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Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Fellow growers,

There are a few things concerning these seeds that I’d like to say publicly in order to avoid the masses of private emails that I had to answer recently….

1. Please don’t send me any more requests or trade offers for these seeds. I do not have any more left up for trade right now. I’m set with seeds for 2005.

2. (and most important!) Please DO NOT send me any 1260 Weir seeds for verification. I recently received two 1260 Weir seeds from two different growers who asked me to verify the seeds for them. They didn’t even contact me before sending the seeds!
Although I am always willing to help wherever possible, this caused me two major problems: First, I have to get the seeds back to you in good shape, which you know can be rather difficult with border/customs problems. I don’t want to imagine the trouble if any of those two seeds get misplaced on their way back!
Second, by asking me to verify the seed (even if you are only sending me a picture of your 1260 seed) you are putting me in a very difficult situation. Not all seeds in one pumpkin are looking exactly the same….and that’s the point!
The two seeds didn’t look 100% exactly the same as the 1260s that I had left here but I told the growers that their 1260s are probably the real thing because they were very close to the ones I had.

When I started out with the 1260s two years ago I had 40/+ of them and I can remember that not all looked exactly the same. I’d say that 80% of them were looking quite uniformly but the rest differed considerably, not only in size but also in shape and different shades of its color.

cont.

2/1/2005 6:29:57 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

cont.

Unless I have a seed in my hands that is of the other type (you know, white or brown) or that is a quarter of an inch bigger or smaller than the original, genuine seed, I’d never wager to pretend that the seed is a fake. And to be honest I’d say that nobody can do that with any degree of assurance, neither myself nor the guys from Jucker who sold the seeds, nor Craig himself.
Too much damage can be done if the judgment is wrong and thus accusing someone of having sent a fake seed what in fact he never did. Good reputations can be lost very easily – for years or even forever.
If I can’t prove it 100% I won’t do it because it’s just not worth it. Sometimes it’s better to suck it up and forget about it.
So, I hope you understand if I don’t want to make a comment about your 1260 Weir seeds (seeds or picture) that you asked me to verify.
But I did take some pictures of 5 legit 1260 Weir seeds that appeared to be the average looking ones to me. If you want to have these pictures feel free to email me and I will send them so that you can verify the seeds yourself.


If you want to be absolutely sure to get the seed that you are looking for, do the following:
Only trade with people who you TRUST and who can tell you where they got their 1260s from.
E.g. you can be 100% sure that you have a real 1260 seed if it came from Craig himself, from myself, Ingo Lenz or from any other growers from Europe who might have bought them from Jucker and have a proof of purchase for the seeds like Ingo and I do.
If you haven’t heard of the grower offering the 1260 before or if anything seems fishy, don’t do the trade.
If a grower says he got the seed from me don’t hesitate to ask me. I kept record of all that I sent out.

So, I hope I didn’t create too much fuss with this post but I felt it was necessary.

Martin

2/1/2005 6:32:25 PM

[email protected]

Well said Martin.

2/1/2005 6:37:49 PM

Western Pa.

Martin,

BTW, I coined the phrase "Got Stelts?" several years ago, before Dave weighed his 1140. I haven't received any royalty checks from you yet!

2/1/2005 7:14:44 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

lol@kirl! But I must admit that I got the idea for the nickname when I saw you with that T-shirt....
Do some of my super orange crosses also count instead of the check?

2/2/2005 2:53:43 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

I also took a photo of (3) 1260 Weir seed together, that came straight from Martin. I also cannot try to *verify* a 1260, but do have a photo of what three real ones look like lined up together, and the legit handwriting Martin uses on them.

2/2/2005 6:25:08 AM

Ohio

I have a picture of my 1260 seed also, but I would have to know you very well to send you the picture for you to verify it with the one you have.

Brooks

2/2/2005 9:39:57 AM

Ohio

Also, my 1260 dont have any HOLES though it.

I know A comment like that would be coming so I thought I would get it out of the way myself,LOLLOLOL

2/2/2005 9:44:47 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Brooks,

Just send the 1260 back to me and I will punch in a hole or two if you want to make sure that it can breath.... You already sent me some good seeds in return for the 1260 so I will do the extra service at no charge...
But then, better don't send it or I will have to smuggle it to the USA again...lol

Martin

2/2/2005 11:11:51 AM

Ohio

Haaaaaaaaaaaa! Martin,I think Im going to put the 1260 in a safe thats inside a safe, thats inside of that safe,which is in another safe.

LOL

2/2/2005 3:18:43 PM

Utah

Martin -
send it to me ... I'll keep it safe for Brooks .... ie... i'll find a safe place for it in my patch this spring...
:)

gordon

2/2/2005 4:20:07 PM