SB &3 Bee ae LY, i — ay ae aun 7 7 hae ae . ; : ‘i can . rin aa va Oe ; ch ‘ee as a i ey We eu ae ts) Cah aw 7 in ; ane ny ith ie y 2 os } h, BVA ita i ne con) a ul mc WN ay : a ‘ a , a ot : ; , ‘i se ni | ai Pay " 1 al ae D ie eg i a . ; a ye ; ’ er ay i : a.) a e t oe aie ue ri ei Tih 5 ta io Th A eee m By ea 7 Mo 7 ‘thd im nM PN ‘ ). erie Pa a “_ ri be oa ry Ng ae Les him, ,' ’ Sah |. i ; i a a at a a ms! LE ve a ie : oY a A ye! ' ak a an ai 4 oy a a : ¥ re’ ‘ca a a on . : {aa Pop be ano mm * S fq] HE Governor of California has sa \ had, and will have many pleasant =a y) duties to perform. But none of them has been and none of them will be quite so pleasant as that WA, EA which he is this evening called Ag) upon to perform, viz.: express wees the high regard in which this evening’s honored guest is held by the people of this state. “Working quietly and modestly among his trees and vines our friend Burbank has worked what, to our lay minds, appear almost like miracles. He has changed the characters and appearance of fruits and flowers, turned pigmies into giants, sweetened the bit- ter and the sour, transformed noxious weeds into valu- able plants and verily set the seal of his approval upon much that to him and us seems wrong in Nature’s handiwork. “For us he has done much; and to him the whole world is indebted; we marvel at the skill with which he has worked his many miracles, “Burbank, like Columbus, has shown us the way to new continents, new forms of life, new sources of wealth, and we, following in his footsteps, will profit by and from his genius.” GEORGE C. PARDEE, Governor of California. At a banquet given by the California State Board of Trade in honor of Luther Burbank, September 14th, 1905. COPYRIGHT 1911, JOHN WHITSON, CHICAGO BD rnihoiNn, (OF) mrs 78 ROCirh oO Rie ws LIMITED TO 1000 COPIES OSCAR E-. BINNIER Co. SIXTH FLOOR AMERICAN TRUST BLDG, CHICAGO Luther Burbank’s Publishers Index Euther Barbank—Portrait: oo 0)sc os. eos cece seb emcee secs 4 MPEP ROCUGEOE Yo fanlelc ciascis cee s crcis wistalerine Sraeie e Sieraie eiblevelesitiels sie 5 REE PSL PND AIRY sic tencrs ia’ scielalh o alesis uleialle'e ajatere da osha. Rte si siave/sials| roe 6 PRAYER UTNE siaalave so ola ycrcle wiciarsicie eis ie-s (ors de'acivis ea imiclee sree eielnene 8 rere WrOTbe CALS: oie) ravaies gc.c esi sclete asersse el ciaieaieteie ese wiasiebin se ee 10 The Motive—by Luther Burbank................ 12 PURO rareiercleeicts wie crenene ois aia upeva-eneis oleae oe Sac esa Soacstncal ala oleate avers 14 Luther Burbank—Historical ........0cc0scdcscsecesccces 15 Peary la VV AINE iid. clonie cio ae sich wlerteacd ecles veins dalee’s 16 PEROLINERE BIACKDETEY oie. siejalnc'e s,s10:sss0.d esie'c Seiaree ewes eure 18 PEO ROSEY. tials rusts weimesuestes ele: ssicials sbierelevelaald ae slalnes 20 PASECOLs PUDIICATIONS! 1c. z fe: /5:00013 scorns. c:00 0.01010 610s elelp siaceieie suis 23 Facsimile Opinions .....6..0.cccccecssvcesscccencevcceces 24 Oscar E. Binner—Portrait ...........eececeees shalelsiieieiels eo Oscar E. Binner—Personal ................ scisa wera pre sielen ae Reference by Permission........+++e++ee. eevcccccccences at eaesimile ChpinjONSs oi5 fos. ei eis)s.s\saw evel sbiaele osseous esicmeaien ae BSP AIS CRETEY. oistiaclewacielaicien cee ace eelens aviesiae's eee cocee 30 BOMeC(SUDIECtS OF Ehe BOOKS oie. 5 c.c'sccccisveis'e acid ce sieles Oi! White Blackberry |: ...c0cecsesc sweceecvencvcascee slesielafe aleesy Gu Publishers’ Information........ istaieieisie)aie Scclalsisivistetaieia sie sie nae Cobless Corn ......... afarelatays'a nie olacsieisiercisiels Sisisicisiclvisleinels'exien/Gw Cactus Fruit eeoeceeeeeeoe @eeeeseeresesesen tPeoeeeeoe eet eooneonne 36 Introductory nized as the world’s greatest orginator of valuable plant life of any age, has exerted an unique influence by his discov- eries and products, which he has freely given to the world of commerce and beauty. No inventor, discoverer or scientist of this age has benefited humanity as a whole to the same extent as Luther Burbank; scientific researches serve the purpose of science; electrical and industrial inven- tions primarily enrich the capitalists, and only in- directly the public; Luther Burbank’s discoveries are not patented or exploited for the benefit of capital, but given to the world freely, quietly and unosten- tatiously, have produced more wealth direct to the public than most of the great inventions, and have directly increased the profits of every individual en- gaged or interested in the pursuit of land-culture in every form. Benefits To Humanity Commercial It is impossible to even estimate the possibilities and wealth created by Burbank’s discoveries. A faint idea may be gathered from the following: one kernel added to each head of corn, wheat, oats, barley, grown in the United States will produce without cost or effort the following number of extra bushels: Barley a I,500,000 Wheat .... 