The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-01-31

Tract OF Land Admirably Suited For
the Induatry Has Been Purchased
Near Ware, Mass.-system of Culti-
walton VIII he by Means of Series
of Artificial Ponds.
Frog cultivation is the latest Industry
TO attract the attention OF Boston cap
italists. A farm IN Ware, Mass, has
been purchased for the purpose, and
the growth Of frogs will be undertaken
this spring on n scale which has never
been attempted in this country, says
the Boston Transcript The principal
promoters are Charles l.. Flint and h.
r. Flint OF Boston, George Fernald OF
Portland, Me-, and Fred A. Merrill OF
Ware. They have recently organized
company under the laws OF Maine. y
farm of ten acres on the outskirts OF
Ware was purchased from Daniel 5.
Kennedy and is now being equipped
for the undertaking. The land is on
the border Of Hardwick pond and was
part Of the old King estate.
The tract Is admirably suited to It's
requirements. A running stream pass
es through IT, furnishing an adequate
supply of water. The system of cult.
walton will be by means Of a series OF
artificial ponds. These are now IN
process Of construction. They VIII be
of various sizes and will be connected
by a series of locks. They will be ut
ted with walls and bottoms OF cement
The smallest Of the series viii be about
10 feet by 3 feet in size. In these the
eggs will be Matched, and as the crea-
lures develop they will be transferred
into larger ponds. When they are a
year old. they will occupy bodies OF
water about ten feet square and dur
ing the second year will be transferred
10 ponds 30 feet square. When years
old, the frog is full grown and VIII be
ready for the market.
1t Is expected that an ample supply
Of eggs for stocking the hatchery VIII
be found in the ponds Of neighboring
towns, and as the eggs germinate
easily no trouble Is anticipated in the
propagation. The young animal feeds
on a substance found on the surface OF
the eggs. so that no food will have to
be supplied during the early growth.
When the creature reaches the tadpole
stage. a quantity Of crustacea Will be
supplied. The lower forms Of animal
life will be procured. like the frogs
eggs from neighbOring ponds, and as
they propagate rapidly will soon fur
nish an lncessant supply Of food In the
artificial ponds. The cultivation Is
matter Of small expense and trouble,
and vet the returns yielded will be
very large for the amount invested.
Arrangements are being made for the
growth Of from 10000 to 10000 frogs
per year. and the facilities can be IN
creased so that an output OK 100000
can be made IL the demand warrants.
After the ponds are stocked, there
would be only a slight increase Of Ia
Dor required to effect the growth OF
the larger number.
The principal market for the frogs
will be found In colleges and medical
schools. There is a growing demand
for the creatures for use In the study
of natural history, and especially Tor
purposes of medical research AT ~.
ont the supply Is insuhiciennL.. 4, dlGl.
..,l,.IolTv IN winter, nhu IL ulli
uen'S - arocure any specimens. Inc
ccnit,vation Of the frog has hitherte,S
been promulgated only on small
scale and chiefly as God. Schools
have been ohhee1l to send to North
and s,nth Carolina for their , slPto
,rans and then have no, heet coudi-
-, ff,o animals - a, - amin
d. ,t-he farm at ware WIN 49,
t ned with heating apparatus 30 'n1
The supply win be constant, ana STU
dents win be enabled to OBTAIN the
objects Of their experiments during
tbe winter. when they are most deslr-
cd for study. During the cold Weatn-
or the frogs remain dormant IN the
rnud Large cakes Of this soil will be
dug from the ponds and removed 10
the heaters, where the frogs VIII DC
tbawed ont and sent to the schools IN
a normal condition, so that the Oioou
circulation and the heart beat may De
studied under the best circumstances
possible.
nlied. The building to be used as head
quarters on the estate Is now about
half built and viii be ready for occu-
nancy in the spring. The plant VIII
then commence operations, and II IS
expected that the supply for hotels
will be ready soon after the frost is
out of the ground. The company wiz
not be ready to furnish specimens Tor
schools until some time later.