The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-11-21
A BUTTER-PRODUCINe SQUASH.

The Helena (Montanal Herald tells
this queer story of a mammoth squash
which was fed on milk and produced
butter:
Among those exhibiting at the Territorial
Fair this year is James r. johnson, farmer
of the Prlckley Pear Valley, Whose ranch
lies seven miles north OF Helena lie mas a
splendid collection of grain and vegetables
among the latter a squash OF nearly 40
pounds weight which has history too re
markable to pass anrecOrded. 1t Is OF the
California mammoth variety, and conSidera-
blv the smallest sbub'' of several OF the
same kind shown in the same collection
Some six or seven weeks ago, when little
more than ten pounds weight, this squash
was accidentally severed from its vine by the
tread of a farm employe. Mr.. johnson de-
plored the accident the vegetable being
favorite and the first to set out from the
/ blossom, and he entertained great exDecta-
tiOnS of it
The hired man, seeing his Distress sug-
7 CeStcd that the squash be taken and raised
by hand. Johnson confessed he did not
know what t44at meant. 81 will grow and
nurture it, If You viii furnish the milk, y was
the response. 600 ahead and do it, said
johnson, who smiled grimly, thinking the
Yankee hired man was disposed to play a
'1osh" on him. The "Orphan vegetable, .
+ with the stem and a few inches of the vine
left intact, was taken to the house and de
posted IN a garret TOom, where 1t could get
a sun-bath part of each day. The stem was
wound with several layers of cotton cloth,
and this was submerged III a dish of new
milk morning and evening.
The squash fed hungrily on the lacteal
fluid. On the start it absorbed pint of
milk in few hours. This was presently
increased to a quart, and twice a day it was
thus ratoned to the first day of the fair, on
Monday last. 1t thrived wonderfully on its
novel bringing up and neighbOrs who drop
ped in from time to zine to see it, expressed
their surprise and astonishment at this sin
Of afa1s1
watched it nurse and could easily detect the
healthy appetite draining the nutritious
drink. Every one gave the squash repeated
shakes, and pressed their investi igations tC
learn whether there was any internal evi
dence of all the milk which that vegetable
I had consumed. The squash prOspeTed amaZ
ingly, expanded in size continually, and
when taken away tor exhibition weighed
within a fraction of forty pounds.
There were many at the fair whose curl
osity was greatly excited about this squash
Z and Mr.. Johnston promised to cnt the Veg5
table in the presence of witnesses and eX-
hibit to them its ''tTue inWardneSS.' y This
was done this morning before large con
[ course of people, and the amaZement of the
multitude may he pictured, but not describ
ed when it was open to their wondering
/ eyes. Divided carefully in the middle, the
top half was removed, disclosing a globe of
beautiful, gOlden-hued butter, with plump
filed seeds peeping out from all sides of tho
luscious looking ball. It's weight was eSti
mated Dy many OF Jne pest Judges at Tel
: pounds, and was as fresh and fragrant tC
the smell as a spring blown daisy. 1t wa:
the unhcard-of novelty more than the surpas
sing beauty of the sight that raised the en-
thusiastic Outburst 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 o
the butter ball, and after everybody has haC
n fair chance to see and satisfy themselve
r of the genUineneSS, of both, and Investigate
to their hearts content the unique exhibit, i
= will be divided up and parceled ont to
dozen OF more parties, to whom also vii b(
given portions of the butter for trial. Nh
Johnston receives from the citizens OF Helen;
a special premium of $50 fOrthis raTeSt speci
men of "butter squash" ever raised b,
hand, or for that matter by natures Owl
process. We think it viii be generally ac
knowledgeda 4 wondrouS product, the counter
, part OF which has probably never before beel
l seen or heard of in Montana OF any Othe
part of the world.