The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-29
Growing Oysters on Trees.

4 new industry has originated ii Po-
QuonOc river. IN arm Of Long Island
sound penetrating the Connecticut coast a
few miles cast Of New London. For
wears the POquOnoc oyster has enjoyed an
exceptional reputation in the New York
market. outranking the famous "Blue
Points" and bringing Sl0pcr barrel when
the latter brought not more than -. But
the Poqu0nOc lIvalyc is scarce. The bot
tom II the river I'm which hc has his habi-
tat consists for the most part Of thick
black mud. in which, Of course. he cannot
exist. Only strip OF bottom here and
there which happens 10 be clean, or q
narrow margin OF the rocky shore, Of
fcrs the oyster what h- habits impera-
lively dcmand-watcr free from dirt, and
objects 10 which he can attach himself
while attaining hi growth. To COnnec-
ticut man who had studied the oysters
taste, il occurred few years ago that by
Introducing objects above the mud. upon
which the Young oyster might fasten ut the
moment when he ceased 10 be a swimming
animal. he would be able 10 grow oysters
throughout the length and breadth Of the
PoquonOc river. His idea was not new
one, but his application Of it was
novel. Gong TO the forest. he cut Gown
great number OF tough, wiIy white
birches. and planted them in the mud
Of the river. setting them at an angle with
the current. The young trees were from
- TO 20 feet long. The butts were thrust
3 or ( feet deep into the mud. and their
tops appeared above water at low tide. Ac-
c0rding to the oyster commissioners report
each female oyster produces each season
from 5000, 900 10 4O.O00,000 eggs, which
float with the current, and when
Matched are known a. spat. The
spat Of the PoQuonoc found the birch
trees Just what they wanted, and
settled on them in millions. Twigs,
branches and trunk were >peckled with
patches composed Of the Young biyalyes.
Al first mere specks in size. at the end OF
.iX weeks from the time Of attaching them
selves they had grown to the size Of a
martar Of a dollar. At the end OF two
wears m acre Of birch brush. il was found,
would produce 900 bushels Of full-grOwn
OYSTER. The trees were loaded heavily
with their crop Of growing shells. but the
rigid birch kept them clear Of the mud.
such was the success Of the experiment
that oySirr-farmmg became popular
along the POQuOnOc river. In short
time it was planted on both sides from IT,
head a long distance seward. with birche~,
Offering a welcome resting-place to spat
which would. without this resource. have
tloated out to sea to perish or become the
food Of other deniZens OF the water. one
crop OF fine oysters was gathered and the
forest was rcplanted, when an incident oc-
Cured which ended for time the business
of growing oysters on trees. In May. 1851,
scarlet-ieyerand diphtheria broke ont along
the PoquOnoc. II ragged during the spring
and summer. Eighty per cent. OF the cases
died. some fanciful person then conceived
the remarkable idea that the plague was
due 10 the Oyster-bushes, and the question
OF removing them was agtatcd. The local
Board Of Health traced the diseases 10 the
village pig-stieS. but the chairman OF the
>tate Board OF Health being summoned to
the scene. and being disposed, like some
other .anitarians. to magnify the reason Tor
mi. existence. declared that the oyster
bushes had poisoned the air, and ordered
tbcir removal. The local Board. i'm pro-
cecding 10 act. were met by an iniunc-
ton served by the fishermen. The Board
ner.cyered. nevertheless. and the trees
were removed. They were covered thick
with fine luscious biyalves. most OF the crop
~ 1874 being iii for market, and many OF
tbe following year were in like condition.
A. many A. twenty-five bushels were found
ON = sinrlc tree. The Board Of Health has
been sued for $4,000 damages bym owner
Of one of the birch-patches. baltimore