davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
Improvement of Seed,

Plants may be improved by selection.
They will always reproduce themselves in
their specific characters, and often in those
of their varieties, especially when a varie-
ty has been cultivated fer a considerable
time under the same conditions Of soil and
climate. In general sense, like produces
like; and if proper care is taken in selec-
ton, it will do more than this, it will i'm
prove upon itself Therefore, if the best
plants Of any variety are selected yearly.
and the best seeds of these are planted ir
soil especially adapted to their highcs:
development, a great Improvement will b.
effected, and often new varieties Of great
excellence will be obtained. When the
French began to manufacture sugar from
the b'ct, the best specimens yielded only
about four and half per cent. of their
weight; bnt when they selected seeds
from the bects containing the largest
amount of this substance, and applied the
manurcs which were best fitted to pro.
duce it., as potash, ammonia, etc, the
plant was at length so much improved
that it picld,d nine per cent, or double
the original quantity. The same course
may be pursued with equal success with
other plants.
Mullitudes of new varieties are spring.
ing up every year, which are lost from a
want of competent observers to select
them and bring them into cultivation. The
skilltul agriculturist goes through his
fields, and observes with keen eye every
variation of any plant in any particular
direction, and converts it to some useful
purpose. If head Of wheat of remarka-
bic size or plumpness is seen, it is selected
and cultivated by itself, till new variety
is developed and permanently fixed. If an
car Of corn is observed which is distin.
grished for its length, the number of its
rows, the size of its kernels, or its early
maturity, it is preserved for sc ed In this
way most of the new varieties which are
considered to be SO remarkable, and are
sold for so great prices have been origin
atcd. Farmers are not generally aware
how much is lost from their yearly crops
by not selecting the best seeds s. G.
Patee Of New Hampshire, threshed two
bushels Of wheat from the ends of the
shcaves, where the largest heads are usu
ally found, without opening them, and
picked out the largest and best kernels
by hand and sowed them. He got one
third more wheat from this seed than from
the same quantity not thus selected, al
though the soil and cultivation were the
Samc-COr Country Gentleman
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
Planning Out Work Beforehand.

FORESIGHT and calculation, and plan
ming beforehand, will save much hard
work. No hour or part of day should
go to waste. Work should I've so planned
and prearrangcd that when the weather
is threatening, and rain expected, the work
for q rainy day must be taken up. by so
doing, the delay and uncertainty caused
by waiting for the rain to come, the loss Of
time i'll returning home when it has come,
the injury to clothes and harness by ~
thorough drcnching, and the time occu-
pied by drying off again, are all saved or
prevented. An "ollncc of prevention is
worth pound Of cure" here SO many
jobs are on hand, and ready for rainy
day, that generally when it comes, it is
passed away in indccision as to which
should be taken up first. To provide for
these occasions is the duty Of the business
MN and good farmer When work is laid
out ahead, make practice of going
through the list, and thoroughly c"mplct-
ing one thing at a time. There will then
be no occasion for lying awake nights,
thinking of what ought to have been done
during the dav, or what ought to be done
tomorrow. You may literally and wisely
then "tahe no thought for the mnrrow,'
for "tht morrow will take r,rr nf ih"
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
A Fox Story.

TIE Rev. Charles D. Mott, of st. Louis,
send, to the lndtpendtnt story suggested
by tho remark of DR.. McCosh, that he had
doubts whether the lower animals can
abstract, whether they can generaliZc.
"A former pastor of ,ninc," says Mr. Mott,
told nc The following: When boy he
hid a fox, which, ] regret to say, bore the
reputation of possessing far more brain
than personal piety. The fox was kept in
the yard in a sort of rails. den, nicely sod
dcd over, and was confined by chain that
allowed him quite generous circumter.
ence One evening in the fall, the farm
wagon, returning from the field with load
of corn, passed near the den, and by chance
dropped an ear where the fox could reach
it. He was seen to spring out, seize the
corn, and carry it quickly back into the
den. What he wanted with it was mys.
terry, as corn formed no part of the gentle
mans diet. The next morning, however,
the mystery was solved, for the fox was
observed, out Of his den, and considerably
within the length of his chain, nibbling Oft
some Of the corn and scattering it about
in full view of the poultry, after which he
took the remainder back into the den and
awaited events. Sure enough, the chick
ems came; and while eating, out sprang
the fox, nabbed his man, and quietly took
his breakfast in his back parlor. Now It
seems to me that this is pretty good
generaizing.' The fox may not have
reasoned upon the most sublime theme im-
aginahle. regret to say he did not. But
if he didn't evolve that chicken out of the
depths Of his own consciousness, then
there is no such thing as logic, and,
'Logicis logic;
That's all l says
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
The Cows Intelligence.

