WIZARD OF PLANT LIFE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 13 April 1926, Page 7

WIZARD OF PLANT LIFE

DEATH OF LUTHER BURBANK. Ay Cable~-Press Association—Copyright. Auuirr.iau anti N.Z. Cable Association NEW YORK, April ID A message iron! Santa Rosa (California) says Mr Luther Burbank, tlie noted plant cutcufist, died early on Sunday at his home here, after two weeks illness, attributed to nervous exhaustion, complicated by a heart attack. / Tho scientist’s age was (i years. His inability to assimilate any but limited quantities of nourishment proved a handicap. By the death of Luther Burbank, the wizard of the plant world, not only America but ah lands are distinctly the poorer, for life death leaves a blank which only a super-scientific genius'can fill. Tho late scientist was horn in Massachusetts on March 7, 1849. But like a great many more, when lie was approaching man’s estate he found that the opportunities for tho utilisation of his energy were “cribbed, cabined and confined” in ins native State, and at that period the Golden West was appearing to large numbers as the Land of Promise, and consequently at the age of seventeen years Burbank bent his steps thitliei, where his genius placed him foremost among the scientific agriculturalists in a country wliere .this sphere of science is- gaining great prominence. lie lived to become the supremeauthority on, plant breeding, anil achievements, read in cold, .print, appear more like a romance than a reality. Verily did he prove once mure, if that were required, that truth is more, strange that fiction. He has been described as the originator of new fruits and floiv’ers, but such a' description does but faint justice to his overwhelming achievements. In the best sense of the word, he was a man who not only made two blades of grass grow where previously but one had languished; he was responsible for the complete transformation of vast areas —of making trees produce that which they had never borne before —of inducing flowers to bloom as they had nbver done previously in the history of horticulture. He was a miracle liifin. in the best sense of the word. . He was always devoted to the study of Nature, especially of plant life. After having resided for sollie time in Massachusettsihe went west to California, settling at Santa, llcisa.' Aiming liis triumphs were the development of many specimens ol improved thornless cacti; Gold, W lfksoii, Apple, October, Rurple, Chaleo, American, Slinmx, and beauty plums; (limit, Splendour and Sugar prunes? Peachbiow, Burbank ai'd Santa Rosa roses; giant and fragrant caJla.s, and Humorous new peaches, nilts, beiries and other valuable trees, fruits, (lowers, grasses, grains and vegetables. lie was a Fellow of the American Society for the Advancement of Science; honorary member of tho American Riant and Animal Breeders' Association; special lecturer, Stamlord University; honorary member of the Californian Society of Science, Swedish Botanical Society, Royal Agricultuial Society of Italy, American Eugenio Sooetv. and Fellow of tho Royal Horticultural Society and doctor of science, Tuft’s College. He was a prolific writer, his articles ever affording evidence of his deep research. Among his publications may be mentioned: “Training of the Human Plant,” “New Creations m Fruits and Flowers,” “Fundamental Principles of Plant Breeding.” “Luther Burbank: His Methods and Discoveries.”