THE PENINSULA FARMERS' CLUB. 433 



ers of the west in the production of ''general farm products," they being enabled 

 to employ the most approved labor-saving implements on their large farms 

 which it would not pay us to use on our small ones, could we afford to procure 

 them. This rule does not apply to the finer products, as there is no expensive 

 machinery or implements needed to raise them to perfection, which is not 

 within the reach of us all. Wliat I mean by fine crops are squashes, celery, 

 onions, etc. 



As an example of the profitableness of these products let us take the squash. 

 The last season I grew this vegetable from seeds selected from vines grown in 

 Mr. George Parmelee's garden, choosing, not the largest individual squashes^ 

 but the lest squashes from the best vines, to take ray seed from. On account 

 of the drought my sowing resulted in a one-third crop, and even this estimate 

 will give me a return profit of from $45 to $65 per acre ; and if my squashes 

 had turned out as well as those my seed came from, and could be sold at the 

 Boston market price, viz., six cents per pound, they would realize $1,800 to the 

 acre. 



Celery is another vegetable which succeeds well here, and could be grown 

 profitably. It can be shipped readily and always finds a good market. 



Although I have not had time to experiment with onions since I came here, 

 I believe that they also might be profitably grown. The want of local markets 

 for these products, and the difficulty at present experienced in shipping them 

 abroad, are not, — as thought by some, — insurmountable obstacles in the way 

 of growing them. "When we raise a sufficient quantity of these or any other 

 produce, and raise them steadily, purchasers will come in and buy them and 

 provide means of shipping them. 



Mr. Brinkman. — What is the average weight of the Hubbard squash as grown 

 here? 



Mr. Tracy. — From eight to ten pounds. 



Mr. Avery. — When at Detroit this fall, a quantity of squashes had been sent 

 to a friend of mine there for sale. The heaviest of them weighed nine pounds, 

 the average weight being five pounds. • They sold at $15 per hundred. I found 

 at Buffalo they were selling at $2 per hundred. 



Mr. Tracy. — With regard to price, I will say that at $20 per ton they would 

 pay $40 per acre, which, considering that they cost but little labor and expense 

 to plant and cultivate, and no trouble to harvest, is a greater margin than 

 most farm crops give. 



Mr. Pratt. — Is there any other than the Hubbard squash w^iich it is profit- 

 able to raise for market ? 



Mr. Tracy. — Yes ; the Boston Marrow. 



Mr. Gray. — I think the Marblehead is preferable to the Hubbard, and that 

 the Turban is in some respects better than the Boston Marrow. 



Mr. Pratt. — I brought the first Hubbard squash seed to this region. I may 

 say here that I bought them for a penny each. I have grown them success- 

 ively for several years. My method of planting is in hills two rods apart, and 

 four stalks to the hill. I do not think they would do well in drills. Latterly 

 I have planted the Turban, which I like better than the Hubbard. It is much 

 sweeter, but does not keep so long. I am inclined to believe that heavy ma- 

 nuring is rather injurious than beneficial in raising squashes. 



Mr. Tracy. — Has any member present succ2eded in raising a good crop of 

 well-ripened onions in this region? 



Mr. Pratt. — Although I came from an onion country, and have had some- 



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