Complimentary Banquet to Luther Burbank 



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Q 



so lowly, but so important a thing as the potato that bears 

 his name. What will he do for us? The cactus that 

 blooms upon our deserts will, robbed of its spines, perhaps 

 give opportunity for man and beast to populate our almost 

 lifeless wastes. What will he do for us? New fruits, new 

 flowers, new trees seem to spring into being obedient to his 

 Alladin-like touch. Do we want a better plum, a larger 

 berry, a brighter, more fragrant flower, we turn to Burbank, 

 and he gives it to us. 



Hitherto the farmer and the horticulturist have groped 

 in almost total darkness, taking now and then some better 

 thing that happened to fall within their grasp, but never 

 fully realizing how that which they prized came into being. 

 Now, like Columbus, Burbank has shown us the way to new 

 continents, new forms of life, new sources of wealth, and 

 we, following in his footsteps, will profit by and from his 

 genius. 



Mr. Toastmaster, it is a double pleasure for me to be 

 here to-night. I am glad and proud, as an individual, to 

 honor him whom I may designate as "friend," and I am 

 glad and proud, as Governor of California, and speaking 

 for the million and three quarters of our people, to bid the 

 evening's honored guest a hearty and a heartfelt "God- 

 speed" in all his future work. 



Mr. Mills: 



GENTLEMEN : 



"Earth gave its chosen men of strength; 



They lived, and strove, and died for me 

 To stretch my road a nation's length, 

 And toss the miles aside for me." 



. J7 . 



