.

Further back are apple, pear, cherry, peach, plum and other fruit trees, together with nut, timber and ornamental trees. Whether robed in simple green, bright with pink and white blossoms, rich with the many colored fruits, somber with the russet of autumn or with their long bare branches reaching upward, the trees are always beautiful. Native and foreign trees, with intermingHng boughs, seem to form close friendships ; loquats from Japan with figs from Italy, the evergreen olive and orange with those trees which clothe themselves anew each spring-

6 Stories of Lutlicr Biirhanlts Plant School

time. The trees from the southern hemisphere often experience considerable difficulty in adjusting themselves to the new conditions. It was very amusing to watch some apple trees, sent from South America. The first fall they were in California, they put out tender green leaves and opened pink and white blossoms just as the other trees were preparing for the winter's rest. They seemed conscious of having made a blunder and soon dropped these signs of springtime, yet were confused ; and it was two or three years before they learned the proper time to array themselves in the beautiful garment of spring.

Many of the trees have small wooden labels wired to the different limbs, giving the name of the variety which has been grafted in, sometimes several hundred upon one tree, as thousands of new varieties are constantly being tested in this way.

Birds build nests, chatter and sing in the trees, feasting upon fruit, nuts, berries and seeds so abundant here; no doubt earning an honest living, as they destroy many injurious insects. Yes, little birdies, you know the earliest and sweetest cherries, and are quite welcome to your share. But why persist in the wasteful habit of taking only a bite from each one and spoiling so many that the master is compelled to protect any especially choice fruit by covering the tree with netting?

Here is a ripening seed pod, very precious, for it the master has waited years ; along comes an inquisitive little bird, who wishes to try the flavor of fhose very seeds. Ah, ha, little bird, your habits are known, and a paper bag has been snugly tied over the seed pod. Sometimes an enterprising squirrel or rabbit comes in from a neighboring field for a meal of nuts or vegetables. The most unwelcome guests, however, are the little brown gophers. More than once have they destroyed priceless bulbs, which could not be replaced. Yet no enmity is felt by the master toward them ; for upon roots and bulbs must they depend for their food.

The young trees, and those plants, which require a long time for testmg, are brought from the Santa Rosa experiment grounds, as much of the work begun there is completed here. Many workmen are constantly busy preparing and cultivating the soil, planting, trimming and training plants, seeing that sufficient food and water are provided, and that the health of each plant is maintained.

Although only competent, reliable men are employed, yet each plant has also Burbank's personal attention ; as he alone is able to discern the slight variations in growth or habit. Passing by a class, he often stops to tie a little white string around the stem of a plant in which a certain trait or quality has attracted

The Plant School — Continued 7

his notice and with which he wishes to become better acquainted. Or, perhaps, he places on a stake or a label a double cross (#). This is his ''O. K." mark ; and, whether upon a new fruit, an important manuscript or a piece of pie, which pleases his taste, it signifies work well done. In his use it is very comprehensive, expressing a great deal ; as not only are fractions expressed by using only one, two or three lines instead of four in the cross, but two or more crosses are often used. At the testing season, during the long summer days, Burbank spends much time at Gold Ridge. As each fruit under test ripens, photographs are taken and a complete record is made and compared with that of previous years. The size, shape, quality, flavor, color, general appearance, keeping quality, hardiness, amount of- fruit to the tree and many other points are noted. Each year many badges of honor are bestowed; and each year some new fruits and flowers are graduated. Many more are continued for further development and training, while some must be rejected.

Some of the pupils when they enter the school have only family names ; but in their re-creation, as they assume new forms of beauty, or of utility, they become individualized and receive an added name — a baptismal name — retaining, of course, their original family name. And just as they have come from' all pans of the world, so in their new and improved forms they go back to distant lands. So widely have these fruits and flowers been distributed, that it is true that, "The sun never sets on the Burbank productions."

''In all places, then, and in all seasons.

Flowers expand their light and soul-like wings,

Teaching us, by most persuasive reason.

How akin they are to human things."

— Longfellow.

I.UTHER BURBANK.

He took a little jostled wayside weed —

His intuition keen without a peer —

And read each wound and every weakness clear ;

Then struck his finger gently on the seed,

And touched the slender starving wind-blown reed,

And to it said, "Thou ailest here and here,

Thou needest only food and loving cheer

To gladden any garden, glen or meacl."

He walked with Patience many a tedious hour.

With Genius' glowing lamp aflame in hand ;

Or sat with her in Wisdom's citadel.

