The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-16
BIG THINGS IN California.
Gigantic Fruits, Flowers. and Vegetables
Grown on the Pacific Coast.

Los ANGELES, Cal, Dec. We have some
big things in California" said l.. GERMAN OF
Los Angeles. "Of course. you have heard OF the
big grapevine at Santa Barbara, which covers
three acres. Then there is the monster rose
bush at Santa Rosa. II grew to an enormous
height and completely covered the house whers
1t grew. During my lifetime here in California
! have handled squashes running all the
way from $50 TO 800 pounds each. Water
melons | have seen weighing from thirty five
to 100 pounds, Beets are frequently known on
this coast weighing all the way from forty to
seventy-tve pounds. l remember one beet
raised at San Rafael which weighed about
eighty pounds. Last fall / saw three onions the
aggregate weight of which was nearly five
pounds. In the Pomona Valley | have known Of
onions weighing from one and three-quarters TO
two and one-half pounds. Tomato vines fire.
quently grow ten or twelve feet across. and |
have often seen radishes that looked like big
turnips.
II have seen specimens Of the Humboldt
county potato which weighed from two 10 three
pounds. 1t is not at all unusual To see ~cabbages
weighing from thirty-hve To seventy-hye
pounds. Some years ago a Mr.. Fox, who lived
down in the Santa cruz Mountains, raised a car
rot of the white Belgian variety which weighed
about twenty-eighl pounds. IL was the biggest
To the san Francisco market are what they call
pound pears, but have seen them weighing
two and a half pounds"
Al kelsey's orchard, near Santa Barbara, is a
remarkable plum tree, known as the Japan
plum, which was planted in 1870. The fruit Is
heaTt-shaped and of a rich yellow color. The
plums are frequently from eight 10 ten inches in
circumference. In Los Angeles, ii. l.. barker
displays a rose bush which has reached a height
of sixteen feet. GRATED upon its branches are
twelve varieties OF roses. fhe parent stalk is
above the ground is five inches In circumfer-
ence. >. Ill. shaw OF Ontario recently discovered
an apple blossom ON one OF the trees in his
orchard which m a laTge-sized rose.
measures nine and One-half inches in circum-
ference, and is what may be called "A second
crop blossom. An ordinary apple blossom con
forty.
The big grapevine at MontecIto. near santa
Barbara, Is famous. The vine was planted
Mission variety. The parent stalk Is forty-six
inches in circumference one foot from the
ground. Where il commences 10 branch. three
feet from the ground. its circumference Is sixty
three Inches. The vine yielded four and a half
tons OF grapes IN a single season. Tn vine
covers an area OF 100 By 90 feet.
At the rooms OF the state Board Of Trade In
san Francisco. some remarkable products Of
IalifOTnia soil are or exhibition. Last year.
when the season was well advanced. pumpkins
weighing POI pounds were upon exhibition
there. There were also cabbages weighing %
pounds, and a huge sweet potato. raised near
santa Ana. Ahat weighed - pounds. Apples
20 ounces are frequently on exit
bttlon, and a i've gallon glass Jar contains eight
pears the weight Of which Is 334 pounds.
These eight pears completely al the jar. Flor
lsts say they have seen lilies IN California IL
feet high. whle gsrsniums that look Ike trees
AEe c0Dm0A-