The Elbert County tribune., 1914-09-04

to the farm mania took, possession of him. He
wanted small farm in the Ozarks. but he ex
pected to cultivate it in the usual way.
Casting about for location Mr.. Smith found
tract OF 20 acres three miles beyond the terminus
Ct the National cemetery road that runs out from
Springfield. 1t was rolling tract, with soping
fields and bluff and woodland. Under the
blum was cave, known as Fishers cave. from
The name Of former owner OF the place.
The st. Louisan looked the place pur-
chased 1t and became Farmer Smith. But before
making the purchase he determined to become
Cave Farmer Smith. to be the pioneer in
and uniaue sort OF agriculture. Somewhere he
had read OF the mushroom industry in France
where abandoned quarries. artificial caves. we're
rented to growers OF the delicate fungus which
is so much In table demand by epicures when
they assured that It is not toadstoo
He studied diligently the haunts and habits OF
the mushroom. which knowledge led to his estab-
lIshment OF the first and only natural cave farm.
From mushrooms to rhubarb and celery and frogs
Farmer Smith progressed by easy stages expert
menting as he went along, until finally he devel-
opcd system OF intensive underground farm
ing. which has given him a unique position
amongst the million of American farmers
Mr.. Smith learned. in the first place. that
Fishers cave has an even temperature of 60 de-
grees all the year round. August may fry and
sizzle at 100 in the shade OF the saplings just
outside the mouth of the cave, inside back be-
yond the where daylight dies and midnight
darkness prevails. the temperature Is go degrees.
the mouth of the cave back in It's depths the
thermometer registers exactly GO degrees
Fishers cave differs from the ordinary cavern
OF the Ozarks. OF which there are many, In Its
freedom from q disagreeable and chilling breeze
There ~ apparent air current no cammy
feeling and yet the atmosphere always is fresh
and there is enough moisture to give growth to
such plants flourish in the dark. This is
highly important factor in cave farming. Many
caves drip SO much moisture from the roof that
IL ie irnnr a of sort
FISHERS cave has happy minimum OF dripping
In many places the roof of limestone is dry
enough to light match by friction.
There was some Clearing to be done in open
ing up this novel farm. No trees. bushes or
weeds OF course. were in the way. but there were
staIagmites to be ''grubbed" out. and there were
downhanging stalactites to be removed These
rock formations. built up by the slow-dripping
process OF ages were broken off where their re-
moya was found necessary, and they served as
material for banking up lake outside of the
cave, fed by clear water from perennial river
that runs through the cavern and emptics at It's
mouth This lake came in handy later on as an
outdoor picnic ground for bulifrogs when they
wearied OF the inner recesses.
Having cleared his farm. Mr.. Smith found it
necessary to introduce some soil. There is a
cIavey substance called ochre covering the floor
here and there but many of the little fields"
were aoored only with the bare limestone. The
arsb task was the building of boat for river
navigation was necessary in order to develop the
farm There is only one way 10 get 10 anu trom
the smith farm. and that is by boat
Mr. Smith built 1atboat 25 feet long, feet
vida and foot deep. This peculiar craft fs so
steady that the pastime OF rocking the boat is
fmpossible. One may stand in any corner OF the
l,oat without causing 1t to tip up The boat has
no oars. no paddles. no motive power, except a
mile operated by the muscles OF the pilot.
wbarf at the mouth OF the cave where the river
"a about forty feet wide, is the mooring place OF
the datboat when not in use.
When Mr.. Smith wishes TO get into his farm,