Luther Burbank
2009
Botanist · Horticulturist
From an early age, Luther Burbank showed an aptitude for nature and mechanics. While he never had more than a high school education, Burbank was a brilliant scientist who went on to become one of the most successful and determined plant cross-breeders in the world.
“It is well for people who think to change their minds occasionally in order to keep them clean. For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices once in a while.”
Burbank’s experiments with nature began when he was only 21 years old after he purchased seventeen acres of land for the purpose of raising plants. After reading Charles Darwin’s Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Burbank realized that he could create better plants through hybridization, allowing natural selection to do its work.
As the years went on, Burbank created multiple crosses of foreign and native strains. It was said that he had as many as 3,000 experiments running at any given time, with millions of plants producing variations of success.
“Life is growth-a challenge of environment. If we cannot meet our everyday surroundings with equanimity and pleasure and grow each day in some useful direction, then this splendid balance of cosmic forces which we call life is on the road toward misfortune, misery and destruction.
While much of the data he collected was lost over time, Burbank authored several books, teaching the world of his methods and showing what worked and what did not. His most famous series, Luther Burbank, His Methods and Discoveries and Their Practical Applications, consisted of twelve volumes that revolutionized crossbreeding.
In his later years, Burbank did most of his experiments at his aptly named farm in Sebastopol, The Experiment Farm. The farm still holds specimens of his experiments to this day, creating a unique space for plant hybrids found nowhere else in the world.
Walter L. Howard wrote in Luther Burbank: A Victim of Hero Worship:
“Because of the influence of Burbank, the science of plant breeding was advanced by at least twenty years and for this accomplishment alone, he deserved a sizable monument to his memory.”
Luther Burbank was a man of science and observation. He used his love of plants and his tireless enthusiasm for nature to create useful hybrids that revolutionized farming. He stands out to this day as a powerful example to the world of what determination, critical thinking, and scientific observation can produce.
Burbank’s contributions to agriculture extended beyond his specific creations; his work laid the foundation for modern plant breeding techniques and inspired future generations of scientists and horticulturists. His innovative methods led to the development of more than eight hundred new plant varieties, including the Burbank potato, which played a significant role in transforming the American agricultural landscape. Despite lacking formal scientific training, Burbank’s keen observational skills and relentless experimentation earned him a reputation as a pioneering horticulturist. His ability to blend nature with innovation continues to influence agricultural practices today, demonstrating the lasting impact of his life's work.