And heard the watchman calling, ''All is well;"

Then saw the shrunken, blighted bloom expand

Into a graceful, snowy, starry flower.

Chapter III. The Story Of The Shasta Daisy

Thk little wild field daisy, that grew on the flower-decked green slopes around Luther Burbank's childhood home, was considered by the farmers an evil thing, a persistent and vicious weed. Burbank's great loving heart seemed to go out to this little forsaken thing, which, to most persons, was an intruder, not deserving even a place in which to live. He singled it out from the attractive flowers, that appealed to everyone — the violet, the aster, the delicate anemone, the golden rod, the trailing arbutus, the lily, the rose — not for lack of love for these ; but they had friends a-plenty, the daisy scarcely one. He would show it friendship, and give it a chance in the world to be something.

It was like taking a little neglected orphan child, who had never been rocked in a fond mother's arms, or kissed to make it well. He would teach it new ways of which it had never known. He would love it into a royal life, make it a queen among its kind — this little waif.

So Luther Burbank took his little childhood friend, the m.oon-penny daisy, from its home within sound of the Atlantic's roar, and placed it in his plant school on the Pacific coast among his rare and most choice flowers. Though his every hour was crowded with work, he made time to plan a glorious future for it ; and his interest in it held throughout the years of patient attention he gave to its development.

In England there grew a daisy similar, but somewhat larger in size, whose coarseness excluded it from the royal flowers. And over in Japan still another, quite small, but dazzling in pure whiteness. Neither of these, however, was as hardy as its American cousin, so tenacious of life, nor as productive of bloom. But in the three — this trinity — Burbank saw an outcome most wonderful.

The three little daisy cousins were brought together in the school of the great scientist; and the process of culture and development of character began. The American daisy furnished a strong constitution, the first essential; the English daisy gave size for its endowment; while the Japanese daisy contributed purity, which is important in the highest degree. These, when united, would give strength, beauty and importance.

ip Stories of Luther Burbank's Plant School

Soon they blossomed, nodding and beckoning to each other, and growing to know each other as neighbor children do. Then Biirbank visited them, and called upon them for some of their golden pollen. First, he took this life element from the English daisy, and, carrying it upon his watch crystal, bestowed it upon the American daisy. He then waited until the seeds from the two united flowers ripened, which were only a few in number. These he treasured carefully until the time to plant them. Their great benefactor then bade farewell to these two little pupils, the English and the moon-penny daisy, for their life-work was done.

He came again when the little plant children from these few seeds were dressed in their white gowns. This time the Japanese daisy gave him of her golden horde. He carried it in like manner to the new seedling pupils. Then the Japanese daisy passed, for her work was done, also. Again he must wait for the new pupils to ripen their seeds, and still longer, until they were planted, grew up, and were white with bloom ; for then selection, or choosing, which should live for usefulness, would begin.

Then with loving eyes he viewed the company, and with vision keen he singled out those which gave promise of the qualities, strength, size and whiteness, combined with grace of form and profusion of flowers. The others must all give way for their growth. The seeds from the best of these were gathered; and the next season the finest plant pupils were selected from the number.

This process went on for several years, until a hundred thousand seeds were saved, and planted in a space about ten feet square. When large enough, they were transported to the Gold Ridge grounds, where they were given about an acre to insure plenty of room for their further development.

All these years Luther Burbank protected his little pupils from worms, gophers, and plant lice, giving them the tender care of his own hands — not trusting it to others, whose sympathy might be less than his — for it is a known fact that love calls out response in the growth of plant life, as it does the best there is in human life. So love rules in the plant world as it does in our own world.

When the one hundred thousand plant pupils were well started, another important stage in the upward life of the daisy was reached. For six months they blossomed. Twice a week the teacher scanned, with unequalled perceptiveness, bloom, stem and leaf of each individual, noting every variation from their parents. One would have a wonderful blossom on a scrubby stem, one a graceful long stem, but its flower would not be perfect in whiteness ; another would have

The Story of The Shasta Daisy ii

strength and grace, but lack beauty. Out of this large number only those that came nearest Burbank's ideal were allowed to live and bear seeds.

For eight years, with patience and perseverance, he worked with his daisy. Sometimes a blossom would measure nearly two feet in circumference, seven inches from tip to tip of petal. But this was not selected. It would not stand in every clime, and thrive under every condition. It lacked sturdiness or substance of petal, and would not be able to withstand the bright sun and the storms. It was much like a precocious child in school. He wanted a daisy that would gladden the heart of a flower-lover in Alaska, the same as it could be hailed in Florida, Norway, or Italy — one that would flourish in all soils and all climates with average treatment ; for a master could not always care for it.

