Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1907 — AN UNDERGROUND GARDEN. [ARTICLE]

AN UNDERGROUND GARDEN.

Isilsna Bait Proposes to Bale* Coal Bine Produce Vegetables. CoL Frank B. Posey, who during last winter experimented with an underground garden in an abandoned coal mine near Boonville, Ind., says that before another winter’s winds blow he will have his garden producing radishes, onions, tulips, habiscus and numerous other vegetables and flowers. He declares that he has already demonstrated that his underground garden is a success and not merely a dream. This fall he will begin developing his plan on a large scale and proposes to have garden “truck” for his own table and the tables of his neighbors and friends, all to be taken from the mine garden. The plan of this garden presented itffelfrto Col. Posey twr years ago when he, together with Attorney W. Z. Bennett of Boonville, bought up several hundred acres of hilly and broken land near" the little town of Yankeetown. It is on this land that the mine is located. He believed that plant life would thrive under artificial light, and said so. Then he proceeded to prove his theory and did It by producing tulips and carnations, which flourished and bloomed in the garden he laid out in the old mine. In one of the old rooms of this abandoned mine Col. Posey arranged a bed for the plants. The plants needed light, so he arranged a small acetylene gas lamp so its rays would fall evenly over the bed. Within a short time flowers were growing rapidly, and in less than half the time usually required for such vegetation to bloom, CoL “dream” was realized, and he was giving away flowers to his friends in midwinter. An acetylene gas plant large enough to supply light for an ordinary dwelling will be installed in the mine and the light*no arranged that they will distribUte their rays equally over the ground in which the plants are growing. Mr. Posey says that he will raise radishes, onions, lettuce and other vegetables and various kinds of flowers during the next winter.