Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-23
A FISH WORM FARM.
A New York Mans Novel and Profit
able Industry.

From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat.
Charles Reincke, a farmer, residing two
miles north Of palmyra, N. Y, enjoys the
reputation Of being the only worm raiser
In the United States He occupies an
abandoned farm, on which a former owner
had built hot house. This hot house was
heated by a Florida heater, which was re-
moved to the house and installed to heat
the dwelling. In it's place a massive
chunk" stove had been placed in position
covered by potash kettle in which pota-
toes We're boiled for the hogs. With this
exception, the hot house was intact, and
an uhpr ofltable piece of property. Reincke
renovated the plant, putting in a new box,
winch completely covered the ground floor
or the building with the exception of a
space all around the outside, which was
LETT to get around and attend to the worms.
lhls box was built four feet deep and
filled with soil to within eighteen inches of
the top. During last spring and summer
Relncke and his boys gathered the festive
night walkers in large quantities, and
whenever any blowing was done the lads
walked behind with pals and gathered M
the worms, which were forthwith trans
1erred to the incubator. Reincke estimates
mat ne put three barrels of walkers"
INTO this incubator during the summer
From December to January l. 1Sg6 Mr.
Relncke sold thirty-eight quarts of worms
at 81 per quart. Fishermen left orders at
Eharles Blanks grocery in the village for
Relncke, and he brought in the worms 10
NIL all demands. When the cold snap came
on III February and the thermometer ran
down to % degrees below zero the worms
We're all right, and kept on thriving and
multiplying. Reincke went down TO Sem
eca river and out to Sodus Point with his
worms, and caught the largest pickerel to
De found. AT SOius Point the soil is all
SANDY, and no worms can be found within
radius of three miles. Even in the sum-
common he
Tor ID cents per quart. and this winter
Reincke sold his superior homegrown and
hol-house-raised might walkers for 81 per
quart on run. 1t was curious TO see The
avidity with which a pickerel would bite on
these large worms, sonnet hing old fish,
We're 10th to believe. being of the opinion.
gained from long observat alton, that pickereI
doted upon lively minnow, but Reincke's
worms took their fancy, and Rencke took
fancy to them, and fish after fish was
hauled up through the ice with walkers"
Tor bait. Fishermen purchased his worms
ara hshed on Canandaigua, Cayuga Keu-
ka. Oneida, Otsego and other lakes with
good results. On 1rondequoit bay, near
1toGhester. pickerel refused TO be tempted
win anything but Reincke's choice bait;
consequently the Lyons worm raiser had
al the orde' 5 he wanted to fill.
Inc day after Christmas Reincke's
son harl was IN the incubator watch
ing ing MS father remove the manure
it with fresh This work was called ..feed.
ihs the craWlers." Karl played on his
harnohica, making quite noise, and was
surprised as was his father, to observe the
worms working up out of the ground, their
neahs sticking out about two inches while
they sWayed their heads to and fro as if
tickled to death to hear the music. When
the boy ceased playing the worms slipned
nack INTO their warm beds. This story was
ro,i III 10y ol's' ana was doubted until your
representative, with DIR. NJ A. Veeder s.w
the story verified. The lad with his mouth
organ seemed to have the same effect Ipon
me hisht walkers as do the wind instru-
mehts handled by Hindoo snake charners
upon the serpents that roam undisturhad
III the orient