The Portland daily press., 1871-11-14
Baron Nsunchausen i'm California

The following is very fair representation
somewhat enlarged, of the "big talk" about
the agricultural productions of the Pacific
coast which one hears in those parts:
Two weeks ago started on a visit to the
Yo Semitic valley. / arrived at the wharf
moment too late to get on board, and instead
of waiting until the next day, determined TO
go to Stockton on horseback. l accordingly
crossed the bay to Oakland, or as it is better
known, Little Peddington," procured a
horse and rode over TO the Lvermore valley
where 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 degree of fortitude not
universal in the country. AS supper time APP
preached, ''Clamps" asked me if would like
some egg, and how preferred it, hard or soft,
boiled or fried. l told HIM l would like some
eggs, and that it would suit me best to have
them solt boiled.
In few moments there came Clamps and
his wife, rolling an egg the size of a flour bar
rel, which they boiled in short time in a
large cauldron, and then set it up on end by
madams chair at the table. A hole was
made in the top of the shell, and the egg was
diggsd out with long-handled ladle. I was
astonshed at the size of the egg, and observed
that his hens must be enormously large. "By
| IuSduo, lCpilCu. lOu Will UOJ Ut So
much surprised when tell you that one hen
did not lay this egg alone; it took seven or
eight hens almost a week to lay it. 1t was a
joint stock production of the chickens, bnt
still it is better than the individual response
bility plan"
At breakfast the next morning we had
more egg, and then l went on the road to
Stockton. | reached San Joaquin river at
noon, and was ferried over in unique look
ing craft. While the ierryman was tugging
silently at his big oars, inquired whether his
ferly was profitable.
Doesn't scarcely pay for raisn' the boat"
he replied.
"Raisng the boat?" l repeated, "what do
you mean by raising the boat?"
Mister" said he, resting for while on his
oars, "you be stranger in these parts, bean't
you?"
l replied that had not been long in the
country.
"Then," said he, pointing to the shore, 'this
'ere boat growed in that pumpkin patch over
| yonder."
"Growed in that pumpkin patchl" 1 ex-
claimed.
"Growed in that pumpkin patch, on a
pumpkin vine. Mister, this is a pumpkin
shell, cut in two. That patch is where it
growed."
"Where, over by that barn?" / inquired.
"That amt no barn." he answered; "un-
| less you choose to call it so. That's pump
| kin, too. But made hole in the end ont
and let the stock inside, and when the wet
season sets in, why, you see, L plug up the
| hole and let them winter there. They come
out awful fat in the spring. That big green
looking squash over yonder Pm hollerin' out
to live in."
care these the growth of the season ?"
asked
| I'VE don't have no sich difference here on
the San Joaquin as growin' seasons and them
others; things keep on growin' all the tiiiie
till we pull 'em or they die"
AS was taking leave OF the ierryilan ne
| gave me pumpkin seed, with the remark
| that might astonish the folks In the east
| with il: but before twenty hours had
elapsed came near having calamity by rea-
son of it myself.
II was in this wise: After riding several
hours in the sun was so overcome by drow-
siness as to find it impossible to keep in the
saddle, and dismounting, lay down on the
ground, intending to take short nap. had
the pumpkin seed in my vest pocket. During
my slumbers it fell on the ground, and roll
ed over on it. My great fatigue caused me to
oversleep myself, and awoke in the morn.
ing by being roughly hurried over the grount
in my prostrate position, with what seemed
to be arope arouua my body, Ihowled lasti