Re: Cucurbits, pumpkins, squash, squmpkins--AHHH!

Chris,
 I like your reply,  And the original message got very distorted from its
main idea.  It was on the Gpc ruling on the "TOLERANCE LEVEL" of green
mottle..75% white ,cream,orange tints and 25% green is ok..... most calls
are subjective, and done with a glance.  Are these calls consistant across
the board for all those competing for the GPC monies???  Are they really
the standard you speak off..........perhaps were saying the same thing  I
am  looking for a standard here seems like you like standards
too.......brock



>It seems strange to me that this group should wish to debate whether to
>redefine
>what defines our hobby in the first place.
>
>This debate seems in some ways to mirror the "tolerance" issue in society as a
>whole.  There are those who feel that there are no absolutes and that
>anyone who
>believe in a set of standards is "intolerant."
>
>Call me "intolerant," but I believe in a standard.  Perhaps I am a relic from
>the past (along with a few others of you out there), but when it comes to
>curcurbits I live by the dictum that "Pumpkins are orange."  There may be
>shades
>of orange, BUT since we cannot separate pumpkin genetically or morphologically
>from squash in any other way, the ONLY workable definition ever of pumpkins is
>based on color. UNLIKE the skin on people, when it comes to curcurbits color
>does matter!
>
>The giant pumpkin growing hobby is about growing giant ORANGE curcurbits.  I
>believe that any other stance dilutes the hobby and will confuse the
>public.  I
>have never won any big prize money, but without the support of the public,
>nobody will.  There is a mystique to these giant orange objects that has
>captivated us and that captivates the public enough to garner sponsors for the
>weigh-offs around the country.  How many fall squash festivals are there --
>compared to how many fall pumpkin festivals?  How many parents take
>pictures of
>their kids surrounded by squash of any color versus orange pumpkins?
>
>Finally, HONESTLY how many of you got into this sport to grow something other
>than a humongous ORANGE curcurbit?  I'd venture to say that, despite all other
>intriguing parts of this hobby and regardless of equal prize money, almost all
>of you would be disappointed if your fruit wasn't (at least a shade of)
>orange.
>
>Orange is the only tenable standard in this sport!
>
>Regards,
>Chris Wilbers
>Springfield, MO
>
>
>
>"Thompson, Paul S." wrote:
>
>> Earlier in this thread, Ray mentioned the Guinness Book of World Records.
>> Are they considered the ruling authority on what is and what is not a
>> "pumpkin"? I know they have rules concerning the entries they allow in their
>> book -- do they insist that a pumpkin be orange, cream or yellow with no
>> green?
>>
>> If that is the case, in order to have them recognize a fruit as a "world
>> record" pumpkin, we either need to accept the fact that pumpkins are orange
>> or we need to change their definition. I suspect the latter isn't easy. It
>> may have taken quite a bit of work to get them to recognize Atlantic Giants
>> as a pumpkin (orange or not) in the first place.
>>
>> What are the rules for entry into the GBoWR?
>>
>> Paul Thompson
>> Armada, Michigan
>>
>> Register your opinion on pumpkin colors -- take our survey:
>>
>> http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/GiantPumpkins
>>
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>
>--
>Regards,
>Chris Wilbers
>Springfield, MO
>
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