Luther Burbank was an American botanist who developed hundreds of new varieties of fruits, flowers, grains, and vegetables through careful plant breeding. Among his creations was the Russet Burbank potato, which went on to become the most widely grown potato in America and the standard for french fries and hash browns today. He also bred the Shasta daisy and dozens of new plums and berries still grown today. He spent his life patiently experimenting in his gardens, always curious about how plants could be improved.