Luther Burbank was an American botanist
and horticulturist who developed over
800 new varieties of plants including
fruits vegetables flowers grains and
grasses he was born on March 7 1849 and
Lancaster Massachusetts to a farming
family he had a keen interest in nature
and plants from an early age and taught
himself botany by reading books and
experimenting with seeds and grafts
Burbank moved to Santa Rosa California
in 1875 where he established his own
nursery and experimental farm he devoted
his life to creating new and improved
plants that would benefit humanity and
the environment he used various methods
of plant breeding such as
cross-pollination hybridization
selection and mutation he also
introduced foreign plants to America and
adapted them to Local Conditions some of
his most famous Creations include the
Burbank potato which helped prevent
famine in Ireland the Shasta daisy which
was the first large and pure white daisy
the Santa Rosa Plum which became a
popular commercial fruit the spineless
cactus which provided fodder for
livestock in arid regions and The Rusted
Burbank potato which is widely used for
making french fries Burbank was widely
recognized and honored for his
achievements in plant breeding he
received honorary degrees from several
universities and was elected to the
National Academy of Sciences
he also wrote several books and articles
about his work in philosophy he died on
April 11 1926 in Santa Rosa California
leaving behind a legacy of innovation
and inspiration for future generations
of plant breeders