Thursday, February 17, 1972
Around the County
By Beth Barrell
Once my next door neighbor and I considered raising earthworms in quantity, not only for our own use, but possibly to sell. Since both of us like to grow things and she also likes to catch things, and since my compost heap along our common fence was a going concern, the idea did not seem far-fetched. Between ourselves we referred to our enterprise as “The Besta Worm Company – The best in garden and fish worms.” The title combined our two names, hers being Esta.
But finally plans for the Besta Worm Company bogged down. At first, we thought we had considered everything – age, initial investment, stock and worm food. Were we too old to start such a business? …
But finally we realized the big objection. One of us would be left with the full responsibility if the other had to be away for an extended period of time.
So the Besta Worm Company fell through. But not all was lost. For my compost pit is still there and improving all the time. Into it I have put everything under the sun, including worms dug in nearby fields. So, when I decided to take advantage of the recent mild January and give the heap an extra turnover, it was no wonder that the shovel unearthed a regular worm city of really sizable inhabitants.
As I worked, I remembered that only three years ago this little Eden had been no more than a sterile fence corner of clayey soil. Now in addition to the worms, it produces about 100 wheelbarrow loads of flower pot earth to put on the fall gardens. True as old Aristotle said, “earth worms are the intestines of the soil…”
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Carter Castilow, of Freeport, New York, a son, named Jason Randolph.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Jim Harrison, of Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter, named Jan Caroline.
DEATHS
Mrs. Jessie May Sampson, 59, of Cass; born at Spring Creek, a daughter of the late George and Zelphia Lester Fowler. Burial in the Arbovale Cemetery.
Mrs. Merle (Anna I,) Thompson, 69, of Springboro, Pennsylvania; born at Lobelia, a daughter of Chris-topher and Virginia Hedrick Hill. Burial in Kinsman Cemetery
Theophilus Lawson Snyder, 65, of Webster Springs, formerly of Valley Head, a son of the late John B. and Minerva Channel Snyder. Burial in Webster Springs.