15,000,000 Corn 2561s 5,200,000 Oats 2.4.55 20,000,000 One tuber added to each potato plant produces 21,000,000 extra bushels for each crop. According to an official statement of the United States Department of Agriculture at Washington the Burbank potato alone is adding seventeen million 5 BURBANK’S SHASTA DAISY. Natural Size and Color. California ‘* Burbank has enriched the world with thousands of fruits and flowers, which but for him would have existed among the conceivable possibilities of creation. He has helped mankind by increasing enormously the economic value of plant life.”’ —David Starr Jordan, President Stanford University. Commercial Benefits — continued dollars a year to the agricultural productivity of this country. Every cent added to the pound value of the Prune crop by improving its quality means an additional revenue of two million dollars a year to the growers of California alone. Every pound of prunes added to each tree means an additional million dollars a year to the one State. The commercial value of Burbank’s Thornless Cactus and Royal Black Walnut is so im- mense and of such voluminous importance to the United States and foreign nations, that mere figures, without analysis, would seem preposterous, and as this space is limited, the information is published in a separate pamphlet entitled “Rejuvenation of Desert and Forest,” mailed free on request. Moral Benefits The moral value of Luther Burbank’s work is even | greater than the commercial value: the more nature is beautified, the nearer it is brought to mankind; the greater the reason for closer kinship with nature, the cleaner and healthier human life becomes. Plant life and human life are so closely interwoven, that in training plant life to produce its best for humanity, Luther Burbank directly influences human life to keep pace with plant life. “His actual, practical gifts to the race are beyond comparison, and can not be estimated in millions of dollars or even in great statements of the advance in man’s physical comfort and welfare.”’ —Benjamin Fay Mills. Telling His Methods to the Public Motive For the last twenty-five years Luther Burbank has been continuously besieged by people in all parts of the world for information bearing upon his discoveries. It is a physical impossibility to satisfy the inquiries, there being no published records of his methods. Boston “Luther Burbank sold fiveleaves ofSpineless Cactus for enough to build him a new home. Cactus withthe thorns eliminated by intelli- gent cultivation has great possibilities as a forage crop in arid districts, and the five leaves sold by the great scientist of the plant world went to a foreign government for propagation pur- poses.” —Boston Herald. ee. IO BURBANK’S WALNUT TREE.—Will grow to a height of 80 feet, and a circumfer- ence of 6 feet (at the height of a man’s head) in 17 years, as against a height of 20 feet and a circumference of 114 feet of anative walnut tree in 35 years. Mr. Burbank’s black walnut, the “ Royal,” is the lumber tree of the future. Within twelve years from pianting its lumber would yield $3,000 per acre, without care or outlay, save the cost of planting (which does not exceed $2.00 per tree), taxes and interest. New York “The laborer is worthy of his hire, and Mr. Burbank should reap abundantly the rewards of his indefatigable persistence and potent investigations. For one thing it is to be hoped that before his pen drops from his hand, he will put forth a book which will tell us whereof he knows, so as to add to the comfort, the health, and delectation of his fellowmen, who shall profit by the beneficent results of his wonder work when he, too, shall have passed over to the silent majority.’’ —The Christian Work and Evangelist. Motive—continued These demands come in by the thousands and have of late assumed such proportions, that he has found it necessary to give the public free access to all the facts by publishing a full and detailed account of his experiments and discoveries, covering a period of 35 years. Publishing Rights Close and intimate association with Luther Bur- bank resulted in the exclusive right and privilege of publishing his work in the United States and Foreign Countries having been conferred upon Mr. Oscar E. Binner of the Binner-Wells Co., known to the print- ing, publishing and advertising world as the “House of Quality.” The Oscar E. Binner Co. was then established for the express purpose of carrying out the great task of preparation, publication and popular distribution of the records of Luther Burbank in book form. Contents The first edition will be published in five volumes. Every step of Mr. Burbank’s researches and discover- ies, presenting 35 years’ work in producing new and improved varieties of