davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05
Culture of the Chestnut.

One Of the best trees 10 plant for pro
fit is the chestnut When properly car
ed for, it grows rapidly and will soon
bear nuts enough to afford full rcmuner-
alton for all outlay. The culture IL
simple, and no one who raises trees for
profit should neglect the sweet chestnut
The seeds may be planted either in
fall or spring; but il il usually better to
wait till spring. as they are frequently
thrown ont Of the ground by the frost
or eaten by mice when fall planted
One thing is Indispensable for success
the nuts must not be allowed to dry.
As soon as they fall from the tree they
should be planted or mixed with moist
sand and kept in cellar till time for
planting in the spring, More failures
arise from allowing the nuts to dry than
from any other cause. The nuts should
be planted in good, mellow soil and COW
cred about two inches deep. A slight
mulch Of straw or manure will be Of
great benefit in preventing a hard crust
from forming.
Unless the cultivator is near where
the chestnuts are grown and can be per-
fectly sure of getting fresh seeds, we
would advise purchasing one-year-old
trees from nursery rather than endeav-
oring to raise them from the nuts. The
one-year-old trees can be purchased at
very reasonable figures, and usually il
will be better to order them from the
nursery than to run the risk Of buying
and planting the seeds. For timber or
for nuts the young trees should be plant
ed in rows eight feet apart each way
This will give $50 trees to an acre. The
land should then be planted with corn.
as this will give shade and protection 10
the young trees, and keep the ground
cultivated and free from weeds till the
trees are Of sufficient age to take care Of
themselves. When the trees begin 70
crowd each other take out every altern-
ate tree, and in after years repeat the
process, 20 as to give each tree the nee
essary room. Chestnut trees require but
little il any pruning, and the moat that
should be done is to shorten in a few OF
the irregular branches.-LR Rural World.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05
An AnecdOte of Mrs. G. w. P. Custis.

A correspondent of the Alexandria
Sentinel, relates this anecdote of the
mother of the late Mrs. r. E. Lee:
we'll remember the following Incl
dent as related by Col. Roberdeau him
self:
1t was his custom to visit darlington"
on Sundays to chat with his old friend,
Custis, and on one occasion, he spoke in
very high terms of a spy-glass he had
in his Office and boasted of the great dis
tance at which he could discern small
things.
Mrs. Custis, being a very religions, as
well as a most excellent woman in all
respects, remarked that she would like
to test the power of his "glass," and pro
posed that she should place at a con
spicuous point in Arlington a paper on
which would be written by her certain
words.
The gallant Colonel caught at the
idea, and the arrangement was made fol
the next morning at 10 o'clock.
AS soon as that hour arrived, the Col
onel placed his glass for observation, all
eager to see what the amiable lady had
written.
He read, in legible hand, as follows
"Not at home on Sundays"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05
A Varied Agriculture.

Every years experience more COM
pletely demonstrates the wisdom of a
varied agriculture. The farmer who de-
pends mainly upon one crop, although
that may be the most important one
grown, will find, every few years, that
the supply of that product will exceed
the demand so much that il will fall in
price, below the cost of production and
sale. We use the latter term consider
ately, because We are aware that the pro-
ducer pays a large commission for the
sale of its products. All the difference
between the price received by the farm-
er and that paid by the consumer, after
deducting the legitimate cost of hand
ling, storage and transportation, may be
set down as cost of selling.
Take the important product, wheat.
We think that large majority Of the
farmers, East as we'll West, will agree
with us that the price this year is too
low to pay the cost of production. 1t
may be said that the price of wheat is
exceptionally low this year, because the
yield is good all over the world. Yes.
that is trne; the breadth of wheat sown
is so great that a good crop. universally
o. generally, will so reduce the price
that large share of the growers must
produce it at great loss.
Take another product-apples. In
years when the orchards of the country
yield fair crop, the prices are too low
to afford any profit to the producer, and
farmer who depends mainly on his ap-
pie crop for income will be likely to
find that his income falls considerably
under his expenditures in such years
We think farmers snffer much less from
glut of apples than from an over pro-
duction of any of the leading cereals, be-
cause but few have a large proportion of
their farms in orchards.
Undoubtedly it is better for the world
that so great breadth should be sown
in bread-stuffs, that a small yield per
acre shall not result in scarcity, and
cause suffering or starvation, but the in
stinct of self preservation should induce
farmers to so economic in farming that
the failure or the over production of
any leading crop shall not result dIsas-
trousIy to their interests.
The farmer upon 100 acres, who has a
few acre in wheat, a few in corn, few
in oats, few in barley, and few in
potatoes and roots, and then has a liber-
al pasture and meadow, with four, or
five arces in apples and as many more in
pears, peaches, plums, qninces and cher
ries, keeping a half dozen COWS, and
perhaps twenty-five to forty long-wool
grade sheep, will be likely to come out
better, taking one year with another,
than one who devotes the larger number
of his acres to wheat, or some other lead
ing crop. If any one crop is a failure,
or sells too low to afford any profit, the
other may yield profit enough to pre-
vent any serious loss.-[ American Rural
Home.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

