davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
Pruning and Training Fruit Trees.

Our most successful pOmOlogists agree
that standard tree in an orchard should
have five or six feet of clean, straight
stem. StraightneSs can be perfectly OBJ
tanned by keeping the young tree tied to
a stake until it has acquired strength and
nrmneSS enough to support itself IN
straight position. All shoots proceeding
from the stem, below the first tier of
branches forming the head, should be
rubbed OFT with the hand while tender, as
II allowed to grow they retard the devel-
opment of the head and impair the form
ana habit of the tree. In forming the
mead OF a young standard a vigorous up
right root should be secured for leader,
and three or four others of the most Wig
orous to form branches or boughs. a
IaXneSS or slenderness of habit can be
corrected by pinching off the ends of the
branches, producing a more horizontal
growth At the present time in the grow
ing season young trees will be pushing
vigorously and as a general thing will
nave made growth enough to enable the
orchardiSt to perceive what form they are
ABOUT to aSSume-whether the young
branches are proceeding from the right
place and in the right direction to reach
the desired form. If they are not they
should be set right at once by rubbing Oft
shoots that are not wanted, pinching the
top off to retard such as are pushing too
vigorously to the detriment of others. An
equality of growth among the shoots in
tended for the main branches or frame
work of the tree should be maintained;
and where a surplus of small branches in
the interior are appearing, giving the tree
a bushy or a twiggy look, sufficient
number of them should be removed to
allow the others to acquire a full and
vigorous growth. The ordinary mode of
proceeding is to allow the trees to grow
as nature and circumstances may direct
during the summer, and in winter or
spring correct by pruning, etc, any de
fects or deformities that may have arisen.
This is not what we call good culture
". Y Herald.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
Objects i'll Flowing.

One leading object to make mellow
seed bed. A mellow, open, porous soil
has greater absOrptive power than soil
| closely packed. 1t can take in the ele-
ments OF the atmosphere that are essential
to plant growth. A ready admission of
the atmosphere is requisite to absorption,
| while the retentive power of the soil will
depend largely on its composition and its
mechanical condition. The absorbing
power Of the soil is in proportion to its
fneness. The finer and more porous we
make the soil, the greater the power of
absorption. 1t is we'll known that if
water, adulterated with barn manure, be
filtered through fine pulverized clay it is
rendered nearly pure; when drained
through gravel it is less so, ard if sand is
used the change is still less perceptible.
So that the finer we make the soils, the
better will they retain those elements CT
the atmosphere necessary for plant food.
Hence, if we would have our soils absorb
and retain the manure and fertilizers we
put upon them, it is important that we
make them fine and porous. Although
pulverizing the soil is not applying man.
ure, yet it serves materially to aid the
young rootlets in making their researches
for food, and hastens the crop.
A soil may be ever so good and retent-
i've, what we call strong soil; but I'M
less it is opened up to the light and air
it does not admit the elements of fertility
which the air always contains. Breaking
the stubble and reducing the mass of the
surface soil to fineness enables the rains,
the dews and the air to penetrate them in
something the same way as healthy and
sound lung admits the air to purify and
oxygenate the blood An open and por-
Gus soil is therefore about as important
for the health of the plant as a healthy
lung is to the general health of a human
being.
Another important object in blowing is
to mix and deepen soils. 1t often hap
pens that the surface soil is sandy and the
subsOil clay, or the surface soil COM
posed mainly of vegetable loan and the
subsoil wanting. Now it is important
that these soils be mixed and made deeper
and changed to proper fneness before
they are fit to give sustenance to the
young plant, and give more extensive
range to the young rootlets. The depth
to which land should be plowed should
be varied according to circumstances.
We would not, however, favor the prin-
ciple of turning up large amount of sub
soil at once, but at each successive plOw-
ing gauge the pillow so that it may remove
and bring to the surface about one incn
more in depth than at the previous plow-
ing; this will add an amount of subsoil to
the surface equal to 100 loads of thirty
bushels each, to be converted into surface
SOIL and this operation should be re-
peated till the required depth is obtained.
Massachusetts Pl0ug7tnaGn.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
Hard Woods and Their Destruction.