fruits, flowers, trees, vegetables, grains, grasses, nuts, forage plants, etc., from his first experiments to the present time, will be fully recorded in detail in plain language, so that anyone can follow his methods with successful results. Illustrations The books will be practically illustrated from hun- dreds of photographs and full page paintings in nat- ural colors, made directly from the subjects, under Luther Burbank’s supervision. The illustrations in this prospectus are specimens and were reproduced by the Binner-Wells Co. (“The House of Quality”). Washington ‘“T consider Bur- bank’s work the most important ever done for American horti culture, both as to results obtained and in the educational value of his example.” Walter T. Swingle, U.S. Dept.of Agriculture , BURBANK’S PEARS.—A delicious combination of the Bartlett and Le Conte, and fully four times as productive. Indiana ‘‘He has produced new fruits, he has discovered new flowers, not an orchard but will be enriched as the outcome of his work, not a garden that will not be more beautiful because of his discoveries:—American Farmer. 10 Value The value of these books to humanity will be ap- preciated when it is known on what an enormous scale Luther Burbank conducts his experiments. While a great deal has been published in every part of the world about his work, the general public has but a faint idea of its economic importance to nations, or of the wealth realized by individuals through taking ad- vantage of his discoveries. Importance In these books the world will be presented, for all time to come, a text of such vast commercial and social importance as has never been told by man in any age; a text that will teach the owner of an acre or more of ground everywhere to make it yield the greatest and best results; a text that will relieve city congestion through making country and suburban life attractive to everybody; a text that will provide a solution for the problem of ever-increasing demand for the prod- ucts of the earth. The Almighty made at one time all the earth that He will make, there will be no sec- ond crop, but population increases with each genera- tion and the demand for food is just as certain to grow as the quantity of earth is to remain stationary. “Nature has long waited for this man. _ All of the discoveries of the world have not equaled those made by Luther Burbank.” - —Rev. Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis. World Wide Field No effort or expense will be spared to make the books the most complete and instructive ever pub- lished, and their price will be placed within the reach of all. They will be translated into a number of for- eign languages and will become the Bible of Plant Life to every farmer, every gardener, every fruit grower, and every lumberman. As they will teach how to convert desert into field or garden, and how to make several blades of better grass grow where now there is only one, it is safe to say that at least ten per cent, of the population everywhere will want and consider the books a necessity. 11 Kansas ‘“Every one of Bur- bank’s plantsis a mon- ument in his honor.’’ Prof.C.C.Georgeson Kansas State Agricultural College. New Jersey ‘‘The world will cer- tainly be vastly richer for what his hands have accomplished, and the consciousness of being instrumental in such work must be a source of untold happiness to him.’’ — L. F. Spencer, Cashier First Nat’! Bank, Ridgewood, N. J. Extract from THE MOTIVE from LUTHER BURBANK’S own manuscript for the first volume of his forthcoming books. “The very existence of the human race in its pres- ent state of civilization is absolutely and unquestion- ably dependent upon the improvements that have been made upon our cultivated plants. Take away these improvements produced by the brain and hand of man, and the human race would at once perish, or at best be reduced to grass-, root-, herb-, and bark-eaters. “Almost every fruit, nut or grain we eat; almost every flower that yields us its fragrance; almost every tree that furnishes us shade, has been improved by cul- tivation and selection. Sometimes consciously—often unconsciously—have these developments been at- tained, but a knowledge of the fundamental principles involved in the definite and speedy production of these improved variations has never been very clearly com- prehended, or appreciated, until of late. A new crea- tion in grains, fruits, flowers, or even trees does not surprise us now as it did only a decade ago. These new and improved combinations of qualities that have been made inherent in plant-life by intelligent guid- ance when carried on so as to produce distinct and striking forms, especially those of great value, can be far more properly called new Creations than can new conceptions in art, new figures in statuary, new pro- 7 TEA: ductions of the brain in the form