Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-03-11

so far above the ordinary size, as to
seem almost incredible, but well
known and seen, and verified by The
uniform and concurrent testimony
of many whom | see sitting around
me.
On land owned and cultivated by
Mr.. James Williams, an onion grew
10 the enormous weight OF twenty
one pounds; on this same land tur-
nip was raised which equalled exact
ly in size the head OF a -four barrel.
On land owned and cultivated by
Thomas Follen, a cabbage grew
which measured while growing l3
feet six inches around its body; the
weight is not known. The various
cereal grains grow to a height OF
from 6 TO IL feet. One redwood
tree in the valley, known as FIRE.
mont's tree, measures over fifty feet
in circumference, and is nearly three
hundred feet high. Added 10 these
astonishing productions are, beat
grown by Mr.. Isaac Brannan. at
San Jose, weighing 63 pounds: car
rots three feet in length weighing 40
pounds.
At Stockton a turnip weighing
100 lbs. In the latter city, al din
ner party for twelve persons, Of a
single potato larger than the size of
an ordinary hat, all partook, leaving
at lest The half untouched.
These may be superlatives, but
they do exist, and they show what
our climate and soil are capable Of
producing. Nor are these more
seemingly incredible than the well
known fact of a portion Of our Stale,
nearly 600 miles in length, and so in
breadth, whose every foot of ground
from hilltop to valley, is more or less
impregnated with gold of every
conceivable form and size, from dust
up to Jumps weighing 80 pounds.
But let US cast our eyes around
this hall; and what do we see--even
from hasty collection and casual
contribution-an agricultural, bota-
nical, geological, mineral and floral
exhibition, embracing nearly one
thousand varieties of pressed fow-
ers, Of every hue, and OF unsur-
passed brilliancy, nearly 200 varie-
ties Of which are illustrated by truth
fuI and beautiful drawings; seeds OF
more than 5000 varieties of native
flowers; 90 varieties of lily and
other bulbous roots, embracing the
remarkable soap plant, rivalIing the
finest boast of the toilet, and adding
to its healing qualities, as If provi-
ded for the double purpose of sani-
tary and abluent properties for the
native sons Of the forest; specimens
Of 1000 varieties of the principal
quartz veins and soils Of the State;
about 20 varieties Of the principal
grapes and clovers, many Of the
specimens pressed, embracing the
burr clover, that feeds to fatness
"the cattle of a thousand hills" !"
when all other sustenance is parched
and withered: Shel;on's mammoth
clover, whose stocks from one root
cover an area OF 81 square feet,
some OF the stocks six feet long, a
half inch in diameter, and the clover
head five inches in circumference:
single stalks Of the white lily, produ-
cling 100 flowers, Of indescribable
delicacy and beauty; beautiful speci-
mems Of minerals and pressed fiow-
ers from Mr.. H. Pratten, Of Nevada;
stalks OF the oats gathered by Mr..
Shelton, Is feet high; specimens oI
wheat and barley having $50 and
200 mammoth stalks springing from
one root, the produce OF a single
seed; the red sugar beet, grown by
Mr.. L. NJ. Beard, Of San Jose,
twenty-eight inches in circumference
and weighing Al lbs; some from the
Iuxuriant gardens Of Alderman
Green, OF this city, of only two
months growth, weighing 6 or Z Ibs.i
cucumbers, raised by the same, is
inches in length; onions, cultivated
by Messrs. Chamberlain & Musser,
five, six and seven inches in diameter,
and weighing three and four pounds
each-nearIy 10000 pounds to an
acre, and the whole number from
the acre supposed TO average one
pound each; potatoes, from Mr.. H
SpeeI, of Santa Cruz, 100 pounds
from five vines OF single hill; one
from Mr.. B. ]. Stevens, OF Santa
Clara. Is inches in length, 81 inches
in circumference, and weighing "A
pounds; The Russian bald barley
grown by Mr.. Johnson, on his ranch
upon the banks oi Bear River
weighing 66 pounds TO the bushel
with kernal nearly double the size
Of large wheat; raspberries five
inches in circumference; barley from
the San Jose valley, Of which 965
bushels were produced from less than
five acres Of land; some from the
farm of Madam Scooty, of Sonora
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