Show mm FORTUNE ON TURTLE FARM Former Doughboy Has Reptiles Ready for Soup FERTILE la qa Jan By 9 9 By The Associated Press Press- Some Press Some snapping mapping turtles now lie burled beneath beneath the boggy acreage of ot the hlll country of or north Iowa en- en enJoying enjoying en enjoying their long winter steep be- be because be because cause the world war broke out In Europe Europe In 1914 Europe Is a long way froth from Fer- Fer Fertile Fertile Fer Fertile tile but It Is where Hans Johnson y youthful soldier got his hia Idea for tor forthe forthe the establishment of a turtle farm that supplies a large per cent ot of the turtle flesh that eventually finds Its way to the dining rooms ot of Americas America's foremost hotels FOUGHT IN IX FRANCE FIANCE Johnson was a n doughboy In the division of or the A E F In September of ot 1917 he obtained a leave of ot absence and wandered down to Monte Carlo Carlo- Carlo of or gambling fame One night a wealthy Amer Amer- American American ican lean a steel manufacturer Invited Johnson and a n number of or com com- companions companions to dine with him at al the Grand Cafe Care near the Casino Che- Che lonia Che-lonia lonia broth n a a soup made from the flesh of or a species of or West Vest Indian turtle was served The check for It was waa large Johnson reasoned that It tr wealthy men paid without protest such high prices for tor broth It would pay to go Into the business ot of supplying the market Thus was born the tho Idea of or Fertile's tur- tur turtle tur turtle tle tie farm arm the plans plane for which John John- Johnson Johnson son John son put Into effect after he came home Five years ears ago Johnson began his hla word b by leasing lensing ten acres of river bottom laud land making a success ot of the venture fro from 1 the start SELLS EGGS I Mr Johnson derives his chief revenue from the sale of or eggs and I I choice breeding stock He lie also has a good Income from the sale or of turtle oil supplying many large hospitals During the winter months lie he supplies a great many eastern astern hotels with choice table stock fed red and fattened through through- throughout throughout out August and September on sweet potatoes and ond buttermilk The first OO turtles were placed I on the farm In hr 1920 They were a species known as the snappIng turtle a reptile despised by fish fish- fishermen fish fishermen ermen They were wOre taken from th the streams and lakes of north Iowa Placed on the farm tarm they have been greatly Improved by crossing with a species of or chicken tortoIse somewhat resembling the tho leather leather- leatherback leather back back The resulting strain Is a grotesque creature resembling In some respects the and andI I matamala reptiles of or South Amer Amer- America America ica ica- However their flavor or Is ap- ap appetizing appetizing ap appetizing Of Ot the turtles now on the farm arm possibly 1000 are of the new hybrid species JUST v LAND IJ On Ih the farm Itself there are ten acres of or of hummocks and bog and nothing C more There are an areno areno anno no buildings of or any kind except three dams dame of or stone atone and waste waste- waste v wool wood thrown across a 0 rill ot of tpring mound spring water that trickles toward a larger stream skirting th the I south border of ot the farm arm Waver Wavering ing ng rows of ot post tops mark the underground fences encircling th the three ponds formed by the stone atone and wood obstructions In the be lit little tie tle stream |