of literature or music, or creations of new types of government; for the very creative forces themselves are guided and controlled in the development and construction of these new forms of life. “The methods employed in producing these new creations are in general those outlined by Charles Dar- win and others, but the actual production of the new forms has been on a much larger scale and broader plan than had ever before been undertaken, numerous combinations having been effected that before had been generally thought impossible. These new crea- tions are living exemplifications of the knowledge that the life-forces of plants may be combined and guided to produce results that could not have been imagined possible by those who had given the matter little thought. “For the last twenty years or more I have been constantly besieged ‘by people in almost every station in life, and have received thousands of letters each year, and some years of late have been waited upon by nearly as many thousand visitors in person, eager to learn by what means these results in plant-life have been produced. “These demands for information have lately be- come so constant and insistent from all parts of the civilized world, that at last I have found it necessary, for the benefit of those interested in the work of plant improvement and as a matter of self-protection, to de- scribe so far as possible the methods, processes, fail- mm — —— v Citi ures, and successes accompanying my experiments. TI Seateie tiie aeeneteeeneee to know more of the work, and that the general public may have free access to all the facts. These descriptions are for the benefit of all who desire Kee “The forthcoming volumes are for the people, not for the scientific investigator, and I hope to tell the a ie ae 2 rT € AAAS OL Seletebaeaeel ad nba || « STILL IMPROVING THE BURBANK POTATO, which according to the U. S. Depart- ment of Agriculture is adding $17,000,000 a year to the wealth of the country. Kansas “‘IT wonder if you realize how general is the public interest in your work. I have been interviewed more than a score of times about your work since my visit, and requested to write paper articles. Rev. Mr. Sheldon, to whose church I belong, recently gave a lengthy and very sensible prelude to his sermon on your work. It is very gratifying and clearly indicates that scientific plant breeding can be made general.’’—Prof. W. A. Harshberger, Washburn College, Topeka, Kan. 14 Luther Burbank ~ Adapted from Encyclopedia Americana. 7 UTHER BURBANK, American plant breeder, born in Lancaster, Mass., March 7, 1849. Moved to Santa Rosa, Cal., in 1875 where he has since resided and carried on his work. The many and important creations of fruits flowers and vegetables have made him the best known plant breeder in the world. The characteristics which are special factors in the success of his work are: the large extent of his experiments, the keenness of perception of slight vari- ations in plant qualities, and the rapidity with which he develops new qualities. But the final and most important factor in Burbank’s success is the inherited personal genius of the man, whose innate sympathy with Nature, aided by the practical education in plant biology, derived from 35 years of constant study and experiment enable him to perceive correlations and outcome of plant growth which seems to have been visible to no other man. The history of Burbank’s life is the history of his work. PENSE ——) , Fruit Burbank has originated and introduced a remark- able series of Plums and Prunes, and some of them notably the Gold, Wickson, Apple, October, Purple, Chalco, American and Climax Plums, and the Splen- dor and Sugar Prunes are the best known and the most successful kinds now grown. In addition he has produced a stoneless Plum, and has created the Plum- cot by crossing the Japanese Plum with the Apricot. The Bartlett Plum is a cross of the bitter Chinese Simoni and the Delaware, a Burbank product, and has the exact fragrance and flavor of the Bartlett pear. The Climax Plum is a cross of the Simoni and the 15 California ‘‘Every thought of his is charged with philanthropy, the furnishing of greater beauty or richer sus- tenance at lower cost to the human race.’’ —E. J. Wickson, Dean University of California. Chicago ‘Luther Burbank in his work stands forth in the world alone. He is scientist, in- ventor, discoverer, the Edison of plant life, a disciple of Dar- win in the evolution of plants and a master workman in the learn- ing of his craft.’’ —Hamilton Wright, The World Today. ROYAL BLACK WALNUT.