Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-11-17
Baron m.nenasen in calirornl

bnrOn mumchasen In ChLiiOrnIh'
The following is very fair represen-
tation, somewhat enlarged, of the " big
talk" about the agricultural productions
Of the Pacific coast which one hears in
those parts; lis th4
Two weeks ago started on visit to
the 70 Semitic valley. | arrived at the
wharf moment too late to get aboard,
and instead of waiting until the next
day, determined to 60 to Stockton on
horseback, 1 accordingly crossed the
bay TO Oakland, or as IL is better known,
Little Peddlington, procured horse
and rode over to the Livermore valley,
and stayed all night with a rancher
who was known in the valley 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
eggs, and bow preferred it, hard or
soft, boiled or fried. l told him / would
like some eggs, and that it would suit
me best to have them soft boiled.
In a few moments there came
Clamps and his wife, rolling an egg the
size Of q flour barrel, which they boiled
in short time in large cauldron, and
then set up on end by madam chair at
the table. A hole was made in the top
of the shell, and the egg was dipped out
with a long handled ladle. was aston
ished at the size of the egg, and observ-
ed that his hens must be enormously
large. BY no means, he replied. You
will not be so much surprised when
tell you that one hen did not lay this egg
alone; it took seven or eight hen almost
a week to lay it. 1t was a joint stock
production Of the chickens, but still it is
better than the individual responsibility
plan. EhrC snaq
At breakfast the next morning we
had more eggs, and then / went on the
road to Stockton. ! reached San Joa-
quin river at noon, and was ferried over
in a unique-looking craft. While the
ferryman was tugging silently at his big
oars, | inquired whether his ferry was
profitable.
." Doesn't scarcely pay for raisin' the
boat, he replied FaG
Raising the boat?' ! repeated;
: what do you mean by raising the boat2 :
d !" Mister, said he, resting for while
on his oars, you be stranger in these
parts, bean't you?
" replied that had not been long in
the country.
"Then, said he, pointing to the
shore, this ere boat growed in tllat
pumpkin patch over yonder. s Ha
I" Growed in that pumpkin patchl
l exclaimed.
:" Growed in that tpumpkin patch, on a
pumpkin vine. Mister, this boat is AZ
pumpkin shell, cut in two. That patel b
is where it growed.
Where's over by that barn?' ! ill-
quired.
That amt no barn. he answered;
unless you choose to call it so. That's
apumpkih, a 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 EN-
winter there. They come out awful fat
IN the spring That big green looking
squash over yonder I'm hollerin' out to
live in
Are these the growth of the season.
| asked -
1--WE don't have no sich difference
here on the San Joaquin as CROWN sea-
sons and them othersy things keep on
GROWN all the time, till we pull EN- up
or they die.
AS / was taking leave of the ferry
man he gave me pumpkin seed, with
the remark that might astonish the
folks in the East with IT.; but before
Itwenty-four hours had elapsed came
near having calamity by reason Of it
myself.
T" 1t was in this wise After riding sew
eral hours in the sun | was so overcome
by drowsiness as to find it impossible 70
keep in the saddle, and, dismounting,
lay down on the ground, intending TO
take short nap. | had the pHmpkin
seed in my vest pocket. During my
slumbers it fell on the ground and | rolled
over on it. Ny great fatigue caused me
to oversleep myself, and | awoke in the
morning by being roughly hurried over
the ground in my PROSTATE condition,
with what seemed to be a rope around
my body. / howled Justify for help, and
my cries attracted the attention of two
men who were on their way to the har-
vest-feld.
"0n being relieved from my perilous
position the mystery became clear. The
warmth Of my body caused the pump
kin seed to sprout and begin growing,
and one of the tendrils of the new vine
had coiled itself around my body, drag
ging me along in its rapid growth dis
tance of more than half mile before !
was awakened. My deliverers had a
hard run to keep pace with me in the
clutches of the pumpkin vine, and final
ly arrested my progress by cutting II
with their scythes blades. ] gave them
the vine for their reward, and we counted
on il no less than three hundred young
pumpkins, ranging from the size of a
heu's egg to -four barrel,y
There is but one more thing will
notice. Six years ago gentleman re-
siding near Stockton planted grape
vine by his house. In two years the
building was completely enfolded 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 carried
the house unharmed up to the hight Of
sixty feetiH the air. where it remained.
The gentleman now reaches his front
door by means of q winding staircase
around the trunk Of the grape vine, aud
anybody who will take the trouble to 90
and see Eillfind it just as / have said.