The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-11-28
YANKEE GENIUS.
| J/e Wonderful Story Of u Hand Raised
" Squash.

T/e Wonderful Story Of u Hand Raised
Squash.
[From the Helena (Mont.) Herald.J
Among those exhibiting ut the Terri
torial fair this year is James r. Johnson,
q farmer of the Prickly Pear valley,
whose ranch lies seven miles north Of
Helena. He has splendid collection
of grain and vegetables among the
latter squash of nearly forty pounds
weight, which has history too remark
able to 60 unrecorded. II is the Cali
fornia mammoth variety, and consider
ably the smallest "bulb" of several of
the same kind shown in the same col
lection. Some six or seven weeks ago
when little more than ten pounds
weight-this squash was accidentally
severed from the vine by the tread of q
farm employe. Mr.. Johnson deplored
tho accident, the vegetable being q
favorite and the first to set from the
blossom, and he entertained great ex-
pectations of it. The hired man,
seeing his distress, suggested that the
squash be taken and raised by hand.
johnson confessed he did not know
what that meant. II will grow and
mature it if you will furnish the milk"
was the response. $50 ahead and do
it," said johnson, who smiled grimly,
thinking the Yankee hired man was
disposed to play "josh" on him. The
"orpban vegetable" with the stem and
few inches of the vine left intact, was
taken to the house and deposited in q
garnet room, where it could get sun
bath part of each day. The stem
was wound with several layers of cotton
cloth, and this was submerged in dish
of new milk morning and evening.
The squash fed hungrily on the tactical
fluid. On the start it absorbed q pint
of milk in few hours. This was pres
emily increased to quart, and twice a
day it was thus rationed to the first day
of the fair, on Monday last. It thrived
wonderfully on its novel bringing up,
and neighbors who dropped in from
time to time expressed their surprise
and establishment at this singular mode
of vegetable production. They watched
its nurse, and could easily detect the
healthy appetite draining the nutritious
drink. Everyone gave the squash re-
peated shakes, and pressed their inves-
LEGATIONS to learn whether there was any
internal evidence of all the milk which
that vegetable had consumed. The
squash prospered amazingly, expanded
in size continually, and, when taken
away for exhibition, weighed within a
fraction o. forty pounds. There were
many at the fair whose curiosity was
greatly excited about this squash, and
Mr.. Johnson promised to cut the vege-
table in the presence of witnesses and
exhibit to them it's " true inwardness. "
This was done before large concourse
of people, and the amazement of the
multitude may be pictured, but not
described, when it was opened to their
wondering eyes. Divided carefully in
the middle, the top half was removed,
disclosing globe of beautiful, golden
hued butter, with plump-flled seeds
peeping out from all sides of the lus.
cious-looking ball. It's weight was est.
mated by many of the best judges al
ten pounds. and was as fresh and fra.
grant to the smell as a spring blown
daisy. 1t was the unheard-of novelty
moro than the SURPRISING beauty of the
sight that raised the enthusiastic out
burst of the crowd as they viewed this
remarkable blending of farm and dairy
products. The "meat" of the squash
in richness of color, equaled that of the
butter-ball, and, after everybody hal
had fair chance to see and satisfy
themselves of the gepuineness of both
and investigate to their hearts content
the unique exhibition, it will be divided
up and pacreled out to a dozen OF
more parties, to whom also will be Civ
en- portions of the butter for trial. Mr.
Johnson received from the citizens o.
Helena special premium of $40 fol
this rarest specimen of "butter
squash" ever raised by hand, or, for tina
matter, by natures own process. W.
think it will be generally acknowledged
a wondrous product, the counterpart
of which has probably never before
been seen or heard of in Montana Of
any other part of the world.