—Specimen finished by Scholle Furniture Co., 222 Wabash Ave., Chicago. It resembles tropical mahogany, and is as hard as the old-fashioned Black Walnut, but has a finer grain and takes a higher finish. Owing to the scarcity of Black Walnut, this wood is worth from $200 to $700 per 1,000 feet, board measure. Will grow anywhere and produce about $3,000 of lumber to the acre within 12 years after planting. Fruit—continued Japanese Triflora. The Chinese Simoni produces al- most no pollen, but few grains of it ever having been obtained, but these few have enabled Burbank to re- volutionize the whole plum shipping industry. Burbank has originated and introduced the Van Deman, Santa Rosa, Alfa, Pineapple, Number Eighty, Flowering Dazzle and other Quinces; the Opulent Peach and the Winterstein Apple. Berries His experimentation with berries extended through 30 years of constant attention, and has resulted in the introduction of a score of new commercial varieties of dewberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and cherries. Among these may especially be mentioned the Primus, which ripens its main crop before most of the raspberries or blackberries commence to bloom. The Iceberg, with beautiful snowwhite berries, so nearly transparent that the small seeds may be seen in them. The Japanese Golden Mayberry, Cuthbert, Phenomenal and Himalaya berries and the latest Patagonia straw- berry which is essentially a home berry, easy to raise, producing great quantities of large, firm, pineapple- sweet berries, without the usual care necessary to produce good strawberries. It is the first of a new race which has come to make strawberry growers re- joice. Commercial Value A glimpse of the commercial value of Burbank pro- ductions may be gathered from the fact that the “Bur- bank,” the earliest of large cherries, (see page 30) and unsurpassed by any cherry of any season, brought at wholesale public auction $7.50 per 10 pound box in car- load lots, and later sold at a fabulous price of $31.00 per box of 10 pounds. Lumber By crossing the native California Black Walnut with an English Walnut and a New England Black 17 Virginia ‘‘While I have long been impressed with Mr. Burbank’s work, I am now over- whelmed with the vast amount of good which he has been able to accomplish. I respect his work above all that has ever been done for horti- culture.’’ Prof.Wm.B.Alwood Horticulturist and Mycol- ogist Virginia College & Experiment Stations. ‘“‘Burbank’s ‘Gold’ plum is simply the greatest plum ever produced in this country.”’ —G. A. Grass, Troy, Perry County, Ind. THORNLESS BLACKBERRY—Produced by Mr. Burbank. Notice how much stur- dier it is than the ordinary thorny branch. New York ‘“‘One need not be a farmer to be interested in farming. The work of a man like Luther Burbank appeals to an immense constituency. . . . You feel his kind and gentle spirit and before you know it you love him. In visiting his place, one feels regret that record is not being made of his rich results. His work makes for progress.’’—Prof. L. H. Bailey in ‘‘The World’s Work.”’ 18 Lumber—continued Walnut he has produced the Paradox and Royal Wal- nuts, staunch and most beautiful trees, which in 17 years attained a height of 80 feet, and a circumfer- ence of 6 feet at a height of a man’s head, as against a height of 20 feet and a circumference of 18 inches of the ordinary Walnut in 35 years. These trees are des- tined to replenish the lumber supply of the world, and constitute one of the most important contributions Mr. Burbank has made to the specifically commercial life of the world. A Chestnut seedling, bearing a crop of nuts after 6 months growth from seed, as against 10 to 15 years of an ordinary tree, is another Burbank contribution. Vegetables Of new vegetables, Burbank has introduced beside the Burbank potato, new tomatoes, squashes, aspara- gus, rhubarb, etc. The Burbank potato is grown all over the world, growers and dealers everywhere consider it to be the hardiest, best tasting and most prolific. The Crimson Winter Rhubarb is abundantly ready for the market fully six months earlier than other rhubarb. It has the soft and pleasant taste of berries, increases about ten times as fast as the old coarse kinds, and will yield $1000 an acre the first year after planting. Cactus One of Burbank’s most wonderful achievements is the thornless Cactus. In this he has not only pro- vided a vast reservoir of food for man and millions of beasts of the field, but he has made possible the rec- lamation of nearly three billion acres of desert. The Burbank Cactus Pear is as juicy as the ripest Water- melon and the flavor as delicious as a pineapple or Bartlett pear. The Cactus plant itself is an excellent food for animals, and its enormous yield per acre pro- vides a large quantity of fermentable material for the production of denatured alcohol. 19 South Dakota “Noone appreciates more than the writer theimmense extent of Mr. Burbank’s labors in the improvement of fruits.’’ —Prof. N.E. Hansen, South Dakota Agricultural College. BURBANK ROSE.