Wright County Mammoth Squash

The following quote appeared in the Minneapolis Farmer’s Union paper on April 5, 1873, edited by Col. J. H. Stevens:

Kids on Giant Squash, Vintage Wisconsin Postcard

“I sent you a few seeds of my Mammoth Squash. I raised it last year, and had it on exhibition at our county fair. It was far ahead of anything of the kind that had ever been seen here. It weighed 142 pounds, measured 6′, 7″ around length-ways and 5′, 9″ around over the top. The color was sage green, deeply ribbed and finely netted all over like a nutmeg melon. The flesh was from 6-8″ in thickness, and of a deep orange color. I baked some in the oven, and it was the sweetest squash I ever tasted. Everyone who saw it wanted seeds, so I have put them up in papers and am selling them. I got about 600 seeds from the squash. I was sorry I had not sent it to the State Fair. I heard there was one there that weighed 140 pounds. I think this is the largest one that has been raised in the State. I was going to call it Minnesota Mammoth Squash, but thought I would give the name to Wright County. We can raise as big things here as anywhere. There will be great strife in raising big squash up here this year. All who can get seeds are going to try.  This package I send you is the only one that will leave the county, except one I send to a friend of mine in New Jersey. Let us hear what you can make out with it.

Yours truly,

Geo. M. Bertram.

Monticello, March 17,1873”

Note: Besides being a tailor by trade, George Bertram, along with his wife, Julia, were avid gardeners who grew much of their own fresh vegetables and fruits.