Luther Burbank The Plant Wizard

Luther Burbank made great discoveries towards the study of cross breeding. Crossbreeding is when you take two or more species and combining them to make a whole new organism. -crossbreeding is also called hybridization. + =

Luther Burbank was born on March 8, 1849 in Lancaster, Massachusetts He grew up as a poor farmers boy. Luther received only a high school degree. He was always interested in plants, so he went to his library all the time read about plants. His library helped but Luther was really inspired by his uncle. His uncle was head of a department in the Boston Museum.

Sadly Luther’s father died when he was young After his father died he moved to where the rest of his family lived on another small farm in Gorton.

Luther Burbank was deeply inspired by Charles Darwin Charles Darwin was a great scientists who discovered the theory of evolution. Many scientists including Luther looked up to Darwin Luther loved how Darwin believed that plants and animals evolve and create new things Luther was especially inspired by Charles Darwin’s book, “Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication” In 1926, Luther publicly said that he supports Darwinism. This made a lot of Christians angry for Darwinism contradicts the Bible. This stress amongst other things pushed his heart too far leading too his death. Charles Darwin

Luther Burbank was incredibly great with plants - Over his life he developed over 800 strands of plants. - In these 800 varieties are 113 types of plums/prunes. 10 varieties of berries. 50 varieties of lilies.

In Luther’s Book, “Luther Burbank: His Methods and Discoveries and Their Practical Application” He describes his work His book has a major focus on berries. The beginning of his book describes how he found a way to take the thorns off of berries. The thorn-less plant was not very popular as it had small roots and berries. The thorn-less plants also died very quickly as it could not pollinate correctly So in the end the thorn-less idea was a huge scientific discovery but had no practical uses. Thorn-less berries

Luther Burbank did win an award. He won the Pan-American Exposition for Hybrid Plum Apricot.

Luther Burbank’s career is very interesting At the age of 21 Luther Burbank bought 17 acres of land to begin his plant breeding. In 1873 invents the Burbank Potato, he sells the rights to his potato to Ireland for $150. With this money he sets up a nursery, greenhouse, and experimental farm. In 1893 he develops a pomato, a cross between a potato and a tomato Between 1914 and 1915 he writes a 12 volume set, “Luther Burbank: His Methods and Discoveries and Their Practical Application” In 1921 he writes another 8 volume set, “How Plants are Made to Work for Man” Luther Burbank’s book “His Methods and Discoveries and Their Practical Application”

He died of heart failure at the Luther Burbank died in 1926 He died of heart failure at the age of 77. Luther Burbank made changes to plants and nature itself for science. In that way he is a very significant and a great scientist. Luther Burbank

Timeline March 8, 1849- Luther Burbank is born( father dies when Luther is a kid). 1873- Luther Burbank invents Burbank Potato; sells potato to Ireland 1893-Luther develops the pomato; a cross between the potato and tomato. 1914 and 1915- writes 12 volume set, “Luther Burbank: His Methods and Discoveries and their Practical Application” 1921- writes 8 volume set, “How Plants are Made to Work for Men” 1926- Luther Burbank dies at the age of 27 from heart failure.

Work Cited Page Bellies, Mary. “Luther Burbank” About.com: Inventors. 2009, http://inventors.about.com/liabary/blburbank.htm Burbank, Luther, “Luther Burbank: His Methods and Discoveries and \Their PracticalApplications.”Books.google.com http://books.google.com/books?id Bolton, Sarah. “Luther Burbank” Famous Men of Science New York: Thomas Y. Crowell company, 1960. “Burbank, Luther” World Book Encyclopedia 2004. “Burbank, Luther” Compton’s Encyclopedia. 1995. Albert C. Jensen. “Burbank, Luther.” Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists. 1996