Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-04-20
FROG FARMING.
How a Maine Man Experimental
and Failed in His Experiment.

row a NJ anne wan E&peFtuSnr&0
and Failed In His Experiment
~ see that a New York restaurateur is
going TO Manchester, N. H., with the inten-
lion Of raising frogs for the Boston
MARKET said Maine man 10 a Boston
Herald reporter. ''Now, I'll bet the best
pair Of boots I've got, he continued, 'that
he will be disappointed. Whyi Simply be
cause he can't do IL, that's all Let me tell
you Of an experiment Of this sort that was
tried away down IN Bangor some years ago.
There was prominent Bangorian, bank
president, wealthy and holding a tip-top
position In the business world, but trifie
eccentric. He made lots Of money in his
regular business, but he was forever invent
ing something which he believed would
make him q millionaire, and into These
schemes he put good deal Of cash which
never came out again. He didn't know dis
couragement, though, and would come up
smiling with something new every time one
Of his pet projects was knocked into cooked
hat. Well, he got the idea which has seized
this New York man, that there was an i'm
mense profit to be made by raising frogs for
the Boston market He had charming bit
OF lawn adjoining his residence, and this he
decided 10 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, ana about the edges he set out rushes
and other freshwater plants TO give the
frogs nice hiding place. He had water
4 turned in through special line OF pipes at
| a great cost, and the pond thus formed was
TO all appearances Just the place that frog
1 n in
habit. Then he enlisted the services Of all
the small boys in the neighborhood to catch
tadpoles and little frogs, paying them hber-
ally, and in a short time his pond was poD-
ulous with the squirmers and jumpers. 10
be sure they would have plenty to eat he
supplied his pets with frequent and generous
repasts Of minced liver, white bread crumbs,
and other delicacies he thought they might
like.
IAN went well The colony throve won
derfully; the tadpoles developed into little
frogs and the little frogs fast grew TO fat
bull paddocks' The air in the vicinity
fairly throbbed with their shrill songs and
dolorous grunts Of an evening and people
came from far and near TO see the wonder
full sight One night 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 theii
meaning. Whereupon his host revealed u
him the whole scheme and received his con
)
enterprise Before the two separated fol
the night they agreed 10 go in the early morn
ing and inspect the pool. They kept thei
agreement and not long after dawn saile'
out, each carrying quota OF food Tor IN
croakers. All was silent when they reach
ed the pond Never mind, said the farm
err .just YOU wait until throw in this chop
! ped liver and you'll see plenty OF them IA
cast his pailful Of the dainty for out and
fell into the water with TREMENDOUS splssf
But there was no response; no angular hea
with google eyes appeared in the vicinity; n
spraWlinR legs were seen kicking under tn
! surface: there was not single 'ker-chug
denote the plunge of croker from the rush
: banks Throw yours in now said the no:
and the guest complied. But when tn
! splash had died away the placid pool wa
: disturbed by no movement. Wei, this
singular exclaimed the puzzled cultiyatol
there's enough of 'em about here and neN
? er knew Of 'em 10 hide like this before:
7 the two walked around and around u
: pond intently watching They saw notl
ing however, and when at last the now ne
tied bank president seized pole and thrasl
4 ed the weeds and rushes, he did not scar
= up anything. Painting and perspiring wal
= his exertions-for he was portly mani
4 inventor Of frog farming, morlhed oy q
I failure 70 astonish his friend, gave up =
. search temporarily and they went into u
, house for breakfast That disposed OF, u
quest was resumed, but neither then n
ever since has frog been seen in the Vlci
ity.
n Every kicker Of them all had migrate
n elsewhere during the night
And upon my word and honor this is
tfua Storyn