The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-03-13
FROG FARMING.
How n Maine Man Experimental and
Failed in His EXPERIMENT..

How a Maine Man Experimented and
Failed in His Experiment..
81 see that New York restaurateur is
going to Manchester, \. H., with the in
tentiOn of raising frogs for the Boston
market, said Maine man to Boston
Herald reporter. "Now, I'll bet the best
pair of boots I've got" he continued,
that he will be disappointed. Why?
Simply because he can't do it, that's all.
Let me tell you of an experiment that was
tried away down in Bangor some years
ago. There was prominent Ban
gorian, bank president, wealthy
and holding tip-top position in the
business world, but a trifle eccen-
trio. He made lots of money in
his regular business, but he was forever
inventing something which he believed
would make him a millionaire, and into
these schemes he put good deal of cash
which never came out again. He didn't
know encouragement, though, and would
come mp smiling with something new
every time one of his pet projects was
knocked into a cooked hat. Well, he got
the idea which has seized this New York
man, that there was an immense profit to
be made bv raising frogs for the Boston
market. He had a charming bit OF lawn
adjoining his residence, and this ne
decided to make the Matching ground.
He had big, round, shallow pit dug, and
the bottom of it stoned and cemented so it
wouldn't leak The dirt taken out was
made into circular embankment around
the pool, and about the edges he set out
rushes and other fresh-water plants 70
give the frogs a nice hiding place. He
had water turned in through a special
line of pipes at a great cost, and the
pond thus formed VIZ !, TO all appearances
just the place that frog with luxurious
tastes would delight to inhabit. Then he
enlisted the services of all the small boys
in the neighborhood to catch tadpoles and
little frogs, paying them literally, and in
a short time his pond was populous with
the squirmers and jumpers. To be sure
they would have plenty TO eat, he sup
piled his pets with frequent and gener-
Gus repasts of minced liver, white-bread
crumbs and other delicacies he thought
they might like.
"All went well. The colony throve
wonderfully; the tadpoles developed into
little frogs and the little frogs fast grew
to fat bull paddocks' The air in the vi
cinitv fairly throbbed with their shrill
songs and dolOrOus grunts of an evening,
and people came far and near to see the
wonderful sight. One night a New York
friend of the frog culturist came IN on the
late train and was taken to his house.
The newcomer noticed the unusual sounds
and asked their meaning. Whereupon
his host revealed to him the whole scheme
and received his congratulations on the
promising look of the enterprise. Before
the two separated for the night they
agreed TO 90 in the early morning and
inspect the pool. They kept their agree
ment and not long after dawn sailed out,
nrh oar rlr a IF nh f1r~f fIan
croakers. All was silent when they
reached the pond Never mind said
the frog farmer, Just you wait until /
throw in this chopped liver and YOU II see
plenty of them He cast his painful of
the dainty far out and it fell into the
water with tremendous splash. But
there was no response; no angular head
with google ewes appeared in the vicinity;
no sprawling legs we're seen kicking under
the surface; there was not a single 'ker-
chug' to denote the plunge of a croaker
from the rushy banks. Throw yours in
now, said the host, and the guest com
piled. But when the splash had died away
the placid pool was disturbed by no move
ment. Well, this is singular exclaimed
the puzzled cultivator; there's enough of
EN- about here and | never knew of 'em
to hide like this before So the two
walked around and around the pond, in
tently watching. They saw nothing, how
ever, and when at last the now nettled
bank president seized pole and thrashed
the weeds and rushes, he did not scare up
anything. Painting and perspiring with
his exertions-foT he was a portly man
the inventor of frog farming, mortified bv
his failure to astonish his friend gave up
his search temporarily and they went into
the house for breakfast. That disposed
of, the quest was resumed, but neither
then nor ever since has frog been seen
in the vicinity.
Every kicker of them all had migrated
elsewhere during the night.
"And upon my word and honor this is
true story"