The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-05
FREAK FARMS IN WISCONSIN.
Norwood Ginseng, and Dittany
Grown, and Minks, BuffaIOes, and
AngOra Goats Raised.


From the Chicago News.
1t is said that London is famous for
fogs, Newfoundland for dogs, Maine for
logs, Indiana for frogs, and Iowa for
hogs Likewise it follows it follows that
Wisconsin is a star of the first magnitude
in a peculiar characteristic, for the repu-
tation of it's freak farms is predominant
in all parts of the Commonwealth. In
the Summer sleek Jerseys feed upon a
hundred hills and dairy farms are on
every hand, tender tubers are turned out
OF the soil superior in excellence, so that
potato planters profit from lavish prov
idence; vineyard and orchard, too, are
pastures of plenty in the Summers SUM-
set; but dotted here and there, all the
way from the sweeping prairies of North.
ern Illinois to the waves of Lake Super
ior's shore, there are queer industries
yielding pleasure and profit to their pro-
moters. who have sought to carry out
some whimsical idea.
Where NORWOOD is Grown.
Reposing among the quiet hills in the
northern part of Dane County lies a
peaceful valley, the lower extremity of
which is the shore of Crystal Lake. Here
are broad, fertile acres devoted to Guilt
waiting and distilling wormwood, the oil
of which is largely used in the prepara-
ton of ointments and from which alb
sinthe may be obtained. Leender Drew
is the proprietor of the farm, and has
inherited both the secrets of the business
and the land devoted to wormwood cul-
ture from his father, who came to Wis
consin as a pioneer. For decades the
fruitful valley has produced the plant to
be converted into the oil of curative pro-
perties Originally the seeds were sown
broadcast upon the freshly plowed land
and without cultivation the plants were
permitted to grow during the first Sum
mer. The plants we're not distilled the
first season, as they were considered too
small for the purpose, and besides, it was
desired that they become we'll established
for the rigors of the approaching Winter
and be ready for an excellent growth the
next year.
For about three seasons the plants were
cut away for distillation purposes, and
then the land was devoted to some other
crop in order to give it an opportunity
to renew its lost vitality. Owing to cli-
matte changes newer methods are now
employed. There has been a perceptible
decrease in the snowfall Of Central and
Southern Wisconsin during the last de-
cade, and for this reason the plants are
hOW SCI Jul IOWS anu cultivated I0S
first year the same as tobacco. In this
way the grower is certain of a crop the
first year, and the plant becomes hardy
In due time the plants stand about four
feet high, and are cut down to supply
the distillery just before they reach their
maturity. During the harvest season
about half an acre a day falls before the
reaper's knife, and is hauled to the dis
tillery where it is crowded into an i'm
mense vat in order that the oil may be
set free. The same as in any process Of
this kind the plants are heated by means
Of steam pipes, and as the oil escapes
with the steam il is condensed in a coil
cooled with water in a tank. The oil is
secured as 1t drips from the end of the
STILL and is usually sent direct to some
wholesale druggist to be used in COM
pounding various medicines.
stuGing Geese.
There is an old German colony near
Watertown where the stuffing Of geese
has become a vocation in order 20 obtain
the delicious pate de foie gras. To stun
one of these fowls requires about six
teen days, and In that time his weight
increases by one-half. There is great dan
ger in continuing the process for longer
period, as the goose is liable to succumb
to the inevitable on account OF the corpu-
lent condition attained which involves
several layers of fat about the neck, pre-
venting his respiratory organs from per-
forming their natural functions When
he has become corpulent to the proper
degree his weight has Increased from
about twenty pounds TO at least thirty,
and the price of his flesh is no longer
20 cents per pound. but has bounded up
10 30. In order to facilitate the fatteninR
process the bird Is placed In a small.
darkened box, where he not only eats all
that he wants, but is forced TO german
dize by having soft balls of cornmeal
forced down his throat until his crop is
rull 10 It's utmost.
This overlooking enlarges the goose's
liver until II is no longer I'm proportion
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