New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-01
RAISING WORKS. FOR BAIT.
| NOVEL. INDUSTRY OF A NETWORK FARMER
Lyons (N " correspondence OF The ST. Louis Globe

NOVEL INDUSTRY OF NETWORK FARMER.
I,yons a. W correspondence OF The ST. Louis Globe
Democrat.
Charles Rsncks. farmer. residing two miles north
only worm raiser the United States; at least. II
ne has any competitor in the business. that lnivli
ual has now opportunity TO dispute titles with
our Wayne County man.
Mr. Rencke is a Holander and has wife and
two young boys. is bright. ever anxious to turn
honest dollar. and loves 20 bring the festive pick
day of Year before las, Mr.. Reincke conceived the
idea that might nalkers could be kept through the
are large worms which grow from five to Afteen
inches in .enSth. and to thicknesses varying from
that Of a large lead pencil 10 as thick IS a little
finger Of farmer. They are called might walkers"
on account Of the festvity they display evenings;
the country They captured by boys. who roam
around nights With lanterns discover the worms
Shiny worm dives for his hole as quick as wood.
chuck and can only be Ss brought out by means of
Summer before last Reincke and his two boys
put them in box feet deep. feet wide and feet
long. which they placed In the cellar The box
Of the top and then covered with manure. The
ground was kept damp with daily applications Of
that he would not be obliged to dig around some
spring for worms In the dead of winter every time
the winter Rcincke would get pint or so OF worms
and would spend the day on Seneca River fishing
sGs f & 0 ve %nnow to- grab ~Sus
wriggng walker. and the strings Of pckerel
n
to old-time fishermen. Nv har in Sam Hll did you
get EN- walkers" - fishermen would ask Reincke.
Dug en- Of course: don't spose stole EN-
the nvariab,e reply. When JmpOrtuned 10 sell
Of his bait Reincke disposed OF the worms at
81 per quart. so fast did the worms multiply and
grow fat under their conditions that Reincke,
after using all that he wanted and selling six quarts
at per quart. had four quarts left In the sprins
This experiment was highly satisfactory Reincke.
wholesale.
John F. Gardner. who committed suicide at
Jordan in 1885, formerly owned the farm Reincke
occupies, and built dollhouse upon the place. This
hothouse was heated by Florida heater; which.
after Mr. Gardeners suicide. was removed 10 me
house and Installed to heat the dwelling In In It's
place a massive chunk" stove had been placed IN
position covered by potash kettle in when pota-
toes were boiled for the hogs. with this exception
the hothouse' was intact and an unprontap-e piece
Of property. Reincke renovated the plant, putting
In a box. which completely covered the ground
floor of the building with the exception or space
all around the outside which was left to get around
and attend 10 the worms This box was built four
feet deep and filed with soil to within, eighteen
inches OF the top. During last spring ana summer
Re ncke and h.s boys gathered the festive night
walkers" In .erge quantities. and whenever any
ploughing was done the lads walked behind with
nails and gathered up the worms which were forth
with transferred 70 the incubator. Reincke est
mates that he put three barrels OF walkers into
this incubat Tor during the summer. From December
to January l. 1886. Mr.. Reincke sold thrty-eght