That COWS have memory, language
signs and the means of enjoying the pleas
ant association combining Tor aggressive
purposes, have been recognized, but scarce
ly to the extent the subject merits.
Travelling in Italy, many years ago, we
visited some of the large dairy farms
in the neighborhood of Ferara. Inter
spersed among much of the low lying, un-
healthy land remarkable for the prevalence
on it OF every fatal forms of anthrax in the
summer season, are fine undulating pasture
1an'ls, and the fields are of great extent,
we happened to stop at farm house one
fine autumn afternoon when the cows were
about to be MIXED A herd Of over one
hundred was grazing homeward.
The women took their positions with
stool AMI pail close to the house, and as
the COWS approached, names were called
out which, at first, we thought, were ad-
dressed to the milk maids. Rosa, Florcn.
"a, Giulia, Sposa, and many names, which
were noted by us at the time were called
out by the overseer or one Of the women,
and we were astOnishcd to see cow after
cow cease feeding or chewing the cud and
make direct, sometimes at trot for the
woman that usually MIXED her.
Tnc practice, we found, was not confined
to ono farm; all the cows on each farm
krcw their respective namns, and took up
their position, just as readily as the indi
vidual members Of some large herds in
this country turn in from the fields to take
up their places in the sheds.-London Milk
journal.
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
Repairing Roads.

This Is an operation which is or should
be performed Immediately after the SET
tling of the ground in the spring. In ag-
ricultural districts it is often dctt rrcd till
later in the season. In this case the labor
Of putting road in good condition is often
doubled. 1t is as true of roads as raiment
that ga stitch in time saves nine," and il
Tor the word stitch, VIC substitute ditch,
the old SAW will be even more forcible in
It's meaning.
Winter makes sad havoc in the earth
roads, which intersrct the country in all
directlOus. His tr.'sts uphravc, ard the
springs wash out deep gullcys and ruts,
and when at last the reign Of frost is over,
that which was straight is all crooked
level places are changed into alternate
rises AID depressions, stones are left on the
top, and, in short, these roads become
sloughs of despond in which loaded teams
wallow in despair, and where wagons are
left standing for weeks up to the hubs in
mud, simply because it is beyond the
power Of horse flesh to cxtricatc them.
If, when the mud has dried, the ruts
were filled at once, and the bitches at the
Wayside opened, much would be gained
but as this is generally neglected, the June
thunderstorms have things all their own
way. Sluices are filled, bridges under
mined and washed away, and, finally, when
the "road master" summons the inhabit-
ants to turn out and work on the road, they
find plenty to do. The road is at last put
into passible condition, and remains so till
the fall rains and the marketing wagons
again cut them up, and the snow following
hides them from view wlill the ensuing spring,
That this is only fair picture Of the
majority of the roads in the Northern
States, we know from experience; and
those of the South and many parts Of the
West are even worse, if all accounts OF
their miserable condition during the win
ter rains are to be credited.
There is, perhaps, some excuse in the
pressing work of spring for the delay in
road repairing. We believe, however
that the custom is maintained more
through habit than necessity
An old farmer once remarked to US that
there is no other work done by farmers
that pays so well as road making; but
; there are few Of them that are tar-sighted
enough to see that the saving Effected by
good roads in the current expenses of re.
pairs in wagons and harnesses, and the in
crease Of loads which can be carried, pay
literally for the work, which they dc
grudgingly, when at last it is performed
-lSc1entlfc Anerlcdn
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
Called Shoulders.

