The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-05-07
Carp Culture.
FROM THE Prairie Farmer.
REQUISITES TO SUCCESS.

First is the pond. The manner Of
construction, etc., is illustrated aud de.
scribed elsewhere. Second, the stock
must be of the best and purest varieties.
The fishes can be had free "a small
number, say dozen or two) by appli-
cation to the Secretary of U. S. Fish
Commission, or to the different State
Fish Commissions. These applications
may be made any time during the year;
they are placed ON file in the order re-
ceived. The distribution is made in
the months of November, December and
January of each year. Carp are also
now for sale by great many persons
But W. would recommend caution in
this matter of purchasing fry as, in
nearly all new enterprises, irresponsible
and dishonest men have engaged in the
business. Do not deal with every man
who advertises. First inquire regarding
standing for honesty and square dealing,
then as to varieties, and purity Of the
stock, for it is said that some Of the va
rieties being disseminated are worthless,
and any investment in them is thrown
away. Trace the stock to respectable
sources. .Third.-Care of the fish.
This, the first year amounts to little or
nothing. The fry will find sufficient to
live upon in almost any pond one Can
find. Keep out all predatory fish. DO
not allow ducks, geese. or any water
fowl to frequent the pond. Destroy all
snakes and vermin so far as possible. If
one wishes to domesticate the fish, it is
we'll to begin feeding them when young.
To do this, place the food always in the
same place; do this at stated time each
day, or every other day. Give only so
much as they will eat up clean. Be
careful to avoid over feeding
WHAT TO FEED AND HOW.
1t has been thought that the carp is
a purely vegetable feeder. This is to
some extent an error. 1t subsists not
only upon the vegetation to be found 10
the pond, but also takes insect life as it
comes to it in the form of flies, larvae,
etc. A little cracked grain of any kind
boiled and thrown in is greedily eaten.
Boiled corn meal is excellent, boiled p)-
tatoes are good. These things if to do
mesticate, as we have said, for carp be-
come perfectly tame, swimming up for
meals as regularly as pigs come to the
trough. If it is desired to feed simply
for growth, and not as pets, fill burlap
sack with ordinary ship ,stuff, sew it up
tight, weight and sink it in the pond.
The soaked feed exudes from the sack
and is sucked in by the fish rs wanted.
1t is good food and the carp thrive ON
it amazingly.
PLANTS AND TREES FOR PONDS.
All ponds should be supplied with wat.
er-plants and grasses. Wild rice and
NymphR seem the most natural and
best. The seeds of these varieties are
sold by persons in the business of sup
plying the fish. Trees about the carp
pond are not Objectionable, yet ought
not to be planted soprofusely as to prohib-
it plenty of sunlight or the proper cir
culation of air, neither should there be
so many trees as to fill the bottom of the
pond with leaves to decay and produce
noxious gases, to the injury of the fab.
But proper amount OF shade is bene-
fetal at times, and trees beautify and
adorn as they do about the house and
grounds. Some Of the willows are very
pretty, and are unobjectionable; indeed
it is not know that the proximity Of any
tree has . detrimental effect upen the
6sh.