THE steady advance in the price of hard
wood lumber for some years may be taken
as pretty good evidence that the available
supply is decreasing at a rapid rate, or
that the demand is increasing faster than
facilities are furnished to put it in the
market. There is no room to question
the first proposition, however, for let any
one travel in almost any direction in the
Northwestern States, where twenty years
ago were fine forests of hardwood tim Der,
and he will no longer doubt the fact that
a very large portion Of such forests have
been depleted of this wooded wealth.
The ak of the pioneer has been called
a great civilizer," but it has, at the same
time. been a despOiler of untold riches in
the hands of injudicious or thoughtless
men It is true that hundreds of men
have hewn down the primeval wilderness
and carved out homes in the deep forests,
but in almost every case they have done
so with scarcely thought or a care about
the value of the timber which fell before
their ax-strokes. They selected their sites
for their dwellings and their " ciearings"
upon considerations into which the rela-
tive or prospective value of different
kinds of wood did not enter. Their
" slashings" took no account of varieties
or kinds of wood, and walnut, cherry,
bird's-eve maple, etc, were sacrificed in
discriminatory with beech, elm or poplar.
A tree, no matter OF what kind, was an
enemy to be got rid of; and thus hundreds
OF thousands, yes, millions, of feet Of the
choicest hardwood varieties of timber
were destroyed in the CONGREGATIONS of
the "wind-row." Many of the men who
acted so unwisely lived long enough to
see and regret this improvident waste of
what would have proved a very important
source Of profit to them. The @clearingsn
might very often have been located where
the sacrifices would have been less and
the ultimate benefits infinitely greater.
Now, this may recall the story of the
milkmaid, or It's moral, but it NAV not be
altogether proftless; for the same thing is
still going on in some of the newer Dor.
tions of the wood regions OF the North
west; and if those who are pursuing a
policy so suicidal do not desire to repine
over short-sighted and improvident de-
struction Of valuable resources, let them
take warning and preserve their hard
wood timber.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
How Humming-Birds Fight.

1t two birds fOraging come together,
they usually fight; one drives the other
away, and then goes on feeding as if
nothing had happened, Mr.. Gosse says: " If
two veyain humming- are about the
moringa-tree, one will fly off and suspend
himself in the air flew yards distant; the
other presently shoots off to him; and
then, without touching each other, they
mount upward with strong, rushing
wings, perhaps for 500 feet. They then
separate, and each shoots diagonally
toward the ground, like ball from a
rifle, and, wheeling around, comes up to
the blossoms again, and sucks as if it
had not moved away at all. The figure
of the smaller humming birds on the
wing, their rapidity, their arrowy course,
and their whole manner of flight, are en-
tirely those Of an insect; and one who
has watched the flight of a large beetle,
or bee, will have very good idea of one
Of these tropic gems, painted against the
sky" Again he says: 81 once wit
messed a combat between two mango
humming birds, which was prosecuted
with much pertinacity, and protracted to
an unusual length. They chased each
other through the labyrinth of twigs and
flowers till, an opportunity occurring, the
one would dart with fury upon the other,
and then with loud rustling of their
wings they would twirl together round
and round, until they nearly came to
earth. At length an encounter took
place pretty close to me, and perceived
that the beak of the one grasped the beak
of the other, and, thus fastened, both
whirled round and round in their perpen-
dicular descent till when very near the
ground they separated; and the one
chased the other for about a hundred
yards, and then returned in triumph to
the tree. Sometimes they would sus-
pend hostilities to suck few blossoms,
but mutual proximity was sure to bring
| them on again, with the same result. In
their tortuous and rapid evolutions
the light from their ruby necks would
now and then flash in the sun with gem
like radiance. The war lasted fully an
hour and then | was called away from
the post of observation POpugar Science
| HOuthZU for ,J1i[U
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
Br1gandage in Italy.

