Page 153 - 8th-language-english-2

farm in the State of Massachusetts. He was attracted towards the
wonders of nature and learned the techniques of growing various
crops and plants during his early years. But when he read Darwin’s
“Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication,” he decided
Not to be republished
to devote his life to grow new varieties of plants.

5. When Burbank was 21 years old, he started market gardening. He
was successful in selling the high quality vegetables that he grew on
his farms. One of his experiments was, he planted 29 seeds from
©KTBS
an early rose potato plant. He produced a new variety of seed. It
became very popular among the local farmers. Its superior quality
came to be known throughout and today, this potato is called”Idaho
Potato.” It is grown on thousands of acres in North-Western U.S.

6. Burbank found that the climate of his native place was not suitable
for his work, and at the age of 26, he moved to the State of California,
where the weather was mild, and the soil was rich and varied.
Burbank never hesitated in the pursuit of the goal he had set for
himself. He carried on his experimental and original work on plants
for more than half a century on “Santa Rosa” near the city of San
Francisco. He described his new home as “The chosen spot” of all
this earth as far as nature was concerned.
7. Normally, his experiments were based on three basic techniques.
First, he would collect different kinds of domestic plants and bring
in many foreign varieties of plants. When they were grown under
different conditions, they would prove strong, plentiful, or hard or
else, show other desirable changes or new qualities.

8. Secondly, he grew many varieties of fruits, flowers and vegetables
by changing water, food supply, temperature, light or space.
Other variations were achieved by crossing plants, which had very
dissimilar qualities.

9. After the production of many varieties, Burbank came to the final
step. That was, he could recognise and select the plants which
showed desirable changes. He could also choose them for further
experiments.

10. His unending patience was tested all the time. At the end of his
successful attempt to produce a white black berry [he called it the
paradox], he set fire to all the rejected seedlings. That pile was
12 feet high, 14 feet wide, 22 feet long, and had contained 65000

141