The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-10-01
THE BIGGEST
PUMPKIN YET
Wizard ROel Shows One
Weighing 4Ol IL Lbs.
FINE VEGETABLE SHOW
Brattleboro Retreat Exhibition the
Finest Ever Seen-EXcellent Show
of Apples and Peaches-Display of
Dahlias a Feature

With the mammoth 4Ol1a pound Gree
Mountain Giant pumpkin as the nucleu
OF the exhibit of vegetables from tn
Brattleboro Retreat the show of farr
products from this institution was no
only up to the standard of past years bu
ahead of it in variety and quality. Thi
was also the case with nearly all of tn
exhibits in this department. The reputa
ton A. w. Roel, the Retreat gardener
as champion pumpkin raiser is not con
fined to this section and visitors from al
parts of New England were anxious t.
see what the big pumpkin man. had t.
offer. When they saw tackled onto gian
specimen of pumpkin modest card stat
ton was INDUCED in as to whether the
gigantic vegetable was loaded with scral
iron or fed with milk or some other form
Of nourishment. Mr. Roel, however, ex
planned that the idea that pumpkin car
be nourished in any other way thar
through the roots of the vine is fallacy
At any rate lie has won the title of cham
pion of America in this line of vegetable
gardening
As usual the Retreat exhibit, which by
the way Is not entered in competition
was a collection of vegetables hard to beat
The assortment contained over 300 varie-
ties and occupied the entire south side of
the first floor of the building. A nam
moth Poterian pumpkin occupied con-
splcuous place in a panel arranged in the
form of half circle in the center of the
exhibit. Surrounding this specimen, which
is the progenitor of the Green Mountain
Giant, was an assortment of small vege-
tables artistically arranged, the whole be-
ing fringed with traced corn, fanked with
cabbages, squash, beets, parsnips, carrots
and garnished with parsley and celery with
here and there profusion OF dahlias to
add bit of color to the general scheme.
In the exhibit was eight mammoth Po-
terian pumpkins and II of the Green
Mountain strain. Over Is varieties Of
pumpkins were shown and over 40 varie-
ties of squash from the warty Hubbard to
the Canadian crookneck. The wall back
of the exhibit was banked with field corn
there being seven varieties OF sweet and
eight of field corn. Traces of Tom Thumb
pop corn and squaw, yellow, red and white
field corn were interviewer in way to
make wonderful display of color. Globe
onions were festooned above the display,
and interspersed among the larger vege-
tables were egg plants, myrtinas, peppers,
gourds of various colors and a score Of
ather small vegetables. ....t44gsa. sa4ssaa...l, !.
The exhibit Of Dana Fl. Stafford Of Sig
lal Hill farm, Brattleboro, was next in
size to the Retreat display and occupied
he west end and half of the north side
II the first floor. Mr.. Stafford being a
market gardener exhibited varied assert
nent of small vegetables, and especially
noticeable in his display was half-dozen
md yellow Globe variety. He showed
Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, japanese
20 varieties of squash and some
fine specimens of Mammoth
Whale squash The exhibit of cabbages
made by Mr.. Stafford was one of the best
ver made at the Valley fair. He is max
ng a speciality of raising Spanish onions
nd his showing in this line was varied
a large specimen labelled Gibral-
ar He has raised onions of this variety
Weighing over IL pounds. His exhibit in
luded over Us varieties and his speciality
vas peas and tomatoes. He showed 10
arieties OF the latter.
The exhibit of Il. H. Wilson of the Val
~ View farm, West Dummerston, was
ecidedly clever arrangement of small veg
tables The display was set off with au-
umn leaves He showed IL varieties of
otatoes among which were some excep-
onally nice specimens of Carman, BOuil, |
Ireen Mountain and Sir Walter Raleigh. |
tiny kettle filled with miniature potatoes
nd swung by a chain was an ingenious bit
elaboration of the display. Mr.. Wilson
so showed corn, cabbage tomatoes, beans !
nd turnips. Pictures of potato-digging in |
he field on his farm were part of the |
lhibit.
The exhibit of the Mt Hermon school,
orthheld, Mass, was in charge of q. E.
urner, gardener of the school, and was
ot only artistically arranged but very in
resting in point of number of varieties
I'd quality of the specimens shown. Many
the pumpkins and squashes had been
with the letters NJ H. S. dur
G growth and presented a striking ap-
earance arranged with the other vege-
bles. There were 26 varieties of beans
Id - varieties of green and ripe toma
es. The exhibit of tomatoes was one of
e largest made this year. Some fine
ecimens of peppers were shown and the
hibit included some choice specimens of
g plants, melons and citron. Over so
inning feet of space was given to the ex
bit. A large sunflower on a stalk over
feet long was shown. The exhibit was
off by green bunting and contrasted
I'll with garnishing OF leeks, caulifow-
5, oyster plants and Brussel sprouts. ,
Charles II. Davis of Brattleboro showed !
collection of Worcester pole, Beauty,
'ston and Early Mohawk beans. A dis
~ of Sterling tomatoes was of interest
was his exhibit of carrots and onions
+. Miner of Brattleboro showed pump
rs, squashes and mangel-wurzels. His
,play of Stone and Early Belden toma-
rs was attractive. G. L.. Stoddard of ,
Depot, n. H., showed 81 :
rieties of potatoes and the specimens of :
orld's Wonder tubers was exceptionally {
ID. He also showed some nice speci- +
ms of Green Mountain and Early Har- :
It potatoes that attracted attention. :,
rold n. Derby of West Brattleboro had Y
collection of potatoes and pumpkins. .
5 showing of Long Tom pumpkins was !,
ID as was his exhibit of Pixies Peak !
lash.
ieorge Horner. gardener of the Bradley !,
m, exhibited 1872 kinds and varieties of !
,etables. His showing of Is varieties of
He'd beans was far above the average
wing in this line His celery was notice v
e as were II varieties of corn. He exhib II
1 variegated field corn. Next to the Re W
at exhibit he showed the largest display cl
re of the Poterian variety. His showing Il
Chill squash was noticeable. Among al
smaller vegetables in his display were n
den lemons and tiny garden melons g
ich attracted considerable attention nj
" are grown for display purposes and a
not of the edible variety. Some very eN
: specimens of Warty Hubbard squash
were shown. His display of SNOWFALL
linower was far above the average.
l. p Aldrieh of Mortified, Mass, st
wed some fine specimens Of Marble so
d and Red Rock cabbages in addition hi
a good display of beets, turnips and 81,
'ots. The star attraction in the ex- si
/ of potatoes was made in a display Sc
R. H. Cushman of Bernardston, Mass. so