The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-01-24
Carp as a Farm Grnn.

On1 do d dIlu OEUps
Professor Baird has for long time
attached considerable importance to
the carp, especially to supply the
want of fish for the South repre-
senting the trout of the Northern
States. To this end an effort was
made in 1877 to bring the carp from
Germany, resulting first in failure,
but finally in the successful intro
duction of 345 specimens of three
varieties. To give some idea of the
value of carp as fish for the farm,
German writers maintain that far
greater amount of animal food can
be obtained from given number
of carp ponds, than the same ground
will furnish from the cultivation of
crops fed to domestic animals. The
fish are kept in China, 1t is stated,
in sh-tubs, and fed with animal
refuse as we would fatten some of
our domestic animals and from this
small kind of fish culture the propa-
cation is carried on in varying scales
until we find an Austrian Prince de-
voting no less than 10000 acres to the
growing of the carp. According to
Professor Baird's report it is custom
in Germany to alternate on the same
ground from carp culture to the cul-
tivation of the cereals after certain
number of years the ponds are drawn
off. and after drying, are seeded
down one or two crops are obtained,
the water is returned, and the carp
reinstated. This is ''rOtation of
crops" pure and simple. and certainly
pertains as much to agriculture as
the fatting of hogs for market or the
raising of chickens.
In form the carp is very like the
common gold fish of our aquaria.
The color is olIvaceous, and there are
four barbels about the mouth, which
are entirely wanting in the gold fish.
In ponds the fish is much more slug
g ish than in running water and the
body becomes stout and the flesh ten
der and delicate; running water, on
the contrary, gives it more slender
body, sharp back, and tougher
flesh. AS before stated the carp is
vegetable feeder, which is great adj
vantage in its cultivation over many
other fish, the aquatic plants, roots
and vegetable matter in the water
furnishing abundant food, or, if
artificial feeding is required, this
may be accomplished by means of
such cheap substances as pieces Of
cabbage, lettuce, leaves, and seeds !;
crumbs Of bread, boiled corn or pota-
toes can also be fed. Carp grow rap
idly, and weight of two or three
pounds is not uncommon by the end
of the second year. Its growth is
more rapid in warm than cold
climate, as in the latter the fish must
hibernate through the Winter in the
mud at the bottom of the pond, for
the time ceasing to grow. When the
fish become abundant-and the Uni
ted States fish Commission having
introduced them will further propa
gate and disseminate them-our
farmers may add to the capabilities
OF the farm by preparing a good carp
pond that will not only furnish a
very delicate food, but perhaps prove
source of profit, and there is no
ditch or pond, or any muddy, DOGGY
spot capable of being converted into
a pond of more or less size that will
not answer for the fish," There are
two principal varieties of carp cultiva-
ted, the mirror and the leather carp.
In the first named the scales have
very nearly disappeared, while the
latter variety is often scaleless. The
scale carp, third variety, Is the best
known but is inferior to the others.
-mdrles R. Dodge.