Year: 1872

The following is fair representation, some
what enlarged, Of the 'bg talk" about the ag
ricultural productions of the Pacific coast
which one hears in those parts.


Two weeks ago l started on a visit to the Yo
Semitic Valley. | arrived at the wharf a mo
ment too late to get on board and, instead oi
waiting until the next day, determined to GO
to Stockton on horseback. | accordingly cross
ed the bay to Oakland, or, as it is better known,
"Little Pedlington," procured horse and rode
over to the Livemore Valley, where | staid all
night with rancher, who was known in the
valley as CLAMPS" They called him that
because he got rich by holding on to his mon
ey with degree of fortitude not universal in
the country. AS supper time approached
Clamp asked me if l would like some egg, and
how preferred it--hard or soft boile or fried
| told him | would like some eggs, and that il
would suit me best to have them soft boiled.


In few moments there came Clan.ps ana
his wife, rolling an egg the size of 'iour bar
rel, which they boiled in short time III a large
cauldren, and then set it up on one erd by the
madam's chair at the table. hole was made
in the top of the shell, and the egg was dipped
out with long handled ladle. | was aston
ished 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 much
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 a ajont-stock
production of the chickens; but still it is better
than the individual responsibility plan"


At breakfast the next morning we had more
egg, and then went on the road to Stockton.
l reached San Joaquin river at noon, and was
ferrjed over in unique-looking craft While
the ferryman was tugging silently at his oars.
l inquired whether his ferry was profitable.


"Doesn't scarcely pay for raising the boat, y
he replied.


"Rasing the boat?" l repeated. What do
you mean by raising the boat?"


"Mister," said he, resting for a while on his
oars, "you be a stranger in these parts, beam
your"


replied that had not been long in the
country.


"Then," said he, pointing to the shore, "this
ere boat growed in that pumpkin patch over
yonder."


"Growed in that pumpkin patch?" I ex-
claimed.


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


"Where, over by that barn ?" exclaimed.


"That amt no barn." he answered "unless
you choose to call it so. That's pumpkin tco.
But made hole. in the end ont and let the
stock inside and when the wet season sets in,
plug up the hole and let them winter there.
They come out awful fatin the spring. That big
squash over yonder Pm hollerin out to live
in"


care these the growth of the season ?"
asked.


eve don't have no such difference here on
the San Joaquin as CROWN seasons and them
others. Things keep on CROWN all the time
till we pull them or they die"


As l was taking leave of the ferryn an, he
gave me pumpkin seed with the mark that
might astonish the folks in the East with it
but before twenty-tour hours had passed
came near having calamity by reason of it
myself.


1t was in this wise. after riding several hours
in the sun, l was so overcome by drowsiness as
to find it impossible to keep in the saddle, and,
dismounting, lay down on the ground, intend
ing to take short nap. | had the pumpkin
seed in my vest pocket. During my slumber
it fell on the ground, and rolled over it. My
great fatigue caused me to oversleep myself
and awoke in the morning by being roughly
hurried over the ground in my PROSTATE posi-
tion 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 position,
the mystery became clear The warmth ol
my body caused the pumpkin seed to sprout
and begin growing, and one of the tendrils of



dragging me along in its rapid growth dis
tance of more than half mile before | awak-
ened. My deliverers had hard run to keep
pace with me in the clutches of the pumkin
vine, and finally arrested my progress by cut
ting it with their scythe blades. then gave
them the vine for their reward, and we count
ed on it no less than three hundred young
pumpkins, ranging from the size of a hens
egg to flour barrel.


1hora 10 h,,t0 7 will ~
Six years ago gentleman residing or Stock.
ton, planted grape vine by his house. In
two years the building was completely enfold'
ed in the branches of the vine and he was sur,
prised at seeing his dwelling starting from its
foundation. The vine grew with wonderful
vigor, and carried the house unharmed up to
the hight of sixty feet in the air, where it re-
mained. The gentlemen now reaches his from
door by means of winding staircase around
the trunk of the grapevine, and nybody who
will take the trouble go and see, you will fine
it as l have said