Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-02-17
BARON NUNCHAUsEN IN CALIFORNIA

| OAhUN NUNUdAUSEN In UALtVhN1A
The following is very fair representa-
ton, somewhat enlarged, of the big talk
about the agricultural productions of the
Pacific coast, which one hears occasionally
in the eastern States.
Two weeks ago started on visit to the
Yo Settite valley. arrived at the boat a
moment too late to get on board, aud, in-
stead of waiting until the next day, de-
termined to 60 to Stockton on horseback.
accordingly crossed the bay to ,Oakland;
or a. it is better known, " Little Pcddling.
tod" procured horse, ard road over to the
Livermore valley, wHeii I stayed all night
with rancher, who was known in the val
ley as Clamps" They call him that be.
cause he got rich by holding on to HE
money With degree of fortitude not uni
versal in the country. As supper time
approached "Clamps" asked me if l
would like some egg, and asked me how
preferred it, hard or soft, boiled or fried.
told him l would like some eggs, and
that it would suit me best to have them
soft boiled.
ia few moments there came Cltmps
aud his wife rolling an egg the size of a
flour barrel, which they boiled in short
time in large cauldron, and then set it up
Oh end by ;-tadaa's chair at the table. 4
hole was made in the top of the shell, and
the egg was dipped out with 9 long handled
ladle. l was astonished at the size ef the
egg, and observed 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 hens almost week to
lay it. 1t was a joint stock production Of
the chickens, but still it is better than the
individual responsibility plan"
At breakfast the next morning we had
more egg, and then went on the road to
Stockton. 1 reached the San Joaquin
river at noon, aad vas ferricd over in a
unique looking craft. While the ferryman
was tugging at his big oars, l inquired of
him whether his ferry was profitable.
70 en't scarcely pay for raising the
boat" he replied.
Raising the boat" frepied. "what
DO you mean by raising the boat?''
Mister" sid he, resting while on his
oars, "you be stranger in these parts,
bean,t you?"
replied that l had not been long in
The country.
"Theu," said he, pointing to the shore,
"this ere boat growed in that prmpkin
patch over yonder."
Growed ir that pvmpk'u patch" ex.
claimed:
t. " Growed 10 that pumpkin patch, on a
pumpkin vine. Mister; this boat is a
pumpkin shell cut in two. That patch is
where it growed."
"Where, over by the barn ?" inquired.
"That aim no barn" he answered, "un.
less 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, 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
I'm holerin out to live in
,'Are these the growth Of the season %
l asked.
1--WE don't have no such diff renee here
on the San Joaquin as CROWN seasons, and
them things; things keep on GROWN, all
the time, till We pull 'em or they die"
AS was taking leave of the ferryman,
he gave mo pumpkin seed. with the re-
mark that might astonish the folks in the
East with it; but before twenty. four hours
had elapsed came near having calamity
by reason Of it myself.
1t was in this wise; !After riding sew.
eral hours in the sun, I vas so overcome
by drowsiness as to find it impossible to
keep 10 the saddle, and, dismounting,
lay down on the ground, intending to take
a short nap. l had the pumpkin seed ia
my vest pocket During my slumber il
foil upon the ground, and rolled over on
it. My great fatigue caused me to over.
sleep myself, and l awoke in the mornfne
ty being roughly Hurried over the ground
in my PROSTATE position, with what seemed
to be rope around my body. I howlcd
Justify for help, and my cries attracted the
attention of two men who were on theil
way to the harvest field.
On being relieved from my perilous po
sition, the mystery became clear. The
warmth Of my body caused the pumpkin
seed to sprout aud begin growing, and one
of the tendrils of the new vine had coiied
itself around my bedy. dragging me along
in its rapid growth distance Of more than
half a mile before was awakened. My
deliverers had hard run to keep pace
with me in the clutches Of the pumpkin
vine, and finally arrested my progress by
cutting it with their scythe blades.
gave them the vine for their reward, and
we counted on it no less than three hun
dred young pumpkins, ranging from the
size Of hens egg to -four barrel.
There is but one more thing will notice
Six years ago, q gentleman residing near
Stockton, planted grapevine 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