State Agricultural Society. 305 



bly there is no State in the Union so well adapted in its soils and climate 

 as California for the raising of seeds; they seem to hold their vitality 

 longer than anywhere else. I have sent a great many seeds to different 

 States, to parties sending for them, and in all cases they have always 

 given the best of satisfaction, producing larger and finer vegetables than 

 their own of the same variety. Thus we see how a business of this kind 

 is acknowledged abroad; it is of great value to many of all ranks in 

 life that are benefited through this channel of business. 



It seems unnecessary for me to enlarge upon this subject. Unaided 

 and alone, I have done all that a private individual could do to show to 

 the world at large what California can do. My object in thus sending 

 abroad our productions was to further the cause of immigration and 

 agriculture, and to promote our future prosperity. 



In view of what I have thus done, upon your kind judgment I rest 

 my claim. 



All of which is most respectfully submitted to your consideration. 



DANIEL L. PEEKINS. 



SEVENTH DEPARTMENT. 



WOEKS IN MAEBLE. 



Statement op J. C. Devine & Brother, of Sacramento. 

 To the Committee on award of Gold Medals of the State Agricultural Society: 



Gentlemen: In our department, on the merits of executing the finest 

 and best pieces of sculpture in marble which were exhibited at the State 

 Fair of the present yeai', held in this city, and as regards the same we 

 submit: 



First — That the exhibition of the same was attended by considerable 

 cost and labor to us, our object being to have the fine arts of our State, 

 as produced by hammer and chisel, fairly represented, and thus call for 

 all honorable competition. 



Second — We claim the gold medal for our beautiful display of marble 

 work in mantelpieces, scrolls, and monuments — representing the best 

 workmanship in that line of art ever exhibited at a State Fair in Cali- 

 fornia — and as soon as our competitors learned that we had such pieces 

 for exhibition, they concluded not to conrpete, so we were the only 

 marble workers who made a display at the State Fair of eighteen hun- 

 dred and seventy-one. 



Third — In our department at the last State Fair, the two mantels were 

 of native Vermont white marble, as fine in "texture" and as susceptible 

 of as bright a polish or luster as any marble imported. 



Fourth — We have also to say for information, that there has been dis- 

 covered in our neighboring State, Nevada,' an immense ledge of marble, 

 specimens of which having been worked and polished by us, prove as 



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