The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-11-28
TEN MILLION OYSTER SHELLS.

pracucable.
TEN MILLION OYSTER SHELLS.
Oyster-sheIls have of late become
quite valuable. 1t has been discovered
that they are excellent to build roads
with; they are also used for fertilizers
and the manufacture of buttons. Now
adays the oysterman saves his shells and
sells them at profit The biggest pile
of SELLS in the world is situated at
Hampton, Virginia. on Chesapeake Bay,
the greatest of oyster waters: This
miniature mountain is the product of
Darling, the millionaire king of the
Oystermen. The pile is fifty feet
high and a hundred and fifty feet long,
and contains about two hundred thous-
and bushels of shells, which yielded
about five million oysters. These shells
will sell for ten thousand dollars, and
before the next season the pile will have
disappeared. to make room for another
as large. There are many oyster shell
hilocks in the Chesapeake Bay region,
though none quite so large as this
Wide World Magazine.
FoX-FARMING A GOLD NINE.
Some years ago one Lamb "a Canadi-
quadruped cherishing an hereditary re-
sentment), while hunting some strayed
cattle in the woods, found two silve, fox
pups, a male and female, in hollow
log. He contrived to carry them home,
and snapped them with neighbor for a
cow and a few dollars to boot. The
neighbor experimental for several years
with various kinds of pens and treat
ment, but finally became discouraged
and sold the foxes for eighty dollars to
another neighbor, who also was no more
successful than the late owner This
second man gave over his experiment to
a third man, who lived on an island in
Cascumpec Bay. The quiet of the new
place, the increasing tameness of the
foxes, and the intelligence of the new
keeper produced conditions that relieved
Nine. Reynard's nervous apprehension
for her young's safety, and three pups
were reared to maturity in two seasons.
This success, the result of eight years
experimentation, gave strong impulse
to brand new industry. Farmers have
not many new Industries to turn to now
adays, and this one began in earnest
About six men possessed a knowledge of
the fine art of rearing foxes in captivity,
and jealousy guarded their secret until
1910. Up to that time no live foxes
were sold except some light "silvers''
TO distant places.
The surplus animals were killed and
the pelts marketed in London. One
dark silver pelt was sold for So. 900 at
London auction, and in 1901 prices of
So, 700 and So, 500 were obtained. Since
then as much as $500 has been realized,
the highest price ever paid for the pelt
of any kind of animal
Now that the secret is out fox-farms
are springing up in Canada in all direc-
tons, and henceforth it would seem that
the production of costly fur is only a
problem for the animal husbandman.
Perhaps the day will soon come when
books of fox, marten, otter, and mink
pedigrees will be published. One fox
farm recently visited by the writer on
the banks Of the St. Lawrence contained
eighteen animals, for which the owner
demanded ,O0O.-From "Fox-f farm
ing" in The Strand.
THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR SMALL
BOYS OR GIRLS.
The December Woman's Home Com
panion contains an excellent article en-
titled Christmas Gifts That Grow" in
which the author shows how little
money given to children, if properly in
vested, will grow into larger sum and
also keep the young folks Interested in
something worth while. Following is an
extract:
''Christmas before last father who
owned vacant city lot gave bis Oldest
son a bank-bcok that recorded the de-
post OF two dollars to his account. Then
he told the boy that he could have the
use OF that lot the following wear. and
when spring came he would have it
ploWed ard narrowed and made ready
for the seed. Long before time for plant
ing came the boy had decided to put the
entire patch of ground in potatoes. He
had III usual success, because he had
selected coed, smooth, mealy potatoes
for seed, and. having city water on the
next lot, he was able to water his plants
when they needed it. The youngster
early learned that there was a scarcity
of potatoes that year, and when the
price was high in the fall he decided to
hold his yield until he could get the high
est price TOR IT.: AS consequence, in
the spring he added quite a sum to his
original bank account, and enthusiastic
ally made preparations for planting the
ground to onions this year.
Another little fellow, about twelve
years old, persuaded his father to lease
the empty lot next to their house for
him, and he raised cucumbers. A seed
firm supplied him with all the seed and
information he needed for making the
project success, and at the end Of the
season bought the seed from him. His
success was so easily attained that his
sister was allowed to make use of an
adjoining lot the next year. Their read
ing has developed along more education
al lines, because they are SO interested
in finding out the best methods for grow
ing things. They are planning to raise
cabbages next year, to give the land a