The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-11-23
TerrapYn Farm.

level plain of coarse sedgy grass meets
the horizons edge. Dank and dark the
Shiny morass, home of the crawling
reptiles and succeeding billions of niosi
quitoes, which have remained undis-
turbed through countless ages of time,
until 10! hush! Some wide-awake Jer-
seymen have laid the hand of industry
upon the muddy water, and o so-called
''terrapin farm is the result. Willie it
has been proved by actual experiment
that terrapin can be raised on d small
scale, it remains for the future to disclose
whether the Jersey farms will be able to
furnish our great cities with this most
delectable dish, as proiouhted by the
highest order of epicurean talent. For
many years terrapin have been found in
abundance in this locality, but the in
creasing demand Of the New York and
Philadel phia markets has drained the
resources OF tho whole Jersey coast, and
1t IS only question of TIME near at hand
| when terrapin in its native wilds will
become nearly, If not quite, extinct. To
overcome this fearful famine q limited
number of JerSeymen have made this
J delicious reptile u study, and the knowl-
edge secured resulted in the farm, which
| bid1 fair to rank among Atlantic Citv's
| rAreSt attractions. SO far not much
beauty has been evolved, but Cape Nav
has been beaten, and this alone is sufi-
cicnt to bring q profitable return for the
outlay.
When State Senator Gardiner began
his searching explorations into terrapin
lore, he found that scientists had sadly
neglected to inform themselves about
the domestic life of the jersey "diamond
back" Prof. Baird, of the Smithsonian
sopulture at Washington, was ap-
proached or the sub iect, but he proud
ly pointed to his fossil remains OF the
"diamond backs' Of the sauran AGE,
and proved that the turtles of that day
were abundantly able to get along with
out the aid of prying Jcrseyman. In
| order to overcome the lack of scientific
information small family Of torrapins
were collected few years ago, and it
has proved most interesting study to
learn the TASTE, inc!inations, length of
life, as well as the time it takes to reach
its greatest perfection. The "diamond
back terrapin never leaves its home by
the sea, while nearly every moment OF
its life is spent burrowing in the salt
water mud. where it lies torpid for moro
than six months of the year, losing moth
ing, however, but apparently drawing
buried. AS thousands of dollars have
been already invested in this new in
dustry, the Importance of the subject is
readily brought to mind. After five
years of existence q ell-behaved terra
pin leaves the bottom of the muddy salt
pond, crawls to the edge OF the aa1oln-
ing warm sand in the balmy month of
June, and deposits from fourteen to
| 81, Il, c..ll-
ceals in the warm sand. After this per-
formance Nine. Terrapin goes back to
her houdoir of mud with all the calm
indifference of modern motherhood.
But foe of the most relentless kind is
at hand in the shape of q bird called the
crow, which speedily unearths the ter
rapin eggs, and they are dispatched at
one solitary banquet. Senator Gardiner
believes that the crow has moro to do
with the extinction of the terrapin than
the hunter who makes it his business to
furnish the markets. 1t is known that
the young terrapin sleeps during the
flrst year OF existence, never leaving the
spot where the egg is deposited, freez-
ing and thawing within the bosom Of
mother earth and growing like the roots
that surround them. 1t is believed by
some of the investigating Jerseymen
that two years of terrapin life are spent
in this torpid state, without movement
or scarce any changes. From the SEQ
ond to its fifth year the terrapin leads q
kind Of vagrant life, and is let alone be-
cause of no market value. 1t finds
safety from vOracious crabs and fish,
because it continually burrows in the
soft mud, never venturing any distance
out to sea. Hence its name "terra,"
which means earth, and "pin," because
it sticks so close to it. Sometimes the
little reptile burrows three feet down in
the soft muI. During this period of
youthful growth it feeds on the refuse of
clam, oyster. and other little shell-like
creations with which salt water so
abundantly abounds; but when permit
ted to choose its own food, as it is al
lowed to do when undergoing educa-
ton at the hands of a Jerseyfnan, it is
known to pass by all it's old sea food and
feast on dried beef-in other words.
when Senator Gardiner placed q bill of
rare before his terrapln, oyster, clam.
and other delicacies were examined and
rejected, while dried beef was found to
be exactly what was wanted. The ex-
pertinent was tried so often there can
De no doubt about a terrapin's taste.
" hoil Ihe TepIlLe IS hVe years old it |
measures nearly six inches across its
diamond armor. It is now ready for
the market, though it has not reached |
perfect maturity. When it has attained |
It's seventh year its romantic flavor as
sumes its highest perfection, and a |
morsel has been found fit for the palate
of the gods.
Senator Gardeners terrapin farm be-
gins within few feet of his garden and |
only little way from the rear COTTAGE |
door. Let the reader imagine a strip of |
narrow dry earth joining to the great |
salt marsh which stretches to the "In1et."
covering acres in extent. To the riUbt |
a large shallow pond has been exoa. |
Vatcd, which is filed afresh twice a dav
Dy the salt water pushed in by the tides,
winding here and there through the |
sedgy plain are the narrow canals which |
lead to the pond and terminate at the |
inlet. and only the wind-mills are neces-
sary TO complete Holland landscape. |
At interval is q rude construction of tim |
Der is noticed, which is placed to govern |