The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1909-12-01
REMARKABLE FARMS.
Natural Hot Water Products Near the
Arctic Circle.


Arctic Circle.
What Is perhaps the most remarka-
BILE farm in the world is located i'm
Alaska on small tributary of the
Tanana river only 125 miles south OF
the arctic circle. 1t is owned and
managed by j. +. KarShner. Karshuer
few years ago was engaged in hunt.
ing gold when he came across some
thing which aStoniShcd him very
much. 1t was little stream of hot
water. He traced the stream to a
spring, which was likewise hot. and
1t presently became obvious that Il
considerable area was underlaid 10y
such springs. Promptly deciding that
this was Il discovery more profitable
than n gold mine. KarShncr CAV" up
prospecting. obtained II quantity OF
vegetable seeds OF various kinds ana
started in 10 raise garden truck.
The temperature in that region
sometimes falls to CO degrees below
zero IN winter. but natural system
Of hot water heating. free of cost. WAS
Just the thing for truck gardening
near the arctic circle. where potatoes
have market value of % cents Il
pound and other vegetables bring
prices In proportion.
The karShncr farm occupies n fiat
area with convenient slant toward
the south. Hot water ooZing out of the
ground forms three small streams,
which empty into the nearby river
The warm spring extends over dis
tnnrn n n,,1 .
owner says. the heat In the ground
has TO be felt to be believed" lie
adds: II have never seen vegetables
grow rs they do here. The place has
climate of its own. Often there is
no frost when it is freezing every
where else"
The hot water farmer has seventy
hens. lie has also six fine pigs. His
crop OF potatoes this year will be 100
tons, ut $50 bushels to the acre. To
bacco has made great growth. TO
matoes are success SquaShcs OF
several kinds are grown. some OF them
weighing rs much rs fifty-threc
pounds. Karshner gets 81 apiece for
his muSkmelons.
This hot water market garden must
be wonder in its way. but it is doubt.
ful whether It's owner deserves as
much credit as belongs to Frank l..
Howard United States commissioner
at Coldfoot, Alaska. sixty miles north
Of the arctic circle, who in the raising
OF potatoes and other vegetables for
market gets over the difficulty of the
climate by starting them in tin cans
in the house. When the weather be.
comes warm enough he tranSplantS
them TO the open.
Mr.. Howard's market garden is the
most successful to be found north Of
the arctic circle. He protects his
young cabbagcs from frost on cold
nights by covering them with beer bot.
ties the bottoms and ncckS Of which
have been knocked Off In these Jack
cts" as he calls them. they flourish.
and by June 10. when they have grown
sufficiently to fill the bottles. they are
uncovered. In the first week OF Sep.
temDer they are harvested.
In central Florida plncapplcs are
largely grown nowadays under sheds
Of lattice. These sheds. elevated on
posts ut height Of about seven feet
from the ground usually in some in.
stances cover as much as ten acres Of
land. Their main object is to protect
the growing fruit against frost. though
it IS claimed that pincapplcs raised
under them are more delicate i'm tex
turc and Of superior flavor.
In market gardens near Boston mel.
ons are grown in slngs 50 that they
will ripcn evenly. MuSkmclons are
grown on arbors. each fruit being sup.
ported by n piece Of board about
foot square, on which it is turned cv.
cry day or two. Strawberries are
grown in pots in greenhouses. the clus.
ters Of fruit being supported by wires.
so that they shall not touch the earth.