Year: 1871

BARON MtNCHAUSEN IN CALIFUkNlA.
The following is a very fair representa-
ton, somewhat enlarged, of the "big
talk about the agricultural productions of
the Pacific coast which one hears in those
parts -


Two weeks ago | started on visit to
the Yo Semitic valley | arrived at the
wharf moment too late to get on board,
and instead of waiting until the next day,
| determined to 60 to Stockton on horse
back. | accordingly crossed the bay to
Oakland, or as it is better known, Little
Peddlington,' procured a horse and rode
over to the Livermore valley, where l
stayed all light with a rancher, who was
known in the valley as Clamps They
call him that because he got rich by hold
ing on to his money with a degree of for
titnde not universal in the country.
Clamps asked me if | would like some
egg, and how preferrd it, hard or soft,
boiled or fried. | told him l would like
some egg, and that it would suit me best
| 10 have them soft boiled.


In a few minutes there came Clamps
and his wife, rolling an egg the size of a
flour barrel, which they boiled in short
time in large cauldron. and then set it up
|
hole was made in the top of the shell, and
the egg was digged out with long-han-
died ladle. l was astonished at the size
of the egg. and observed that his hens
must be enormously large. by no MEANS
he replied You will not be so mnch
surprised when l tell you that one hen did
not lay this egg alone; it took seven or
eight hens almost week to lay it. 1t was
joint stock production of the chickens,
but still it is better, than the individual re-
sponsibility plan


At breakfast the next morning we had
eggs, and then went on the road to Stock
ton, | reached San Joaquin river at noon,
and was ferried over in a unique looking
craft. While the ferryman was tugging
silently at his big oars, inquired whether
his ferry was profitable.


Doesn't scarcely pay for raisin' the
boat he replied


''Raising The boat ?" l repeated, 'what
DO you mean by raising the boat ?"


"Alister," said he, resting for a while
on his oars, you be a stranger in these
parts, bean't youP"


Ireplied that had not been long in the
country.


Then" said he, pointing to the shore.
''this 'ere boat growed in that pumpkin
patcn over yOnuef.


"Growed in that pumpkin patch !" lex
claimed.


"Growed in that pumpkin patch, on
pumpkin vine. Mister, this boat is a
pumpkin shell, cut in two. That patch is
where it growed.


Where, over by that barn ?" | in
quired.


That amt no barn. he answered;
oh tn hot
pumpkin, too But | made hole in the
end ont and let the stock inside, and when
the wet season sets in, why, you see, |
plug up the hole and let them winter there
They come out awful fat in the spring.
That big green-looking squash over yond-
er I'm holerin' out to live in"


"Are these the growth of the season? ?'
asked.


Owe don't have no sch difference here
on the San Joaquin as CROWN seasons and
them Others things keep on CROWN all
the time till we pull 'em or they die"


"As | was taking leave of the ferryman
he gave me pumpkin seed, with the re-
mark that might astonish the folks in the
east with it; but before twenty-four hours
had elapsed came near having calamity
by reason of it myself


1t was in this WISE After riding several
hours in the sun | was so overcome by
drowsiness as to find it impossible to keep
in the saddle, and dismounting. lay down
on the ground, intending to take a short
nap. had the pumpkin seed in my vest
pocket. During my slumbers it fell on
the ground, and rolled over on it. My
great fatigue caused me to oversleep my
self, and | awoke in the morning by
being roughly hurried over the ground in
my PROSTATE position, with what seemed
to be a rope around my body. l howled
Justify for help, and my cries attracted
the attention of two men who were on
their way to the harvest-field.


On being relieved from my perilous posi-
ton the mystery became clear. The
warmth of my body had caused the pump
kin seed to sprout and begin growing,
and one of the tendrils of the new vine
had coiled itself around my body dragging
me along in its rapid growth distance OF
more than u mile before was awakened.
Ny delverers had a hard run to keep
pace with me in the clutches of the
pumpkin vine, and finally arrested my
progress by cutting it with their scythe
blades. | gave them the vine for their
reward, and we counted on it no less than
three hundred young pumpkins, ranging
from the size of hens egg to flour barrel.


There is but one more thing l will no.
tice. Six years ago gentleman residing
near Stockton planted a grape vine near his
house In two years the building was
completely eniolded in the branches of
the vine, and the gentleman was surprised
at seeing his dwelling house starting from
its foundations, The vine grew with
wonderful vigor, and carried the house
unharmed up to the height of sixty feet in
the air, where it remained. The gentle
man now reaches his front door by means
of winding staircase around the trunk
of the grape vine, and anybody who will
take the trouble to go and see will find it
inst as have said -