The heat, sweat and dust, together with
rough and badly fitting collars, are very
apt to make troublesome and painful sores
upon the shoulders and neck, and it is not
untrequent]y the case that valuable
horse is disabled for weeks, and some
times months, all from the want of little
care.
A collar never should be put on plow
horse in summer time, until it has been
carefully rubbed, to remove every particle
of grit or earth that may possibly have
gathered there. After taking off the col
lar, in summer time, it is good plan to
baihc the shoulders in cold water, after.
wards wiping them dry.
Be careful to have the collars fit the neck
perfectly, not merely touching at top and
bottom.
If the neck of a horse is already CALLED,
bathc thrice day with cold water, care
fully removing loose hairs from the sore,
and then apply an ointment made of sugar
of lead, pulverize very fine, and rub this
amount in piece of tallow half as large
as hen s egg. Apply small portion
after each washing Of the SORE
The same salvc is excellent for scratches
or sores of any kind that are not of long
tanding.-ETchdnge.
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
Forget Your Sins.

BEEt HER says: There are men who
have committed great sins, and who are
like the knight that used to wear sack
cloth III ordtr that the scratching might
Hemind him of having, perhaps, murder d
his royal master, Al who never wanted to
forget that h. was a murderer But what is
the use oi remembering ones crimes :?
Some set apart days to remind them of the
sins of the olden time. They want to keep
them in memory. But what is the use Of
keeping One, sins in memory? You are
not the children Of night, that you should
set up monument Of this kid. 1t is not
worth a mans while, after he has once
escaped, to ponder the things of the oldcn
time. It is not iu accordance with New
Testament Truth, or Gods truth, or
Christ's truth. Forget, forget, FORGET !!
God promises that he will do it; and he
commands You to do it. Il will nev.
make mention again of your trans
gressjOns, he says to lncn. lie declares
that their sins should be cast as into the
depths Of the sca. And why should a MIN
trouble and vcx himself about his past
sins. Do you suppose You arc any better
for remembering that which cr,lshcs you
and fills you with la;n? Pain is like
emery. Ii i: sconrs anything that wants
to be sco,lled it is good Otherwise it is
not good. He " no seeks mere pain is m
idolalGr. Whil' thr strife and conflict o.!
sin is on you, then lock at it and fight it :;
but when it is past, then throw it away
and forget it. Never look long at your
self or az the old burnt cut craters in life
Never liacr long in the prccinc's where
you have suffered II Great d. nI. You are
chlidfen OF light. Look to .Jrs U.s."
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
A>Iles as Cattle Feed.

The Maine Farmer says: One of ou1
substantial subscribers, in recent conv> r
sation, gave his experience in training
neat stock affected with the habit Of eating
wood, chewing bones, etc. His cattle
were one spring affected in this way; they
became thin in flesh, refused to eat hay,
and presented a sickly appearance. He
had the impression that their food lacked
the constituents for making bone; but his
ncighbors used bone meal without MOTTO
ing any good results whatever. Last
spring he put about four bushels of leach
cl ashes in his barnyard, aud threw out to
them about q shovc(tul each day. They
all ate ii as if with evident relish. After
turning them out to pasture, he put one
peck OF dry ashes per week on the ground
in the pasture. They ate it all up, and
gnawcd oil tho grass where it had been
lying. The cattle began to improve gain
ing flesh and looking hctt'r thun they had
for several years He says that this NOR
bid appetite was unnoticed years ago,
from the fact that the land was new,
nnl nshv trnm the, hnrninr nf the
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
How often 10 Milk.

