The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-22
QUEER INDUSTRIES FOR FARMERS
Turtles, Frogs and Even POlecats
Found a Source of Profit.
Ehiladelphia Times


The great American farmer is keeping
ABREAST OF the times these days in q manner
that is startling to behold, to say The least
he no longer devotes his time and energy
TO raising corn and oats when he finds there
is no more money to be made in these
cereals, but he branches out and POUNDS a
brand new industry. And competition has
caused our farmers to invent some novel
branches In the farming line. And the
Times publishes for the first time the full
particulars concerning the most novel of
these industries. A turtle farm may seem
a queer sort of an institution but that is
just what the State of Maryland has re-
Gently produced. This farm is owned and
conducted by j. H. Carroll of Bethlehem.
In speaking of this turtle farm to a repre-
sentative OF the Times Mr.. Carroll said ::
THE idea Of q turtle farm NAV seem a
trifle odd to a stranger to the subject. but
TO me 1t is, of course, an old story. l started
in the business about two years ago in a
small way, and have found it such money
making industry that L am now devoting
my entire time to the raising of turtles |
first got the idea of raising turtles for the
market from the children of this part of
the country. Each summer they make con-
siderable money by catching turtles in the
river and selling them to the local dealers
IT struck me if / could make pen to keep
the turtles in and feed them regularly their
flesh would be better for food and they
would command higher price in the mar
ket And actual experience has proven my
theory to be correct"
And now comes man from Elizabeth
City, N c., who started to raise frogs as
tensive frog farmer. r. B. Creecy is the
man. He is an editor and is the proprietor
of the Economist
He tells how he started frog culture as a
fad and how it developed into a regular
business. Il have farm not far from this
city. and when angry subscribers come up
take q look at my property. On the farm
is a large pond and as nothing could be
raised on the water, and as fish could not
live in the water the space occupied by
it was worthless. My hired man had often
asked me to have the pond drained off and
filled up so the ground could be utilized for
planting purposes. One day while looking
over the pond and figuring on filing it up
l noticed a large frog sitting on the bank
complacently summing himself. OF course
had heard frogs legs are great deicacy
and are eagerly sought after in large cities
and when l saw this frog I commenced to
think | wondered who supplied the frog
in it, and resolved to investigate. AS a re-
suit 1 soon found out all about frogs and
frog culture. When | spoke of my plans to
my friends they found occasion for a good
deal of mirth. / resolved. however, to take
the matter up, and did so more as a fad
than anything else. ! accordingly imported
a few frogs of a choice variety and placed
them in the pond.
1T was not very long before my farm
was known for miles arOung a $ 'Creecys
frog farm 1t was about three years ago
when iuaugurated the frog fad. The sec
ond year the frogs were so numerous in my
pond that l made several shipments 20 New
York and realized quite a sum of money
And this last year the pond was literally
swarming with frogs and / shipped large
quantities.
The people around here have got so that
they look upon frogs legs as q great and
Indispensable delicacy. and I could easily
dispose of all ! raise right here at home I
am contemplating turning my entire farm
into a pond. and viii devote my entire time
to raising frogs for the New York market
The raising of frogs for the market is quite
a science and requires some care and study
but have grown TO have a great liking for
the business.
MANY of my farmer friends who ridieuled
me at the start are row seriously consider
ing the advisability of going into the bust
ness themselves. They see how easily l
make money, and they are working harder
TO raise cotton and corn and are not real
izing near the profits I am. OF course the
frog business is not all clear gain and has
its draw 6asasuts same as any other line;