—The judges at the St. Louis Exposition placed it in a class of its own for beauty and unusual qualities, and awarded Mr. Burbank a Special Gold Medal. Appreciation “The honesty of Darwin, his love of nature, his reverence for truth, the modesty of his claims, set him apart as the High Priest of Science. In all the realm of physical research, Darwin seemed to have but one compeer, and that was Aristotle. Now there’sa trinity, for Luther Burbank is one of these. He is a citizen of the Celestial City of Fine Minds. The most beautiful words I heard him utter were these: ‘I do not know.’ He makes no effort to explain things he does not understand. He lives out his life in the light. “The land that produces beautiful flowers and luscious fruits will also produce noble men and women,’ said Aristotle. Also in producing beautiful flowers and luscious fruits men and women become noble. The finest product of the life and work of Luther Burbank is Luther Burbank.’”’ —Elbert Hubbard in the ‘“‘Philistine.’’ Dec. 1910. 20 Flowers Among the many new flower varieties originated by Burbank, are the Peachblow, Burbank, Coquito and Santa Rosa Roses. The Splendor, Fragrance and Snowflake Callas. The enormous Shasta and Alaska Daisies. The Ostrich Plume, Waverly, Snowdrift and double Clematises. A dozen new Gladioli, among them one of greatly enhanced beauty, taught to bloom around its entire stem, like a Hyacinth, instead of the old way on one side only. Several Amaryllis, among them one plant bred up from 3 or 4 inches to nearly a foot in diameter. A Dahlia with the fra- grance of the Violet. The Scentless Verbena given the intensified odor of the Trailing Arbutus. The Fire, Striped, Cornelian, Silverlined, and Crimson California (Escholtzia) Poppies. Referring to his new Lilies Mr. Burbank says: “Can my thoughts be imagined after so many years of patient care and labor (he had been working over 16 years on the lilies), as walking among them ona dewy morning, I see these new forms of beauty on which other eyes have never gazed. Here a plant 6 feet high with yellow flowers. Beside it one of only 6 inches high with dark red flowers. Further on one of pale straw, or snowy white, and others with various dots and shadings. Some deliciously fra- grant, others faintly so. Some with upright, others with nodding flowers. Some with dark green, woolly leaves in whirls, others with polished light green lance-like scattered leaves.” Value of Records Burbank has been primarily intent on the produc- tion of new and improved fruits, flowers, vegetables and trees for the immediate benefit of mankind. But where experimentation is being carried on so exten- sively, it is obvious that there must be a large accumu- lation of data of much scientific and commercial value in its relations to the great problems of economy, 21 Pittsburg ‘‘As Edison has revolutionized the world through his electrical inventions, even so Burbank is revolutionizing the world through plant transformation. This man has become fa- mous the whole world around, and is to be- come known to the world’s history as one of the very greatest benefactors.’’ —Rev. Marion G. Rambo, Presbyterian Banner Philadelphia “‘He stands easily at the head of the world’s greatest ex- perimentalists in plant life.’’ —W. Atlee Burpee, Seedsman. Value of Records—continued heredity, variation and species forming. Burbank’s experimental gardens may be looked upon as a great laboratory in which at present masses of valuable data are, for lack of time, being let go unrecorded, so that the present generation and posterity are deprived of the great benefits resultant from his researches. This will be remedied through the publication of his records by the Oscar E. Binner Co. Magnitude of Work The magnitude of Luther Burbank’s work can be imagined from the fact that he has produced some fifty million hybrid and cross-bred seedlings. At one time he had go00,000 Olive trees growing, of which over 125,000 were purchased and planted by forty different people. The care with which he carries on his work is best apparent from his practice of frequently select- ing only one out of some 50,000 seedlings and burning up all of the others. Honors Luther Burbank is a Fellow of the American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Science; California Vice President of the American Pomological Society ; Honorary Member California State Floral Society; Honorary Member California State Board of Trade. He was selected the first Honorary Member of a pos- sible ten of the Plant and Animal Breeder’s Associa- tion of the United States and Canada. The California Academy of Science in 1903 awarded him its Semi- Centennial Gold Medal, an honor possible to but one man, once in 50 years. Arbor or Burbank Day is legal- ized in California to be celebrated on March 7, Bur- bank’s birthday. For more detailed accounts of Burbank and his work, see list of pamphlets on