The Irish Farmers Gazette has the fol-
lowing, Which ut least goes to show that
cows should be 1nillxcd oftener than twice
| day, for some time after calves arc taken
away from them, if they are allowed to
suckle till they are weaned:
Regularity in the milking of cows is
OF as much importance as regularity in
the feeding of them. In a state of nature
the cow is rclivcd Of its milk great many
! times each day. A calf allowed to remain
with its mother will help itself to the
lacleal fluid seven or eight times day.
Under such circumstances the ,1dder of
the COW will remain small and if allowed
to retain the milk secreted during twelve
hours, fcyerish symptoms arc likely to be
produced. The practice of milking cows
more than twice in the twenty-four hours
causes the capacity Of the uddcr to be
greatly Increased, and, probably, helps in
maintaining the lacteal secretion long af
ter pregnancy has taken place.
"When, however, by an artificial sys-
tenn the cow has been enabled to retain its
milk without inconvenience for twelve
hours or So, it ought to be milked regu-
iarly every day at the same hours. When
the time for milking arrives the udder usu-
ally becomes distcnded to its utmost ca
pacity, and if the fluid be not speedily
removed, the animal suffers considerable
pain Cases Of iev.r, the result OF allow
ing animals to remain TOO long unmilked
are, indeed, by NO means OF unfie4uent
occurrence. 1t is especially necessary to
the animal baS brought forth its young,
for during that period very little ir.
ritation Of the lacteal orgaus
is likely to bring on that most fatal of NAL
aides, puerperal fever. 1T the milking be
too long delayed, Dature will try to help
the poor animal An absorption Of milk
into the blood will, to some extent, take
place, and that which r, mains in thu udder
will hrc,mc >letcrioratcd. When neglect
to milk a COW at the Il yu1ar time is re-
peatcd several times, the secretion OF the
iuid is permanently checked; and there
are many cases where by such neglect al
animal has become "ury' in less than
month.
I'm these count les and in North Amer
lea, COWS are only MIXED twice Il day, ex-
crpt in SOME cases, when Tor some time at-
ter calving the op< ration is REPEATED thIice
daily. In most Continental States 1t is,
however, the general p:;utice to milk
dairy COWS three times Il d''y, ct regular
intervals Of eigh hours. Now, would it
not b.. worth while determining the ques
ton whether all interval of eight ortwrlve
hours between milking is the best. We
incline to the opinion that a COW would
yield more fluid if milkcd three times than
if mikcd twice a day; but the former
number would involve great trouble to the
work people. In Germany and Holland
the cows are milllcd at four O'Clock a. m,
noon, and eight o'clock p. m. We fear
our dairy maids would consider these
hours too long for days work.
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
Car Peddlers.

AND there were tho 4,eddlcrs. hought
out the pop cora boy to get rid Of him, be-
Ca:lsc was trying to compose poem for
young lady's album, aud did not want t"
be disturb, Il. But he came right back
with a stock Of peanuts. took few and
hurried him away, and he returned with
sn,n,' ice cream candy. l don't like ice
cream candy and peanuts together, but
inv''>t dat once, bee luae MI inspired rhyme
hli been borne IT, me, and wanted t. sci
it dnAn before it slipped nay mind. Th,n
i''c y;';lnlrcl came back 10 ME with tnb!c
60 a.nl ri cnys, ANA ai.. rwArd with oyanu, $,
imitation worry baby Whistles tiy-piste, and
nHl'lr> then lc "tnt away and was gone
sOinc time, aud Was encouraged to hope
the train had run over him. lie was only
Keeping his most malignant outrage to the
last lie was getting his literature ready.
! Aud from tha time forward that dcgrad.
cd youth did nothing but march from one
car t., another, and atllict the passengers
with specimen pies Of the vilest blood
and thunder rolnauCrs on earth. 1.-The
pcrjurrr's Doom" and "The D,spcrado s
| Revenge" were some of his milder works,
and on their backs Were pictures Of stab.
hlus afl'ra. and due]s and people showing
| o'h,r people over prccipiccs, and wretch
ID wnnIruts of women being rescued from
/ terrible pcri!s of AL kind and they are al
ways women who are so crimnully home-
ly that any right minded man would take
a placid satisfaction in seeing them suffer
! sudden and violent death. But that ped
dlcr boy pvddled these alrocious books
right along for hours together, and gave
up my roem at last, and devoted all my
energies to driving him away, and trying
to say things that would make him un-
! happy.-.Kn, K 7icuin.
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
The Potato Bug.

