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I have not the slightest doubt but that you all represent the " garden 

 spots of California;" each one of you lives in the finest climate and in the 

 very best part of California. Well, let me assure you that you have not 

 traveled beyond that boundary; that you may feel perfectly at home while 

 you are within old Butte, for we too claim that we are in the " garden 

 spot of California." It is true that we cannot boast very much of our sun- 

 shine this morning, but this is you know " exceptional in our district." I 

 have not the slightest doubt but what you have also had to make apology 

 for your sections sometimes in having rain when you have expected and 

 desired sunshine. I can assure you, however, that we have sunshine in all 

 its glory; indeed, I am reminded of the fact that one of the most dis- 

 tinguished horticulturists of our State, Judge Talbot, of Tulare, describes 

 that belt of land which stretches from Red Bluff on the north to Bakers- 

 field in the south as being the " sunshine belt of California" having the 

 distinguished eminence of being "above the fog belt and below the cloud 

 belt," indicating that it is really the home of the fig, of the pomegranate, 

 and of the orange, which you can see here represented to-day. We there- 

 fore say this downpour is exceptional; at the same time, you, no doubt, 

 understand how we also appreciate the abundant rains, which, with the 

 sunlight, make up the glory of the land, bringing to us the fruits and flow- 

 ers in which we so much delight. You can therefore pardon us for giving 

 you a drenching to-day. 



In other lines also, I think we have, if not the preeminence, very near 

 the preeminence; we can show you " big things " up here in Butte. I have 

 not had the opportunity to get correct statistics as to our area or productions, 

 but I venture the assertion that Butte will compare favorably with your 

 most extensive areas and most varied productions. We have what, per- 

 haps, might be called the "biggest farm in the world," at least a very dis- 

 tinguished Scotch gentleman, who called on me the other day, gave me 

 the assurance that he had the opportunity of examining into horticulture 

 and agriculture all the world over, and he gave us in Butte County the pre- 

 eminent distinction of having "the largest detail thoroughly cultivated 

 farm in the world;" there may be modifications, of course, in some sense. 

 We have also, as Sir Joseph Hooker has said, the biggest oak in the world, 

 and he, I venture to say, is an authority upon that subject. We, I think, 

 can present you with one of the biggest cherry trees in the State of Cali- 

 fornia, if not in the world, and I think, perhaps, we can show you also the 

 largest grain farm in the world, within the boundaries of Butte County; at 

 least, we have only to step across the border and beguile ourselves with the 

 belief that we are still in Butte County, and assure you of the fact that we 

 have the largest grain farm in the world. 



We have a great many things that are beautiful. I would, however, we 

 could this morning present to you one of the biggest things we boast of, one 

 of the largest hearts in the world, that would give you a welcome such as 

 I never could speak. 



He is a virtual production of Butte County, and we are as proud of him 

 in Butte as Santa Barbara County is of your distinguished President, and 

 Sonoma is of her pioneer hero, General Vallejo, whom we are proud to 

 greet here to-day. 



Our honored citizen is absent, as has been referred to by the President 

 of the convention, or from the fullness of that big heart, I am sure you 

 would have such a welcome as would gladden you, and give you to under- 

 stand that if we are not the biggest in everything, we are at least the big- 

 gest in appreciation and hospitality. 