We hear much of "sunny Italy" and
strangers dream much of the pleasure of
travelling there, examining the ruins left
by the Romans, and of feasting on the
beautiful paintings and sculptures of
those old artists whose works are source
of constant despair to our modern paint
ers and sCulptOrs. There is, however, q
shady side to this brilliant picture of the
imagination, as the following narrative,
extracted and translated for the Woon-
socket Or. 1) Patriot, from the Italian
correspondence of the Independence Beige,
a journal published in Brussels, in Bel
GUM, will fully show:
"The last month the Baron Porcari,
travelling in the province of Terracina,
was one beautiful day captured by five
brigands, two of whom were very famous,
named PasQuale and Leona, clad in the
traditional costume OF Fra DiavOlO and
Marco Spada, masked and armed to the
teeth. The Baron was seized, gagged,
his eyes bandaged, and placed on a horse,
and after a journey of twenty-four hours,
scarcely interrupted, they made him enter
a kind of country house, where he would
remain prisoner, at least till he paid the
sum of 10000 ounces, Immediately re-
duced to 5000 about $4,000 francs), which
was the sum fixed for his ransom. The
Baron declared he would not pay it; they
made him go out of the house and put
him on the road again. This time they
stopped before a cavern. They made the
Baron enter there, and demanded anew The
ransom to the above amount, not leaving
him ignorant that if he did not pay The
5000 ounces he would be abandoned
there, and must die of hunger, and NJ
person could discover him there and sue
cor him. The Baron no longer hesitated
and signed d check upon his bank, which
one of tie bandits undertook to go anC
collect Then the rest of the band wen
away, saying to the prisoner that they
would come to deliver him when they
should have received the money.
The Baron Porcari was then LET
alone IN the cavern, which they had care
tully closed again. Nevertheless after
most painful labor, after incredible efforts
ne succeeded IN making an opening sufi
clently large to give him passage, an(
toward nIghtfal1 he was free.
After having walked some time b
found himself at the railroad station O
Goccapalumba, and he was able to arriv
at Terracina. Here he was recognize,
and gladly received. He fastened 10 in
quire of his banker, residing at Naples
if his check for the 6SNO0 francs bal
been presented and paid. The banke
responded that the check had not bee
presented, but that if it was they woul
cause the arrest of the bearer of it. In
mediately the Baron gave an order b
telegraph to honor the check and to di
turb no person.
"This resolution will astonish onl
those who are ignorant of the cons
ouences to which the Baron would e
pose himself in acting otherwise. Il
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
After-Dinner Recreation on Vermont
Farm.

A CORRESPONDENT of the Burlington
Press and Herald relates the following
pleasing incident of lite on Vermont
farm, in the course of communication
urging farmers to read more books: q
remember q month or two of summer,
once upon a time, spent at farm house
in Vermont, where Dickens 'Pickwick
Papers were read aloud at the dinner
table. ct was in having too; so that
know these things can be done in farm
houses at any time and nobody come to
grlefJ The reading began when the
table was being cleared Tor dessert, and
continued for an hour or two. l remem-
Der well the enthusiastic laughter with
which Mr.. Pickwick's ridiculous adven-
lures and Sam Weller's drelleries were
greeted. l do not believe that inimitable
book was ever more thoroughly appre-
ciated or enjoyed. I had tried to read
the work once by myself and had found
it so stupid that I laid it aside; but in
this sympathetic audience, with a capital
reader, who entered spiritedly into all
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02

This wanton destruction of woods
which possess 50 much intrinsic vaIua
has had very much to do with the annra
cIatlon in prices referred to at the onfset
OF this article, and as these woods become
scarcer the prices will advance still more
The consumption in the legitimate wants
OF trade is increasing, also, every wear
and while the demand will draw more
largely upon the resources of the forest
and these will be annually shortened If
is question-and a very important one
how long will they last? Certainly
not always, and while we shall not al
tempt to answer the question at this tirse
having no data upon which to make an
estimate, we may suggest that it is a mat
ter upon which not only those of TODAY
who have a personal interest, so far as
business is concerned, may proftably be-
stow some attention, but one also upon
which every thoughtful man who looks
to the future will do well to ponder. One
generation Of men owe something to DOS
terity. Should we go on, blindly and
selfshly ignoring the requirements of the
future?-C0r. Northeastern Lllm6e7nlaz.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
in breaking down and disintegrating the

