J. E. CLARK WINS ASPARAGUS CHAMPIONSHIP
CLARKHURST FARM “GRASS” LAID ALL OVER THAT OF JAMES M. PARSONS, WHO WILL HAVE TO BUY $50 PANAMA FOR CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE

John Edward Clark, of Piscataway, recently Democratic candidate for Congress, defeated James M. Parsons, of Milltown, ex-director of the Middlesex Board of Freeholders, in the asparagus contest at the Mansion House to-day. As The Home News told at the time, Messrs. Clark and Parsons had an argument Wednesday morning over who raised the finest asparagus, and agreed each to produce his best bunch at the Mansion House to-day, the stake being the championship of Middlesex County and a new hat.

Both bunches were on hand at the time, but Mr. Parsons was laid up by a cold and couldn’t appear in person. The specimens on both sides were exceptionally fine lots of French asparagus, and Mr. Parsons’ product would have challenged admiration anywhere if it hadn’t had Mr. Clark’s alongside.

M. Jean Brivoul, proprietor of the Mansion House, was agreed upon by the competitors as judge and he at once declared that Mr. Clark’s exhibition made the best appearance. Measurements being taken, it was found that Mr. Clark’s bunch contained twenty stalks and weighed a little over three pounds. Mr. Parsons’ contained 32 stalks and weighed just two pounds. In other words, the Clark vegetable weighed seven stalks to the pound and the Parsons sixteen. The Clark stalks averaged over two inches longer than the Parsons’.

M. Brivoul, before rendering decision, showed the asparagus to some of his friends, without telling which was which, and all pronounced in favor of the product from Clarkhurst. As a final test, the vegetable was cooked and Edwin Furman, of Sayreville, and an Elizabeth lawyer were asked to eat it and decide which was the better. In this respect the selection was much more difficult than that upon the appearance, but the test was slightly in favor of Mr. Clark.

The winner says he will order a $50 Panama at once from Dunlap’s, because he needs some such headgear when working in the hot sun on his farm.