Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-08
REMARKABLE FARMS.
Natural Hot Water Products Near the
Arctic Circle.

What is prehaps the most remarka-
bic farm in the world is located in
Alaska on a small tributary of the
Tanana river. only 125 miles south of
the arctic circle. 1t is owned and
managed by J. F. Karshner. Karshner
a few years ago was engaged in hunt
ing gold when he came across some
thing which astonished him very
much. 1t was little stream of hot
water. He traced the stream to a
spring, which was likewise hot, and
it presently became obvious that a
considerable area was underlaid by
such springs Promptly deciding that
this was discovery more profitable
than gold mine, Karshner gave up
prospecting, obtained quantity of
vegetable seeds Of various kinds and
started in to raise garden truck.
The temperature in that region
sometimes falls to Is 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 25 cents a
pound and other vegetables bring pric-
es in proportion.
The karshner farm occupies 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
lance OF about a mile, and, as the own
err says. 1.-The heat in the ground has
to be felt to be relieved" He adds: 81
have never seen vegetables grow as
they do here The place has a climate
of its own. Often there is no frost
when it is freezing everywhere else
The hot water farmer has seventy
hens. He has also six fine pigs. His
crop of potatoes this year will be 100
tons, at $50 bushels to the acre. To-
bacco has made a great growth. To-
matoes are a success. Squashes OF
several kinds are grown. some of them
weighing as much as f1fty-three
pourds. Karshner gets 81 apiece Tor
his muskmelons.
This hot water market garden must
be a wonder in it's way, but 1t is doubt
fuI 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 Tor
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.. Towards market garden Is the
most successful to be found north OF
the arctic circle. He protects his
voung cabbages from frost on cold
nights by covering them with beer bot
lies the bottoms and necks of which
have been knocked off In these Jack
OTIS" as he calls them, they flourish,
and by June 10. when they nave grown
sufficiently TO fill the bottles, they are
uncovered. In the first week Oh sep
TENDER they are harvested.
In central Florida pineappies are
largely grown nowadays under sneos
of lattice. These sheds. eleVated OH
meets Mt q height Of about seven 1eet
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
II is claimed that pineapples raised
under them are more delicate in tex
'ture and of superior flavor.
In market gardens near Boston mel
ons are grown in sings so that they
will ripen evenly. Muskemelons are
grown on arbors. each fruit being sup
ported by q piece of board about I"
foot square, on which it is turned eV-
cry day or two. STRAWBERRIES are
grown in pots in' green houses, ING
clusters Of fruit being supported py
wires, so that they shall not touch the
earch.