Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-12-25
A VEGETABLE STORY,
A Squash Raised ON Milk and Filled
with Butter.
Helena { Mont.) Herald.

Helena (Mont.) Herald.
Among those exhibiting at the Terri
torial Fair this year is Jas. r. johnson,
a farmer of the Prickly Pear valley.
whose rancho lies seven miles north of
Helena. He has splendid collection
of grain and vegetables-among the lat
ter squash of nearly forty pounds
weight, which has history too remark
able to pass unrecorded. 1t is of the
California mammoth variety, and con.
siderably the smallest "bulb" of several
of the kind shown in the same colIec-
ton. Some six or seven weeks ago
when little more than ten pounds weight
this squash was accidentally severed
from its vine by the head of farm
employee. Mr.. Johnson deplored the
accident, the vegetable being favorite
and the first to set from the blossom,
and he entertained great expectations
Of it. The hired man, seeing his dis
tress, suggested that the squash be ia
ken and raised by hand. johnson con-
fessed he did not know what that meant.
g 1t will grow and mature if you will
furnish the milk" was the response.
go ahead and do it," said Johnson,
who smiled grimly, thinking that the
Yankee hired man was disposed to play
Gosh" On him. The "orphan vege-
table, with the stem and few inches
OF the vine left intact, was taken to the
house and deposited in a garret-room,
where it could get a sun-bath each day.
The stem was wound with several law
ers of cotton cloth, and this was sub
merged in dish of new milk morning
and evening. The squash fed hungrily
on the tactical fluid. On the start it alb
sorbed pint Of milk in a very few
hours. This was presently Increased to
a quart, and twice day it was thus
rationed to the first day of the fair, on
Monday last. 1t 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 singular mode
of vegetable production. They
watched it nurse, and could easily
detect the healthy appetite draining
the nutritious drink. Every one gave
the squash repeated shakes, and pressed
their investigations to learn whether
there was any internal evidence OF all
the milk which that vegetable had con-
sumed. The squash prospered amaz-
ingly, expanded in size continually,
and, when taken away for exhibition,
weighed within fraction of forty
pounds.
There were 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 before a
large concourse Of people, and the
amazement of the multitude may be
pictured but not described when it was
opened to their wondering eyes. Di-
vided carefully in the middle, the top
half was removed, disclosing a globe of
beautiful, golden-hued butter, with
plump-fiIled seeds peeping out from all
sides of the luscious looking ball. Its
weight was estimated by many of the
best judges at ten pounds, and it was as
fresh and fragrant to the smell as a
spring-blown daisy. If was the I'M
heard of novelty more than the surpass-
ing beauty of the sight that raised the
enthusiastic outburst of the crowd as
they viewed the remarkable blending
of farm and dairy produce. The
"meat" of the squash, in richness of
color, equaled that of the butter ball,
and after everybody has had a fair
chance to see and satisfy themselves of
the genuineness Of both, and investi-
gate to their hearts content the unique
exhibit, it will be divided up and par
celed out to a dozen or more parties, to
L. L IL
butter for trial. Mr.. Johnson receives
from the citizens Of Helena a special
premium of $40 for this rarest specimen
of Clutter squash" ever raised by
hand, or, for that matter, by natures
own process. We think it will be gen.
orally acknowledged a wondorous pro-
duct, the counterpart, of which has
probably never before been seen or
heard of in Montana or any other part
of the world.