Complimentary Banquet to Luther Bur bank 



conditions were made know by the marvelous range of 

 fruits grown here greater in their variety and excellence 

 than can be produced elsewhere in any one country of Eu- 

 rope or in any one or all of the states of the Union. 



The orange and lemon have given to Southern Cali- 

 fornia her wonderful prosperity and prestige. The raisin 

 grape has made the Fresno country famous as well as rich. 

 The prune has given to the Santa Clara Valley an enviable 

 reputation on two continents. 



These fruits alone have turned the flow of many millions 

 of dollars to the growers of California, that formerly went 

 from this country to Europe; and experience has demon- 

 strated that all the commercial fruits that find a market 

 without the State are grown in all latitudes from Shasta to 

 San Diego. 



We have not only captured from foreign competitors 

 the home market for several of our fruit products, but we 

 are successfully invading European countries with our wine 

 and brandy, our prunes, raisins, and dried and canned fruits, 

 and canned vegetables. 



Fruit growing like all other industries has been and will 

 continue to be beset by discouragements and vicissitudes. 

 But it has maintained prominence among the tillers of the 

 soil in the countries of Europe for hundreds of years, and it 

 will always have prominence where Nature has furnished 

 conditions favorable to its pursuit. In this respect Cali- 

 fornia stands without a rival. 



I offer no apology to our guest, nor to you who are here 

 to welcome him, for this passing mention of the commer- 

 cial aspect of the fruit growing industry and of its influence 

 in upbuilding the State. While Mr. Burbank has scorned 

 to profit by the many valuable contributions he has made 



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