the following page, any of which will be sent free on application to Oscar E. Binner Co., American Trust Bldg., Chicago, Il. 22 List of Pamphlets In process of publication for free distribution. Requests should be addressed to Oscar E. Binner Co., American Trust Building, Chicago, Illinois. Luther Burbank. The High Priest of Horticulture in transform- ing and improving plant life and products—GEORGE A. CLARK. — Success Magazine. A Maker of New Fruits and Flowers. —PROF. L. H. BAILEY, Cornell University. —World’s Work. Some Experiments of Luther Burbank.x—DAVID STARR JOR- DAN, Stanford University. — Popular Science Monthly. Luther Burbank. The Man, His Methods and Achievements. —PROF. EDWARD J. WICKSON, Dean University of California. Republished by the Southern Pacific Co., under the title, ‘‘ Luther Burbank—An Appreciation.’’ —Sunset. The Miracle Maker of Gardens. —EMMA BURBANK BEESON. —The Independent. The Scientific Aspects of Luther Burbank’s Work.—VERNON L. KELLOGG, Professor of Entomology, Stanford University. —Popular Science Monthly. Transforming the World of Plants.—-GARRETT P. SERVISS. —Cosmopolitan. Luther Burbank. A Sermon delivered at Lenox Avenue Church, New York City. — Rev. Dr. M. St. C. Wright. The Training of the Human Plant.—-LUTHER BURBANK. —Century Magazine. How to Produce New Trees, Fruitsand Flowers. Read at a meet- ing of the American Pomological Society. — Luther Burbank. Luther Burbank.x— DAVID STARR JORDAN, President Stanford University. — Western Tours. Luther Burbank’s Wonderful Work in Horticulture. — CHAS. J. WOODBURY. —Scientific American. A Maker of New Plants and Fruits.—W. S. HARWOOD. —Scribner’s Magazine. The Commercial Value of Luther Burbank’s Work. —Oscar E. Binner. A Visit to Luther Burbank.k—- PROF. HUGO DE VRIES, University of Amsterdam, Holland. — Popular Science Monthly. Luther Burbank. —Character Building. —California Schools Text. Rejuvenation of Desert and Forest. —Oscar E. Binner. Luther Burbank. An Address.—Governor Pardee of California. 23 San Jose. “His yearly addi- tions to improved va- rieties of vegetables, fruits and flowers mark him as one of the most wonderful and beneficent men of the century.”’ —San Jose Mercury. R.F. MUNRO, Presioeny L C DOGGETT, Vice Presioen? THe CHICAGO Pusiic LIBRARY BOARD OF DIREGTORS ROBERT J ROULSTON. Pres GEORGE BARMSTRONG.ViCE Pres GRAHAM TAYLOR > EDWARD A.BLODGETT JULIUS STERN FREDERICK H.RAWSON ANTONIO’LAGORIO MORTIMER FRANK HENRY V FREEMAN HARRY G WILSON. Secretary HENRY © LEGLER LieRaRnian Mr. Oscar E. Binner, Publisher, American Trust Building, Chicago. My dear Mr. Binner:-- My thanks are due you for your kindness and courtesy in showing to Dr. Frank and myself the interesting exhib- it of material which will later become a part of Luther Burbank's Works. Unquestionably the proposed publication will be awaited with eagerness by the general public and will be welcomed to the shelves of the public libraries of the country. Judging from what you have shown me the publication will be a real contribution Yours ON Ling 4 , THE N.K.FAIRBANK COMPAN' 2 ESTABLISHED 1867 INCORPORATED !1885 to knowledge. io G.H.E.HAWKINS, rue ERUAR, SEE axe Toeean CHICAGO, ST LOwUS, Naw DawEANsS, Naw Yona, MONTREALS ADVERTS Ne eee W. J. MCMILLAN, Asgr Secy ano Asst Treasr GENERAL CABLE ADDRESS TRIBUNE BUILDING “Cottelene” 143 Dearborn a Chicago, January 5, 1911. Mr. Oscar E. Binner, President, Oscar E. Binner Company, American Trust Building, Chicago. Dear Mr. Binner: It was a great stroke of business acumen on your part to secure the exclusive rights of publishing Luther Burbank's records. The world is anxious to learn and follow Burbenk's methods, and you have the ability, energy and organization to satisfy the demand through Giving tho books the greatest possible sale. Wishing you a full measure of success, believe me Very truly yours, Orcar C. pa President Oscar E. Binner Co. Luther Burbank’s Publishers. SCAR E. BINNER was born in Milwaukee in 1863. In 1880 he was apprenticed as an engraver and in 1888 was taken into the oldest engraving house in Mil- waukee as its Secretary. In 1889 he went into the business for himself, under the name of the Binner Engraving Co. NE GSN d) In 1893 a Chicago office was opened and within a year his business had grown to such proportions, that the headquarters were transferred to Chicago, and a branch retained in Milwaukee. 25 Wisconsin “Years of acquaint- ance — business and personal—lead me to express unlimited con- fidence in the success of any undertaking with which you may be identified. Your many successful years in the engraving, printing and publish- ing business fit you better for the proper publication of Luther Burbank’s great work than any man I know of.’’ —C. R. Carpenter, Cashier Com’! & Savings Bank, Racine, Wis. New York ‘““You have before you one of the great- est opportunities to issue a set of books, not only exclusive, but the most interesting and instructive of modern times, and I predict for it a large and successful sale.’’ —G. T. Rowland, Encyclopedia Americana Milwaukee ‘My personal knowl- edge of the ability, integrity and faithful- ness of Mr. Binner is such that I will un- hesitatingly recom- mend whatever he takes hold of.’’ —Wm. C. Brumder, President Germania Publishing Co., Milwaukee, Wis. Racine ‘‘Having known Mr, Binner for a number of years, I feel that he is fully capable of performing his part of the work, and fully entitled to confidence as regards integrity and reliability.’’ —F. L. Mitchell, Treasurer Mitchell-LewisMotorCo. ‘Racine, Wis. Oscar E. Binner—continued Soon after the firm acquired a national reputation for good work done for some of the largest business houses in the land. Natural growth made it neces- sary to open a New York office, and during the five years of Mr. Binner’s residence in New York he formed a lasting personal friendship with the lead- ing advertisers, printers and publishers. In 1904 Capt. W. J. Wells joined the firm, and the name was changed to the Binner-Wells Co. It soon became known as “The House of Quality” to the pub- lishing and allied trades throughout the United States. Mr. Binner remained President of the Company until he was called upon to take up what he considered his life’s work, i. e., the publication of the works of Luther Burbank. Mr. Binner first met Luther Burbank on January 12th, 1908, over three years ago, and ever since then has been in close touch with him. During these three years considerable material and illustrations were pre- pared and assembled for publication, and for the great- er part of one year Mr. Binner resided in Santa Rosa, the home of Mr. Burbank, and came into daily contact with him. In this way Mr. Binner has thoroughly saturated himself with Luther Burbank’s great work, and perhaps no other man living has enjoyed this great privilege as Mr. Binner has. Much has been said and written about Luther Burbank and his remarkable researches in Plant Life, but in Mr. Binner’s close investigations he has found that no one has yet touched upon the man’s real great- ness and achievements. The records of Luther Bur- bank’s work will be compiled for presentation by him- self, and the sole right to publish these records is owned by the Oscar E. Binner Co. Mr. Binner’s early training in the business of illus- trating, engraving, printing and publishing, enables him now to employ his many years of practical knowl- edge and experience in doing justice to the assembly and publication of the works of Luther Burbank. 26 When shown some of the material already prepared, those familiar with this class of work were free to con: fess that no set of books ever published in this country contained such wealth of information, or quality of illustration. Mr. Binner’s dominating purpose is to publish Luther Burbank’s works in a manner befitting the subject, and creditable to the author, as well as to the United States, as the books will be demanded in every part of the globe, wherever a blade of grass or a shrub can be made to grow. Mr. Binner realizes that this set of books will live for many generations to teach the young and old a wonderful lesson of Plant Breeding. The same minute care with which Mr. Burbank conducts his horticul- tural experiments Mr. Binner will endeavor to give to the publication and distribution of the books. Reference by Permission Bankers C. R. Carpenter Wm. R. Dawes Andrew Frame Nelson N. Lampert Geo. Merryweather L. J. Petit James K. Armsby Jacob Baur B. S. Bull Cashier Commercial and Savings Bank, Racine, Wis. Cashier Central Trust Co., Chicago. Pres. Waukesha National Bank, Wau- kesha, Wis. V. P. Ft. Dearborn Natl. Bank, Chicago. Pres. Railway Exchange Bank, Chicago. Pres. Wisconsin National Bank, Mil- waukee, Wis. General Pres. J. K. Armsby Co. (Alaska Fish- eries), San Francisco, Cal. Pres. Liquid Carbonic Co., Chicago. Director Washburn-Crosby Co., Min- neapolis. 27 Chicago “The handling of the coming editions of Burbank’s Works should give Mr. Bin- ner a splendid oppor- tunity for the exer- cise of his great big, broad-gauged execu- tive ability.”’ —James J. Stokes, Advertising Manager Marshall Field & Co., Chicago Chicago ‘‘T feel assured that the publication of Luther Burbank’s Works would attract attention in all direc- tions. Under your energetic manage- ment it should prove a great success.”’ Geo. Merryweather, President Railway Exchange Bank, Chicago Dousrrnay Pacr & Comraxy PUBLISHERS THE WORTDS WOK COUNTHY LLEV TIN AMERICA \ } rc A + 6) >) (2) ss = o KS} > Qy ° © o Ss © ey oe er a i a aia —— ei Sau ay 2 : : Be pew - LIBRARY OF CONGRESS a oe2 7 Issued by ag Oscar. E. Binner Co. Luther Burbank’s Publishers ~ : American) Trust Bldg. > | - CHICAGO, 114