in breaking down and oisintegrating the
soil.
We think that too little importance has
been given to this question of shading the
soil. We have ALWAYS believed, and have
pracIced upon the belief, that a naked
talIOw will not realize more than half
the benefit that would have been obtained
If the land had been kept shaded; for in
the comparatively cool place next the
earth and about the foliage condensation
is constantly going on, and Of course there
is constant though slow deposition of
nitrogen in its various combinations as
found in the air. We all know that IN
der buildings or whefe the soil is Gov
cred, these elements of fertility are rap
idly accumulated, and thence we may
learn a valuable lesson in the practical
application of science to agriculture.
But while the soil is increasing in fer
tility by this means it is only one of the
means used. The crops are constantly
drawing nourishment from the soil, and
manufacturing it into other crop food in
its most valuable state when decayed 1t
is also acting mechanically as divisor
to the soil; is furnishing the much-needed
humus which, again, is constantly taking
up and silently manufacturing from the
elements the pabulum from which other
crops are to feed. Repeated plowings
mix all together, render the soil triable,
and the fertile surface is left just as it
should be to give sure and constant re-
wards to those whose sagacity prompts
them to take advantage of the means
which nature has placed before them.
Such progressive farmers reap abundant
harvests by the exercise of tact and judg-
ment in their calling.-Wes RurGl.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
How to Raise Flax.

1T is OF eminent Importance that flax
grower should understand beforehand
what is to be done, how it should be Der
formed, and what should be avoided, in
the management and preparation of the
soil. When fax is raised for the fiber
chiefly, nothing but flax should be allowed
to occupy the ground Hence, grass,
weeds and other crops growing among
flax must be avoided. A smooth and even
surface of the ground where flax grows
is of great Importance when harvesting
the crop. Hence, clods, sOds, tussOcks of
grass half decayed, and numerous hollows
should be avoided The seed should be
of prime and uniform quality and be put
into the soil at a shallow and uniform
depth, so that there may be satisfactory
uniformity in the length of the stems.
When part of the seed is barely COW
cred and another portion is buried by the
feet OF heavy team several inches deep
the flax will be of unequal height and
will not mature uniformly. Hence teams
should never be allowed to travel on land
where faXseed has been sowed, unless
the surface be so compact that the seed
Will not be buried more than one inch in
depth. The seed must be sowed with
uniform evenness or the fiber will be of
variable quality. The foregoing are the
chief essentials. Now, then, the all-im-
p0rtant question is, how to do the work.
The cultivatOr has been told what to do
times without number. But how to do it
is part of t1ax-raising which has never
seemed to be worthy Of the notice of
writers on flax culture.
Most writers have told us to choose a
rich, lOamY soil for flax. But when a
farmer has not square rod of loan on
his entire farm such counsel will tend to
bewilderment. Flax can be raised on
any soil where fair crops of the cerealia,
red clover and grass will grow. The
primary disederatum is a mellow and
smooth seed-bed. This must be prepared
with agricultural skill. 1t will never do
C to hog over" field in the cut.and-cover
style of blowing. If the seed is to be
sOwn on sod ground it must be plOwed in
a neat, smooth and plowmanlike manner.
Then the surface should be rolled to
press the furrow slices down evenly, after
which it should be narrowed two, three
or four times, or until there is a depth of
two or three inches of mellow soil. The
seed may then be sowed and covered with
a brush harrow, drawn by one or two
men. If the ground is heavy and disposed
to be lumpy, let it be plowed late in the
outulh1J ~ IHdI CfCl ClOo Will NC It.
duced to mellow condition before
spring. When the land is sufficiently
dry to be worked in the spring let
it be narrowed smoothly, rolled, if
at all lumpy, the seed sowed and covered
with brush harrow. Let the surface On
the field be made as smooth and mellow
as a carrot-bed before the faxseed is put
in. Then, if brushed in, the crop will
be of uniform growth, and Will yield
much more of both seed and fiber per
acre.-N 7. Herald.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
The Approaching Comet.

