Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1894 — Importing Earth. [ARTICLE]

Importing Earth.

“I once saw,” said a Boston tour*Ist, “an imported farm, the soil as well as the products being absolutely foreign to the surroundings. This was in one of the coldest parts of Manitoba, where I was entertained by a family which had retained its love for milder regions and crops. The bill of fare was necessarily meagre, but some of the vegetables were so bright and green that I could not help asking how they were preserved so well. To my surprise I learned that they werecultivated in a garden patch or a miniature farm, the soil of which had been brought from warmer regions so as to insure a fertility not found in. the region of ice. The vegetablesthemselves had been grown from imported seed, and owing to the careand protection they had had they were a perfect luxury. The expense of conveying the soil in barrels such a long distance would prevent any but comparatively wealthy people from trying the experiment, but my friends had made it a hobby. The only other case of earth importing that I have met with is that done by the Shah of Persia. The traditions of his country prevent his treading on foreign soil, and when he makes a trip in foreign nations his atten lants carry a supply of Persian soil, some of which is placed in his shoes, a practice which accounts for the great inconvenience .walking always appears to be to hismajesty when abroad.”—[St. Louie Globe-Democrat.