Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-03-22
FROG FARMING.
~ . Maine Man Thought He Had Them
When ue Didn't.

. Maine Man Thought He Had Them
When He Didn't.
81 see BY The Herald that a New
York restaurateur is going to Man.
CHESTER, N. H., with the intention of
raising frogs for the Boston Market"
sid a Maine man toa reporter yester-
slny. "Now, I'll bet the best pair of
roots I've got" he continued, that he
will DO disappointed. Whyi Simply
because he can't do ii, that's all Let
me tell you Of an experiment of this
sort that vas tried away down in Ban
sor some years ago. There was a
prominent Bangorian, a bank presi-
lent, wealthy, and holding a tip top
position in the business world, but a
rifeeccentric. He made lots of money
~ his regular business, but he was
forever inventing something which
ne believed would make him a million
lire, and into these schemes he put a
good deal OF cash which never came
1ut again. He didn't know discour-
igement. though, and would come up
milling with something new every
time One OF his pet projects vas
Knocked into a cooked hat. Well, he
rot the idea which has seized the New
York man, that there was an immense
profit to be made by raising frogs for
he Boston market. He had a charm
ing bit of lawn adjoining his residence,
md this he decided to make the hatch
Ing ground. He had q big, round
,hallow pit dug, and the bottom of it
stoned and cemented, so ii wouldn't
leak. The dirt taken out was made
INTO a circular embankment around
he pool, and about the edges he set
out rushes and other fresh water
plants, TO give the frogs q nice hiding
place. He had water turned in
through a special line of pipes, at a
geat cost, and the pond thus formed
vas to all appearances Just the place
hat a frog with luxurious tastes
would delight TO inhabit. Then he
Enlisted the services of all the small
Soys in the neighborhood 20 catch tad
poles and little frogs, paying them
literally, and in ashort tine his pond
vas populous with the squirmers and
jumpers. To be sure they would
have plenty to cal, he supplied his pets
with frequent and generous repasts of
minced liver, white bread crumbs and
other delicacies he thought they
might like. All went well. The
colony throve wonderfully; the tad
poles 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 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 re-
vealed to him the whole scheme, and
received his congratulations on the
promising look Of the enterprise. Be.
lore the two separated for the night
they agreed to go in the early morn.
ing and inspect the pool. They kept
their agreement, and, not long after
dawn, sailed out, each carrying O
quota of food for the croakers. All
WAs silent when they reached the
pond-' Never mind said the frog
farmer, Just you wait until l throw
IN this chopped liver and you'll see
plenty of them He cast his painful
Of the dainty far out, and it fell into
the water with a tremendous splash.
But there was no response; no angular
head with google eyes appeared in the
vicinity; no sprawling legs were seen
dcking under the surface; there was
not O single 'ker-chug' TO denote the
phunge Of q croaker from the rushy
5anks. Throw yours in now said
the host, and the guest complied. But
when this splash had died away the
placid pool was disturbed by no move
snent. We'll, this is singular ex-
claimed the puzzled cultivator; there's
enough of 'em about here, and / never
snew 'em to hide Like this before
80 the two walked around and around
tho pond intently watching. They
saw nothing, however, and when Of
TAFT the now nettled bank president
seised a pole and threshed the weeds
md rushes, he did not scare up any.
hing. Painting and perspiring with
his exertions-he was a portly man
he inventor of frog farming, mort.
led by his failure 10 astonish his
.riend, gave up his search tempo
.rily, and they went into the house
or breakfast. That disposed of, the
luest was resumed, but neither then
lor ever since has a frog been seen in
he vicinity.
"Every kicker Of them all had mi
rated elsewhere during the night.
sand upon my word and honor this
8 true story. boston Herald.