From almost every part of the country
we hear alarming accounts of the progress
Of the potato bug, and some farmers have
given up all att. mpt to check the ravages
OF the insect, and have abandoned their
crops to destruction. 1t is probable that
such faint. hearted individuals will bitterly
regret this course, especially when they
see the crops of some of their industrious,
persevcring ncighbors, saved by the timely
application Of preventives or remedies
One Of the most instructive of Esop's IA
bles is that which describes the ridiculous
conduct of the wagner who, when the
wheels Of his wagon stuck fast in 81 ugh,
knclt upon the bank, and, with loud lam
entations, called upon Jupiter to assist
him out Of the difficulty. The Indignant
deity, who could scarcely refrain from an
nihilating the lazy fellow with thunder.
bolt, told him to cease calling on Jupiter,
but to get up and put Ais Shoulder to the
acheeI, cheer on his horses, and help him
self out of the difficulty.
There is no doubt but the ravages of the
p'tato bug may be entirely prevented by
picking or brushing off the insects as fast
as they appear, gathering the eggs, which
are easily seen, and running The CultivatOr
between the hills, or drills The bugs de-
post their eggs on weeds as we'll as on the
potato vim, s, therefore all weeds shculd be
destroyed. Coarse. lumpy soil is very ia
vorablc for these insects, as they hide
among the Jumps and clods. The soil
should be well pulvcrzed, as this will en-
courage the growth Of the vines and de-
prlve the bugs Of a hiding place. Paris
green or white hcleborc will kill the bugs,
but while waiting for these remedies the
crops may be destroyed.
We say to all potato growers pick Off
the eggs and bugs, Danish weeds, keep the
cul'ivator continually ut work, ami the
crop will be saved Western Ru,w1.
"A terrible accident occurred near
Johnstown, Mo-, on recent Sunday
While Mr.. Bottles, with his wife son aud
infant, w,r re returning from church in a
two-horsc wagon, the horses became frlyh
cn'd and ran away. The son, who was
driving, was dragged nearly quarter of
mile, and killed. Mrs Bottles, it appears.
jumped from the wagon and was killc |,
and her infant died soon after; and MIR.
Bottles WAS thrown out and crushed to
death ty the wagon. A similar accident
tc'urrcd near Louisville, Mo, On the same
day. Dayid Stewart and wife, while ,iriy.
ing torhrth, were thrown from their car
riagc, Mrs. Stewart hing instantly killed
Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
Shopping In Japan.

Taking it for granted that the time of
our visit is steamer day." rs on such oc-
casions the assortment of merchandise is
most complete, and displayed to the best
advantage, We soon find ourselves among
groups Of newly arrived passengers curl.
ously examining the various wares. In
hlandncss Of manner the Japanese mcr-
chant cannot be surpassed Seated on q
neat mat covered floor, elevated say two
feet above the street level, his heels for q
chair, and attircd in calico gown with
flowing sleeves, he saluics his customer
with suasiyc voice, "O-hi-a," which might
nc considered synonymous with "lluW
are you?' Even though no purchase were
intended, it would be hard to resist an
overture so pathetic. But take heed lest
you outrage common propriety by treadiny
on that bl,achcd straw mating or polished
floor with dirty boots. Conform to the
usagcs Of the country, and if you desire a
closer inspection, off with those lcathrrn
integuments, no matter if you capsize in
the operation or burst blood-vesscl
If, by stretch Of courtesy, the trader
signifies that so much trouble is needless,
then step daintily, lest violence be done to
good nature. To learn the price of an
article you say Iko,rnh, "how much ~
Invariably an cxorbitant figure is named,
which, if you have been initiated by some
thoughtful friend, will be rcpellcd with
6aigned astonishmcnt. The merchant at
once responds, How much you givc?''
One half the price asked will be reason
able offer by way Of compromise. A pro-
found consultation then take place among
the several traders interested, all of whom,
by this time, will have cmptied their pipes
aud risen, some one Of their number mean.
while rapidly shuttling on wires the little
balls of u calculating machine. If your
offer is accepted, several mods of the head
and a simultaneous clapping Of the hands
signify assent. If rejected, make no more
than tritling concession, for if by any
chance you are permitted to leave the
store without bargain, a messenger will
probably be despatched in hot pursuit,
saying, "Can DOR A porter is at once
instructed to deliver the goods. For the
latter service volunteers are always at
hand. To attempt to carry ones own
package would not only be fragrant
case Of intro Dig, but operate as a direct
challenge to the whole horde Of burden
carriers along the street -" Jaunts IN
Japan,' IN Sc'7dner's Monthly.