So from the m.edium-sized daisies, pupils were grown and regrown, the flowers being from three to six inches in diameter; for sturdy plants only would be hardy, and give good keeping qualities to cut flowers.

We have from these years of patient toil and constant care, a daisy that will thrive north of the arctic circle, or under the equator ; and will give, on long graceful stems, in abundance, flowers of snowy whiteness, from three to six inches in diameter, with a large golden center; and, when cut, will remain fresh from ten days to two weeks.

This regal flower Burbank named the Shasta daisy, from the snow-capped peak of northern California, Shasta, meaning white, or whiteness.

One of the peculiar habits of this wonderful new daisy is, that, unlike its ancestors, it never volunteers, or seeds itself, producing only a few large seeds ; therefore it never has and never will become the pest that it was in the wild. A self-sown daisy has never been found in the plant school. The teacher's work there is not only to breed in good qualities, but to eliminate bad ones. The daisy was induced to drop her one bad habit of spreading in the course of her education.

To the achievement of this stately daisy Burbank has added a double daisy, by selection alone; choosing each year those that showed a tendency to become double. The petals crowded closer and closer together as the selections were made each year, until a pure white, perfectly double blossom was obtained ; a more than rival of the chrysanthemum, as the daisy blooms from five to seven months in the year.

Three strains of this daisy were perfected — the Alaska, the California, and the Westralia. Another, newer still, is a beautiful fringed daisy far finer eveix than any of the others.

Chapter IV. The Climax Plum

A GOOD many years ago there came to the plant school two queer pupils. One, little Simoni, was a plum pupil from China ; and the other, little Triflora, was a prune pupil from Japan. They were quite lonely at first, and felt strange, for everything was so different to anything they had ever been near before.

Simoni was a very funny little fellow, and produced fruit that, though spoken of as a plum, was shaped more like a flat tomato, and was so bitter that it puckered one's mouth all up, as an unripe persimmon would.

But the oddest thing about it was that it had almost no pollen at all on its anthers. It was hard to find even a few grains. Burbank had once found some ; for you must know that he could find it if anyone could. These few grains he used in creating the Delaware plum, one of the parents of the Bartlett plum.

Now the Bartlett plum is a very distinguished pupil, for it has the exact flavor of a delicious Bartlett pear. Indeed, to prove this, one of the foremost fruit men of the world was blindfolded and given some of the fruit to taste ; and, not knowing what kind of fruit he was eating, said, "It is the finest Bartlett pear I have ever tasted." It is also very attractive otherwise, having an upright, erect form, and beautiful, glossy, green leaves. The fruit is yellow, turning to deep crimson when fully ripe. It is firm and juicy, with salmon-colored flesh.

So the scientist saw the good in little Simoni, and knew that it would be of still further use in the world, if properly trained.

Triflora was a more lovable child, with a much sweeter disposition ; and felt better acquainted, for other pupils from Japan had been trained in the plant school. You know that children tell each other about their school days, and anything new that they have seen and enjoyed, so perhaps Triflora had heard more about it than Simoni had.

The other Japanese pupils had been very helpful in making many kinds of new plums of different sizes, colors, flavors and qualities, that had gone out from the school to make the world richer and happier. There was quite a corner given to their improvement, for there were so many of them. Five hundred kinds had grown together on one big plum tree, at one time, and three

The Climax Plum 13

hundred thousand are now growing in the Gold Ridge training school, at Sebastopol.

When March came all the plum trees were white with bloom, shedding their petals like snowflakes, and filling the air with sweet odors. Simoni and Triflora flaunted their white blossoms, too, and gave out a delightful fragrance, doing all they could to show their gladness that spring was coming.

The wise one then came to give them personal aid and instructions. First, he took out his microscope and examined Simoni's flowers. Yes, there were a few grains of pollen — a very few. He carefully gathered the anthers on a watch crystal, and put them, in a safe place to dry until the morrow.

He was out early in the morning, when the bees began to hum, preparing the blossoms of Triflora to receive the precious grains of golden dust. When he had finished, and placed tags upon the fertilized blooms he left them in the care of Mother Nature until the fruit should ripen. Their pits would then be labeled, and saved for the next year's work in training.

When tiny plant pupils from these pits were growing happily the master came again, this time to examine them for the selection of the best. His keen eye ran rapidly along the rows. Only about a score of leaves were on the slender stems ; but if he found one whose leaves were larger, smoother, or that had a more even margin, or a stronger petiole on one than on others, it would, he knew, be almost sure to bear either a larger, a sweeter, or a firmer sort of plum. It received his badge of honor. There were only a few of the elect, the others — all the others — were sent out of the proving grounds.

