Mental carelessness must take its place among the sins which men struggle against, and for which they repent.
Phillips Brooks.
In his study and manipulation of plants Mr. Luther Burbank is directing attention in a most interesting way to what he calls the determinative value of "selective environment." Having effected the proper fertilization, he finds that the results in plant life are wholly dependent upon the maintenance of certain favoring conditions, and these are therefore watched and protected from day to day with the utmost care. The wisdom of this zealous guardianship is manifest, and one is led thereby to think of the gains which would attend a kindred watchfulness and care to protect the implantings of truth in the human heart from the contaminations of mortal thought.
