Burbank Retrenches

Luther Burbank, who has just celebrated his Golden Jubilee (TIME, June 4), is not so well supported in his experimental work at Santa Rosa as statements of his admirers would imply. He has been compelled to sell three acres of land of his 16-acre farm at Sebastopol, and will probably have to sell the remainder, partly because of his age (74) and health, but chiefly because he could not operate it economically. This land, he says, " would be worth to the world a billion dollars an acre if all of the new creations upon it were put to use." The three acres were sold to a cemetery association. Every plant on it, including more than 40 new varieties of thornless blackberries, 30 varieties of hybrid roses and choice collections of loquats, apples, chestnuts, nectarines, dahlias, etc., was pulled up and burned, that the tract might be plotted for graves. On the 13 acres that are left are 2,000 varieties of cherries, 1,000 of plums, and valuable types of chestnuts, walnuts, pears and quinces.

Dr. Burbank is discouraged because praise of his work has not taken practical form. Hear him: " It will be a great loss to the world if the thousands of improved varieties on the Sebastopol farm are permitted to go to waste. And they will go to waste unless somebody gives them the attention I can no longer give."

Is there available no Croesus who wishes to perpetuate his name to posterity?