The selected ones need not wait six or seven years to bear fruit to prove themselves worthy ; for Burbank does not do things that way. Oh,- no. The skilled workmen took them from their little beds, and tenderly placed them on the sturdy arms of a full-grown plum tree, so that they would only have to wait one or two years to bloom and bear fruit, saving much valuable time in their school life.

Among these little plant children of Simoni and Triflora, that grew so beautifully, rocking and swinging in the gentle breezes, admiring each other all the while, basking in the sunshine and drinking in the showers, were several that bore fruit of rare flavor. But there was one especially that would even fill a room with its delightful fragrance, like that of a pineapple. And when it was eaten, one could think of nothing but bananas, it was so delicious. Burbank was so elated with the qualities of tliis little child that he enthusiastically exclaimed, "This is the CHmax !" And now it is known as the Climax plum everywhere, for it has proven to be one of the finest shipping plums in the whole world. It is sometimes spoken of as the "king of plums," owing to its extreme earliness, and its immense sized fruit, which is heart-shaped, deep, dark red in color, with rich yellow flesh.

Chapter V. Miss Eschscholtzia Has A New Dress

Luthe:r Burbank stood in the open near his home one bright spring morning admiring the beauties of nature around him. There were wild flowers everywhere, and such gorgeous groupings, — deHcate nestHng baby-blue-eyes, fragrant white forget-me-nots, purple larkspurs, snowy meadow foam, all woven and interwoven into one great rug. The upland ran one sea of gold, — California poppies, lifting their molten chalices to the sun, smiled upon him. His eye, lit with tender enthusiasm, feasted long upon them. He stooped to caress some of the yellow petals near his feet saying :

"This beautiful dress of bright golden hue which you have worn so long is very becoming to you and exceedingly appropriate to this land of perpetual sunshine. But Miss Golden Cup if you would sometimes adorn yourself in a dress of white, pale cream, pink or crimsbn, we would love you still better than we do."

Suddenly his practiced eye caught a crimson hair-like ray on one golden petal as if Mother Nature had made a mistake in using her carmine dye. The scientist immediately resolved to form a poppy class in the plant school. He protected this plant from intruders and shielded it until the seeds ripened. He knew that he must be alert if he would get the seeds so he placed a paper bag over the ripening pod.

All the Eschscholtzia family have taught their pods to pop suddenly open when thoroughly ripe, thus scattering the seeds so that the young plants may have more room and fertile soil for homes. When the seed pod bursts it makes a loud noise and the California children say, ''Miss Poppy is firing her pistol."

The Ecshscholtzia is intensely bitter, therefore has few foes to war upon it. It is said to be more avoided by slugs than any other plant.

The seeds, from the poppy with crimson ray, were sown in the plant school. Soon young Eschscholtzia pupils peeped through the soil. Leaves and buds appeared, which were soon followed by golden flower cups.

Little Miss Eschscholtzia is a quaint maiden who wears a peculiar green pointed cap like a Brownie's toboggan. This is adorned with a delicate frill i6 Stories of Luther Burbank's Plant School

which has a rose-hued edge. She doffs this cap before making her bow to the world, then spreads out her yellow satin gown and dances in the sunshine. She is not only quaint but wise as well, for when the fog blows in, or the rain approaches, she folds her garment tightly about her, lest her beautiful sheen be spoiled or her golden dust injured.

These little Eschscholtzia maidens were being taught to change the color of their gowns, so when examination day came the master put white ties around the stem, close up to the blossom of those who seemed to be trying to obey his instructions.

The workmen knew, when they saw these ties, that plants wearing them, must be carefully watched and their seeds saved, while their sisters with the accustomed golden dresses must be rejected.

How proud these plant pupils surely felt as they stood erect with snowy ties around their little necks, — a reward of merit never before given to one of their kind.

The second year, thousands of Eschscholtzia pupils were in the school. Soon they spread their bright petals to the breeze, and to most people were not unlike their brothers and sisters in the field. The master came again with the badge of honor, white neckties. Many of the pupils were like their ancestors and waved their saucy yellow heads as if to say: "The Spanish fathers called me Copa de oro. I represent the great gold fields of California. I am the State's adopted flower. I have stood for centuries weaving the golden sunshine into the meshes of my gown. I'm not going to change my beautiful dress of gold." Burbank, however, passed these saucy ones by and found some more obedient, they nad crimson in their petals. These were chosen and promoted.