New-York tribune., 1909-10-03
QUEER FARMS.
For One Thing, Hot Water Market Garden
Near the Arctic Circle.

What s perhaps the most remarkable farm in the
world is located in Alaska, small tributary OF
the Tanana River. only i25 miles south Of the Arc
tic Circle. 1t is owned and managed by ]. F.
Karshner
Karshner few years ago engaged in hunt
ing gold. when he across something which
astonshed HIM very much. 1t little stream
OF hot water. He traced the stream 10 a spring.
which was likewise hot and It presently became
obvious that considerable area was underlaid by
such springs. Promptly deciding that this was a
discovery more profitable than gold mine. Karsh-
ner gave up prospecting, obtained quantity OF
vegetable seeds Of various kinds and started in
raise garden truck.
The temperature in that region sometimes falls
TO 65 degrees below. in winter, but a natural
system of hot water heating. free OF cost was Just
the thing for truck gardening near the Arctic Cir
Gle. where potatoes have a market value Of IS
cents pound and other vegetables bring prices in
proportion.
The KaTshner farm occupies 4 fiat area, with a
convenient slant toward the south. Hot water,
oozing out OF the ground, forms three small
streams which empty into the nearby river
The warm spSns extends distance Of
about mile, and the owner says. The heat in
the ground has TO be felt to be believed" lie
/ adds: Il have never seen vegetables grow they
do here. Tho place has climate OF its own. Often
there is no frost when 1t is freezing everywhere
else
The hot water farmer has seventy hens. He has
also six fine pigs. His crop Of potatoes this year
will DC one hundred tons at three hundred ana Afty
bushels the acre. says Suburban Life To
success. squashes Of several kinds are grown. row 4
po6ds Gi aIshhgr wrhs Fe as oes es fas b
melons. which are particularly juicy.
in It's way, but It is doubtful whether its owner
deserves as much credit belongs to Frank L.
Alaska, sixty miles north of the Arctic Circle who
in the raising OF potaotes and other vegetables
by starting them in tin in the house. When
the weather becomes warm enough he transplants
Mr. :, Howards market garden is the most sue
He protects his young cabbages from frost on cold
nights by covering them with beer bottles, the
bottoms and necks OF which have been knocked off.
In these Jackets as he calls them they flourish,
and by June 10, when they have grown sufficiently
week OF September they are harvested.
Mr Howard grows potatoes and celery very sue
cessfully. HIS lettuce produces an abundant crop
Of large and exceedingly tine heads tender and
Last year he sent TO the agricultural station at
Sitka by registered mail at a surprisingly early
barb two potatoes and carrot. These We're ''I to
show what he could do in the truck gardening
apoiogetlcaiiy: 0''N
II cannot send by mail an eight.pound head Of
1t win thus be seen that the business OF market
gardening in Alaska, though conducted under diff
fculties, Is not unsuccessful. Some OF the finest
vegetables are grown on the roofs or houses. over
In Central Florida pineapples are largely grown
nowadays under sheds Of lattice, These sheds.
elevated on posts At sht OF about seven feet
from the ground usually, In some instances cover
much AZ ten acres OF land. Their main object
is to protect the growing fruit against FROST though
il Is claimed that pineappies raised under them are
delicate in texture and of superior favor.
In Hawaii there is mountain over fourteen
thousand feet high along whose side there gathers
every morning cloud bank formed by the meeting
Of air currents Of different temperatures. This
bank remains until late in the afternoon and at
fords shade which has been made use OF In the
growing OF tobacco
The same idea has been utilized In this country
and In Porto Rico hundreds OF acres OF tobacco
being grown under cheeseeloth stretched over
frames supported by poles.
In market gardens near Boston melons are grown
in sings 80 that they will Tpen evenly. Muskmel-
are grown aFhoFs each fruit being sup
ported by a piece OF board about foot square. on
which IL Is turned every day or two, Straw berries
grown in pots in greenhouses. the clusters Of
fruit being supported by wires. that they shall
not touch the earth,