Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-12-12
A Yankee Achievement.

A Yankee Achievement.
Among those exhibiting at the Terri.
torial Fair this year is James r. John
son, farmer of the Prickly Pear Val.
ley. whose ranch lies seven miles north
Of Helena. He has q splendid collec.
ton OF grain and vegetables-among
the latter q squash Of nearly forty
pounds in weight, which has history
too remarkable 10 pass unrecorded. It
is OF the California mammoth variety,
snd considerably the smallest "bulb "
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 acct
dentally severed from its vine by the
tread of farm employe. Mr.. John.
son deplored the accident, the vegeta.
ble being favorite and the first to set
from the blossom, and he entertained
great expectations 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. ~ will grow and mature
it if you will furnish the milk" was the
response. go ahead and do it" said
Johnson. who smiled grimly, think
ing the Yankee hired man was disposed
to play Josh" on him. The" Or
phan vegetable" with the stem and
few inches of the vine left intact, was
taken to the house and deposited in a
garrett 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 q dish
of new milk morning and evening. The
squash fed hungrily upon the lacteal
fluid. On the start it absorbed pint
of milk in a few hours. This was pres.
emily increased to quart, and twice
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 to see it expressed their
surprise and establishment at this sim
gular mode of vegetable production.
They watched it nurse and could easily
detect the healthy appetite draining the
nutritious drink. Every enc gave the
squash repeated shakes, and pressed
their investigations to learn whether
there was any internal evidence of all
tho milk which that vegetable had con-
sumed. The squash prospered amaz-
ingly, expanded in size continually,
and when taken away for exhibition
weighed within a fraction of forty
pounds. There we're many at the fair
whose curiosity was greatly excited
about this squash, and Mr.. johnson
promised to cut the vegetable in the
presence Of witnesses and exhibit to
them its "true inwardness." This
was done this morning before large
concourse of people. and the amaze
ment Of the multitude may be pictured
but not described when it was opened
to their wondering eyes. Divided care
fully in the middle, the top half was
removed, disclosing globe of beauti-
full, golden hued butter, with plump
filled seeds peeping out from all sides
of the scious.looking ball. Its weight
was estimated by many Of the best
judges at ten pounds, and was as fresh
and fragrant to the smell as spring
blown daisy. It was the unheard-of
novelty more than the SURPRISING
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 Of the butter. ball, and, at.
ter everybody has had fair chance to
see and satisfy themselves of the genu-
ineness of both, and investigate to their
hearts content the unique exhibit, it
will be divided up and parceled out to
a dozen or more parties. to whom also
will be given portions of the butter for
trial. Mr.. johnson receives from the
citizens Of Helena special premium OF
$50 for this rarest specimen OF " but
ter squash ever raised by hand, or for
that matter, by natures own process.
We think it will be generally acknowl-
edged wondrous product. the counter
part of which has probably never before
been seen or heard of in Montana or
any other part of the world.-Heiena
(Mon.) Herald.
TIA d. - Dol