Prof. Swift, the American discOvercr of
the new comet, now approaching the sun
and earth, writes that it Will arrive at
periheliOn (nearest the SUM and perigree
(nearest the earth) about the 1st of
August. He sees nothing to prevent its
being very conspicuous and beautiful
object IN the western sky during the
months Of July and August 1t is now
situated at one o'clock in the morning
directly beneath the pole star. and about
twenty-five degrees from it, and is just
visible to the naked eye. With an opera
glass 1t can be easily seen as a haZy, neb
ulOus mass with a bright point little at
one side Through his telescope of four
and half inch aperture, six feet focus
it presents a tail filling the whole field
with low power Of thirty-six. So di-
rectly toward Us is it moving it seems al
most to stand still, its slight deviation
from 1t giving an apparent motion toward
Beta, Ursa Major. 1t is now visible all
night, but will soon be only in the early
hours Of the evening. If at the time of
It's nearest approach to the earth the
moon should be absent, we may expect,
from present indications, to be treated
with a cOmetary display which may rival
the transit of Venus in popular as well
as in scientific interest The comet will
be brightest on the evening of Aug. 3,
being then 245 times as bright as at the
time of discovery, while now it is only
five and One-half times as bright, and as
the moon will be absent it will be sub
jected to spectroscopic analysis under
circumstances more favorable than may
occur again in many years. 1t will then
be about five degrees from Denabola, the
brightest star in Leo.-SyracuSo (N. ~
TO7JyJ0I
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
Abby Smiths Cows.

It will be recollected that the COWS be-
longing to the two Smith sisters, Of Glas-
tOnbury, Conn, were seized by the au-
thorities and put up at auction, because
the owners refused to pay their taxes on
the ground that there should be no taxa
ton without representation. The cows,
however, were bid in by friends of the
ladies; but the event has been cOmmem-
grated in a singular way. Miss Emma
V Hallett, an admirer of the Smith sis
tiers, visited them some months ago, and
took quantity of hair from the tails of
the famous Attorneys. With this slight
material Miss Hallett, as a labor of love,
has made two bouquets, representing jas
mine, daisies, cowslips and buttercups,
each bunch being tied with streamers of
black ribbon, with the motto No Taxa
ton Without Representation" One bOu-
quet she sent to the sisters, and the other
is for sale at bazaar now open in Hart
ford For this truly astonishing gift the
grateful Smiths returned the following
letter of thanks:
GLASTONBURY, June s, 1874.
Our Dear Friend Miss Hallctt:
How can we express our thanks to You for such
wonderful specimen of skill? We are sure this
beautiful present ought to recompense us if any
neys, without any faults of theirs held in durance
vile seven days.. driven to the sign post to be sac
rifced to the highest bidder.
ABBY SMITH AND SISTER.
The cows continue to switch their tails
in the most natural manner, Just as
though nothing had happened.-Syr0cuSe
(N. " Journal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02

No school, whatever may be its scho-
lastic merits, is fit for youth that is not
provided with these Two essentials to ease
of posture, the chair or seat with back,
and a desk or form that can be raised or
lowered as the height of the pupil may
require. A larger liberty of posture and
movement, within Of course the limits of
decorum, should be allowed to children
in school. They ought not to be too Sc
verely drilled according to any perpen-
dicuIar, rectangular or other mathemat-
ical idea of propriety, but permitted to
assume often the waving lines of grace
and ease TO which nature inelines them
HarDer's BdzGr.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
LITTLE By LITTLE.

LITTLE by little the drops descend,
Pattering 'gainst the pane:
Little by little. with rhythmic beat,
Faster comes down the rain.
Little by little. but not for long,
Soon in torrents they fall;
Fiercer the blast and louder the roar,
Darker the clouds DER all.
Little by little the raindrops cease.
The dark clouds break away;
The sunshine comes with gladdening beams.
And cheers the lingering day.
Little by little we float along
On life's smooth. pleasant stream:
Our sun is bright and our way is clear,
Our life's Joyous dream.
StOrm-cIOuds may sometimes darken our way
We all have many cares:
But hope soon brightcns our path again,
And wipes away our tears.
Little by little, little by little,
We float 50 quickly on:
IT'LL Death. our pilot. comes at last,
And then earth's life is done.
Hearth and Home.