The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-20
A FIsH-WORM FARM.
A New York Mans Novel ana PrOfita-
BILE Industry.

Lyons, N. Y, Letter in Globe-Democrat
Charles Reincke, farmer residing two
miles north of this village, enjoys the
reputation Of being the only worm raiser
in the United States.
Mr.. Reincke is a Hollander, and has
wife and two young boys, is bright, ever
anxious to turn an honest dollar, and
loves to bring the festive pickerel in 'out
of the wet" whenever he can spare day
off. As a disciple of LEAK Walton, he has
no superior, and nobody hereabouts can
boast of taking as many pickerel through
the ice in either Lake Ontario or Seneca
river as can Mr.. Reincke. Year before
last Mr. Reincke conceived the idea that
might walkers could be kept through
the winter to be used for bait. THESE
might walkers" are large worms which
grow from five to fifteen inches in length,
and to thickness varying from that OF
large leadpencll to as thick as little fin
ger of a farmer. They are called might
walkers on account of the fesuvity they
display evenings, when they crawl out
of their holes and amble around the coun-
try. They are captured by boys who roam
around nights with lanterns, discover the
worms and capture them, but none too
quick, as the crawling, Shiny worm dives
for his hole as quick as a woodchuck, and
can only be brought out by means of pres
sure exerted upon his head or tail.
Summer before last Reincke and his
two boys gathered up eight quarts OF
walkers" and put them in box three
feet deep, three feet wide and six feet
long, which they placed in the cellar. The
box was filled with rich ground to within
eighteen inches of the top and then COW
cred with manure. The ground was kept
damp with daily applications of dishwa-
ter. Mr. Reincke then felt happy, to
think that he would not be obliged to dig
around some spring for worms In the dead
of winter every time he wished to go
fishing From time to time during the win
ter Reincke would get out pint or so
of worms and would spend the day on the
Seneca river fishing through the ice or
on Sodus Bay. Pickerel would glide
noiselessly past live minnow to grab
a wriggling walker" and the stringe OF
pickerel landed by Reincke and his two
boys were a marvel to old-time fishermen.
"Whar In Sam Hill did you get them
walkers?" fishermen would ask Reincke.
Dug 'em, OF course; don't s'pose stole
EN-" was the invariable reply. When
importuned to sell some OF his bait,
Reincke disposed of the worms at 81 per
quart So fast did the worms multiply
and grow fat under their new conditions
that Reincke. after using all he wanted
and selling six quarts at 81 per quart, had
TOUR quarts ielL IN Nue spring. ms eN-
pertinent was highly satisfactory to
Reincke, and he set about the task Of
raising worms by the wholesale.
John +. Gardner, who committed sui
eide at Jordan In 1888, formerly owned
the farm Reincke occupies, and built a
hot-house upon the place. This hot-house
was heated by a Florida heater, which,
after Mr.. Gardeners suicide, was remov-
ed to the house and installed to heat the
dwelling. In It's place a massive chunk"
stove had been placed In position, cover
ed by a potash kettle, In which potatoes
were boiled for the hogs With this ex-
cepton. the hot-house was intact, and an
Improbable piece OF property. Relncke
renovated the plant, putting IN "A new box,
which completely covered the ground floor
OF the building, with the exception OF a
space all around the outside, which was
left TO get around and attend to the
worms. This box was built four feet
deep and filed with soil to within eight
cen inches OF the top. During the spring
and summer Reincke and his boys gath
cred the festive might walkers" IN large
quantities, and whenever any plowlne
was done the lads walked behind with
pals and gathered up the worms, which
we're forthwith transferred 10 the incu-
bator. Rencke estimates that he put
three barrels OF walkers into this In
cubator during the summer From Dec.
10 Jan. J. 1895 Mr.. Roncko sold thirty
eight quarts Of worms az 81 per quart.
Fishermen left orders az Charles Blanks
grocery IN this village Tor Rcincte. and
he brought IN the worms 10 an all de-
mands. When the recent cold snap came
ana the thermometer ran down 10 IS de-
rrees below zero. the worms were an
right and kept right on thriving and null |