burbank（american horticulturist） would hurry nature bygrafting together branches of different fruits.often he would haveas many as one hundred separate varieties growing in one appletree，and bearing fruits two or three years earlier than they wouldhave done if only one variety had grown on its own tree.
the results of his experiments were，among other plants，anespecially strong cherry tree； a blackberry plant without thorns ；and a larger，sweeter and smoother raspberry.he pleased manypeople by developing new flowers：the big shasta daisy，theburbank rose，a gladiolus plant with a double flower，and apoppy with a silver inner part to its flower. he also created the“plumcot”。 a fruit that is half plum and half apricot；four newtypes of quince tree； ten new kinds of plums and prunes； and anew kind of nut. it is not surprising that burbank was called “plantwizard”。he seemed indeed to be a man who used magic tochange nature.
some of his experiments were not successful. for example，he never made a true combination of the potato and the tomato.he was never able to grow a cactus that could live in desertclimates and provide food for animals.
burbank made enemies.he often burned all the plants leftafter his experiments. his neighbors thought that his habit waswasteful， that he was crazy to destroy good fruit trees. then，in 1893， he published new creations in fruits and flowers； atthe end of this book he stated his belief that the surroundings ofa plant could change its characteristics. this claim angered those who believed that heredity alone brought change. in addition，his statement that he had “made” new plants angered those whothought he had been using powers belonging to god alone.he wasoften attacked， but farmers continued to buy his plants.
有时，伯班克通过把不同的果树枝嫁接在一起加快自然的进程。他又常常使一百个不同的品种在一棵苹果树上生长，并且使它比单一品种长在自身树上提前两到三年结出苹果。
他所作实验的结果除其他作物外，有一种特别茁壮的樱桃树、一种不长刺的黑莓和一种更大更甜而且更圆润的木莓。好多人喜欢他培育的新花卉，既有硕大的沙斯塔山雏菊、伯班克玫瑰、一种开重瓣花的唐菖蒲属植物，又有一种中心部分呈银白色的罂粟花。他还创造出一种“李子杏”，这是一种一半是李子味一半是杏味的水果；此外还有四种新的温柏树、十种新的李子树和梅子树，还有一种新坚果。所以伯班克被称为“树木巫师”是不会令人感到惊奇的了。看来他确实是一个利用魔法改变自然的人。
他的实验有一些没有成功。例如，他一直没有培育出马铃薯与番茄的真正的结合体。他也没能种成可以在沙漠地带生长并能为牲畜提供饲料的仙人掌。
伯班克结下了一些仇人。他常常烧掉作实验剩下来的作物。他的邻居们认为这种习惯是一种浪费，他破坏那么好的树木是发了疯。而后，他在1893年出版了《水果与花卉之新创造》一书，在该书的末尾他说到他相信一种作物的环境能够改变它的特性。这种主张激怒了那些相信只有遗传才能导致改变的人们。此外，他关于自己“造出”了新植物的说法，也惹恼了那些认为他使用了只属于上帝的权力的人们。他常常受到攻击，但自耕农们却继续购买他的作物。