Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-10
THE LEGISLATURE
Baron NIunclnusen in California,

The following is a very fair representation
somewhat enlarged, of the "big talk" about the
agricultural productions Of the Pacific coast
which one hears in those parts:
1.-TWO weeks ago | started on visit to the 70
Semitic valley. | arrived at the wharf mo-
ment too late to get on board, and instead of
waiting until the next day, | determined to go
TO Stockton on horseback | accordingly cross
ed the bay to Oakland, or as it is better known,
Little PeddlingtOn,' procured horse and rode
over 10 the LivermOre valley where stayed all
night with a rancber, who was known in the val
ley as Clamps They call him that because he
got rich by holding on to his money with de-
gree of fOrtitude not universal in the country.
As supper time approached, Clamps asked me if
| would like some egg, and how | preferred it,
hard or soft, boiled or fried. | told him would
like some eggs, and that il would suit me best
to have them soft boiled.
"In few moments there came Clamps and
his wife, rolling an egg the size of -four bar
rel, which they boiled in short time in a large
cauIdrOn, and then set it up on end by madam's
chair at the table. hole was made in the top
of the shell, and the egg was dgged out with "A
long-handled ladle. | was aStonished at the
size of the egg, and observed that his hens must
be enormously large. BY no MEANS he re-
oiled. You will not be so much surprised when
| tell you that one hen did not lay this egg alone !;
1t took seven or eight hens almost a week to lay
it, 1t was a joint stock production of the
chickens but still il is better than the individual
responsibility PLAN
"At breakfast the next morning we had more
egg, and then | went on the road to Stockton
| reached Jan joaquin river at noon, and was
ferlied over in a unique locking craft. While
the ferryman was Juggling silently at his big
oars l inquired whether his ferry was profitable
"'Doesn't scarcely pay for raisin' the boat, he
replied,
mean by raising the boatp
Mister said he, resting for a while on his
oars, you be stranger in these parts, bean't
youP
81 replied that had not been long in the
country.
"fThen,' said he, pointing to the shore, this
ERE boat growed in that popln patch over yon-
der
"'Growed in that pumpkin patchp ex-
claimed
"'Growed in that pumpkin patch, on pump
kin vine. Mister, this boat is pumpkin shell,
cut in two. That patch is where it growed.'
Where, over by that barnP | inquired.
That amt no barn, he answered; unless
you choose to call it SO. That's a pumpkin,
too. But made hole in the end ont and let
the stock inside, and when the wet season sets
in, why, you see, plug up the hole and let them
winter there. They come out awful fat in the
spring. That big green-looking squash over
yonder I'm hollerin' ont TO live in
Are these the growth of the season. |
asked
we don't have no SIGH difference here on
the San Joaquin as CROWN seasons and them
others; things keep on CROWN all the time till
we pull 'em or they de-
"As ] was taking leave Of the ferryman he
gave me pumpkin seed, with the remark that
| might astonish the folks in the east with il:
but before twenty-four hours had elapsed /
came near having calamity by reason of il
myself
at was in this wise: After riding several
hours in the sun was so overcome BY drowsi-
ness as to find it impossible to keep in the sad.
die, and dismounting, lay down on the ground.
intending to take short nap. l had the pump,
KIN seed in my vest pocket. During my sum-
bers it iell on the ground, and | rolled over on
ii. My great fatigue caused me TO oyersleep
myself, and | awoke in the morning by being
roughly hurried over the ground in nv pros
trate position, with what seemed to be rope
around my body. | howled Justify for help,
aud my cries attracted the attention of two
men who were on their way to the harvest
field
On being relieved from my perilous position
the mystery became clear. The warmth of nv
oody caused the pumpkin seed to Sprout and
begin growing, aud one of the tendrls of the
new VINE had cOiled itself around nv BODY
dragging me along in its rapid growth n dis
lance OF more than half mile before | was
awakened. My deliverers had hard RIM IN
keep pace with me IN the clutches OF the pump
kin vine, aud finally arrested my progress by
cutting it with their scythe blades. / rave them
the vine for their reward, and we counted on il
no less than three hundred young pumpkins
ranging from the size OF hens egg 10 n aonT
barrel.
"There is but one more thing | will notice.
Six years ago gentleman residing near Stock
ton planted a garpe vine by his house. In two
years the building was completely EMBODIED in
the branches of the vine, and the gentleman was
surprised at seeing his dwelling starting from
its foundations. The vine grew with wonderful
vigor, and CARED the house unframed up to
the height Of sixty feet in the air, where it re-
NAMED The gentleman now reaches his front
door by means of winding staircase around
the trunk of the grape vine, and any
body who will take the trouble TO 90 and see
] WI. find !. i.... I :.