1899 - Squash #7 Needs a Name Contest by James Gregory, Seedsman

James J. H. Gregory, Seedsman, had an idea that would sell a new squash -  a naming contest.   His lush lithograph of the nameless squash is wonderful!  And, I could not find out the name chosen as I couldn't find a 1900 catalog, or any ads mentioning it.  *sigh*

If you ever find out what he names it, please write in!  I have looked and looked to no avail.  I have to stop and move on or go nuts!!!!

One Hundred Dollars in Gold 

for a Name for Our New Squash No. 7. 

See Lithograph on Back Cover.

After the practice of our fellow seedsmen we make this offer, the conditions being simply that it be confined to those who purchase its seed directly from us, every package purchased giving right to purchasers to suggest a name, as many names as they purchase packages. 

 A blank will be attached to seed label, to contain the full address of each purchaser, and the name suggested for squash now known as No. 7.    

Competitions will be open until the first of October, when all the names will be submitted to a board of three reliable men, and by them the selection be made. 

If more than one shall have proposed the name selected, the award will be equally divided among them. 

This new squash is the production of Mr. Low, to whom the public are indebted for the well-known Essex Hybrid and Bay State Squashes. We have purchased the ownership of him. It is an accidental cross between the Bay State and Marrow Squash. 

Mr. Low isolated this cross and by years of care has succeeded in bringing it out distinctly, a new variety of squash with about as few sports in it as are to be found in our standard squashes. 

Mr. Low thus describes it: "This was a cross, some four years ago, of the Bay State and Boston Marrow. In form the same as the last named, with stem and blossom end precisely like that variety, also having that peculiar wrinkled appearance of the skin, like the Boston Marrow. 

Size, averaging from eight to ten pounds; color, a dark, grayish green; flesh, an exceedingly bright golden yellow; fine grained, very sweet, and of delicious flavor. Early in maturing, a good keeper, and yielding largely of squashes of very uniform size and appearance. 

As a squash, combining the qualities desired for the table and pies, this has no superior. Specimens grown in 1897 were kept until June, 1898."

Mr. M. B. Faxon, who introduced to the public the famous " Faxon Squash," thus writes of this new variety:

Boston, November 21, 1898.
It is with great pleasure that I write you a few lines in regard to your new squash. I have closely watched the development, and tested this squash for two years, and I feel sure it is a most desirable new vegetable. For quality it is all that can be desired — dry, fine grained, and sweet. A good
cropper and splendid keeper; in fact, I may say that, both as a table squash and for pies, it will, in my opinion, at once become a great favorite.

M. B. FAXON.

Just noting here that Mr. Low mentioned above was Aaron Low of Essex Massachusetts.

From American Gardening  - 1887

Squash,"Bay State"——Aaron Low, Essex, Mass—The points of excellence of this new squash are solidity, heavy weight, fineness and dryness of grain and sweetness of flavor. The shell is of a green color and extremely hard, giving assurance of being an excellent keeper. The flesh is of a bright golden yellow