Part 63 (1/2)
CHAPTER: 38
LUTHER BURBANK--A SAINT AMIDST THE ROSES
”The secret of ie, is love” Luther Burbank uttered this wisdoarden We halted near a bed of edible cacti
”While I was conducting experiments to make 'spineless' cacti,” he continued, ”I often talked to the plants to create a vibration of love 'You have nothing to fear,' I would tell them 'You don't need your defensive thorns I will protect you' Gradually the useful plant of the desert eed in a thornless variety”
I was charive arden at Mount Washi+ngton”
A work near-by started to strip off some leaves; Burbank prevented him
”I myself will pluck them for the swami” He handed rew to huge estate
The great horticulturist told e potato, non by his naenius, he went on to present the world with hundreds of crossed improvements on nature-his new Burbank varieties of tomato, corn, squash, cherries, plums, nectarines, berries, poppies, lilies, roses
I focused my camera as Luther led me before the famous walnut tree by which he had proved that natural evolution can be telescopically hastened
”In only sixteen years,” he said, ”this walnut tree reached a state of abundant nut production to which an unaided nature would have brought the tree in twice that time”
[Illustration: Luther Burbank, beloved friend, poses with ]
[Illustration: Luther Burbank--see burbank2jpg]
Burbank's little adopted daughter caarden
”She is my human plant” Luther waved to her affectionately ”I see huhest fulfillreat outdoors, and intelligent crossing and selection In the span of ress in plant evolution that I look forward optimistically to a healthy, happy world as soon as its children are taught the principles of si
We must return to nature and nature's God”
”Luther, you would delight in my Ranchi school, with its outdoor classes, and atmosphere of joy and simplicity”
My words touched the chord closest to Burbank's heart-child education He pliedfrom his deep, serene eyes
”Swamiji,” he said finally, ”schools like yours are the only hope of a future ainst the educational syste of all individuality
I am with you heart and soul in your practical ideals of education”
As I was taking leave of the gentle sage, he autographed a small volume and presented it to me {FN38-1} ”Here is my book on THE TRAINING OF THE HUMAN PLANT,” {FN38-2} he said ”New types of training are needed-fearless experiing out the best in fruits and flowers Educational innovations for children should likewise becoeous”
I read his little book that night with intense interest His eye envisioning a glorious future for the race, he wrote: ”Thein this world, the most difficult to swerve, is a plant once fixed in certain habitsRemember that this plant has preserved its individuality all through the ages; perhaps it is one which can be traced backward through eons of tireat extent in all these vast periods Do you suppose, after all these ages of repetition, the plant does not become possessed of a will, if you so choose to call it, of unparalleled tenacity? Indeed, there are plants, like certain of the palms, so persistent that no hue the beside the will of a plant But see how this whole plant's lifelong stubbornness is broken si, a coe in its life
Then when the break coenerations of patient supervision and selection, and the new plant sets out upon its neay never again to return to the old, its tenacious will broken and changed at last
”When it co as the nature of a child, the problereat A I arrived at the same time as the postman, who deposited in Burbank's study about a thousand letters Horticulturists wrote him from all parts of the world
”Swaet out into the garden,” Luther said gaily He opened a large desk-drawer containing hundreds of travel folders
”See,” he said, ”this is how I doTied down by n lands by a glance now and then at these pictures”