Sold – Luther Burbank’s Goals in Life

Burbank was widely known as a botanist and scientist. His fame as an inventor of new fruits, plants and flowers inspired world-wide interest in plant breeding, for which he was recognized by an Act of Congress, among many other honors. He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants, including 113 varieties of plums and prunes, 10 varieties of berries, 50 varieties of lilies and the Freestone peach.

Typed Letter Signed on his letterhead, Santa Rosa, California, April 29, 1909, to Charles P. Davis, founder of the popular magazines Currents Events and My Weekly Reader, revealing his essential philosophy and goals in life. “In response to yours of April 23rd beg to say that, while holding in the greatest respect the opinions of all men, especially in regard to personal duty and future life, I belong to no sect, creed or school either religious, scientific or political, feeling that there should be perfect liberty to grow day by day. Growth involves expansion and change, and I have never fenced or labeled my beliefs. My hope and ambition is to make the world a better place to live in; to help others to help themselves to construct – not to destroy; to clear the path for any who may come after; to make a smile where none grew before and especially in the heart of every child.”