]
To those who have suffered from the
extraordinary cold of the present winter
some account Of the experience Of the
United States signal observers on Mount
Washington will prove ofinterest. The
mean temperature for The month Of Jan
uary was two degrees below zero, nearly
fourteen degrees below the mean for Jan
nary, 1874. The mean Of the highest
and lowest temperature last month was
eight and half degrees below zero, the
highest temperature being twenty mine
degrees above and the lowest forty-six
degrees below zero. The velocity Of the
wind is an important factor, which must
also be taken into account in consider
ing the character Of the weather on
Mount Washington. The greatest volo-
city noted was ia miles per hour, but a
wind storm of the 18th and 10Th reach
ed far greater velocity, but the ane-
mometer was broken, ~ that no record
could be made Of it. This month, up
to the 10Th inst, the mean temperature
has been above zero only three days.
The mean temperature for this time was
nearly nine degrees below zero. The
wind has been driving at a heavy storm
or hurricane velocity all the time, ex-
cept for three or four days, and clouds
have covered the summit nearly the
whole time. Assistant Observer Fred
De Kosher ascended the mountain on
the 18th inst, and when he reached the
summit the wind was blowing at the
rate Of 20 miles an hour, ard the ther-
mometer marked % degrees below zero.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

TREES ON BOUNDARY LINEs.-The
New York Court of Appeals not long
since decided that a man has no right
to the fruit growing upon branches of a
tree overhanging his land where the
trunk of the tree stands wholly upon
the land of his neighbor. But the law
regards the overhanging branches as a
nuisance, and they may be removed as
such; or the owner of the land shaded
may remove them if he is careful not to
commit any wanton or unnecessary de-
struction in SO doing. Where the trunk
of tree stands on the line, the owners
of the adjoining land have joint own
ership in the tree and fruit, and neither
one has the right to remove it without
the consent of the other.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05
Imprisonment in Texas.


A bill has been reported in the Texas
Legislature to authorize tie Governor,
in his discretion, upon the recommenda-
tion of the Directors and Inspector Of the
State Penitentiary, to grant commutation
to convicts sentenced for term Of years
whenever they give sufficient evidence
Of reformation and continuous good con-
duct. The committee which reported
this bill take the humane ground that
convicts are not to be regarded as brutes
to be destroyed as early as possible, but
as human beings, who, under proper
treatment, may in many cases be restor-
ed to usefulness "a respectable members
Of society. A Texas correspondent calls
our attention to this report and the pro-
posed Legislation as evidence that even
in that State, which has 80 often been
spoken ofas outside the limits of civili-
zation, humanitarian impulses find ex-
preston. Texas certainly has great
future, as the enormous immigration
clearly indicates.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05
Stenes of Size.

Some of the blocks of granite used in
the construction of the treasury building
at Washington are the largest ever NOV
ed in this country, and were all carried
from the eastern part of Maine. They
were transported to Washington by wa
ter, and, after their arrival there, moved
by ox-power upon double pulley sys-
tenn, distance of two miles, to the spot
where they were wanted for use. The
work of moving them was performed
with comparative ease, not more than
eight or ten yoke of oxen being employ
ed to move a block of more than seventy
tons weight. The futed pillars, great
number of which are used in the build
ing, are forty feet long and weigh fifty
tons, at least. The largest blocks, thirty
to forty feet square and thirty feet thick
weighed upward of seventy tons. The
| facility with which these large blocks
were moved and fixed in their places
was a source of wonderment, and seemed
to admiring spectators to be the perfec-
tion of mechanical skill and ingenuity.
And yet, how insignificant the achieve
ment when compared with the triumpha
of ancient art. In the foundation of the
great temple of the sun, at Balbec, may
still be seen, even in the second course,
stones which are thirty-seven feet long
and nine feet thick; and under these,
about twenty feet from the ground, three
stones which alone occupy one hundred
and eighty-two feet in length by twelve
in height. These three stones are es-
timated to weigh nine hundred tons
EACH
But we read of an Egyptian idol-tem-
pie, Baris, far surprising this, in which
there was sanctuary composed of a
single block of granite sixty feet square
This is the largest and heaviest stone
mentioned in history.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05
Half-Hardy Trees and Wind Shcl.
Ter.


Every once in while we come across
a statement that this tree or that is not
hardy. There is no doubt that SO far as
temperature is concerned the trees refer
red to will stand all the cold they arc
likely to meet with in the regions refer
red to, but still the trees die.
1t may be as well to remind our friends
who lose their trees that il is not SO
much frost as wind which destroys them.
Death is the result of the whipping out
of the juices of the tree and not by the
freezing of its cells. And it is no proof
that because a tree dies in an exposed
windy place that ''is is not hardy" in
the deponent's latitude. That trees die
under different circumstances, where
they were thought hardy, is no wonder
to those who are familiar with trees.
Indeed, it is rather wonder that SO
many live that do.
Generally it is the tree nature TO be
gregarions. They grow up in forests
thousands together and by mutual pro-
lection hardly know what wind il. The
falling leaves protect the young plants,
so that in the severest winters day one
may go into dense wood and hardly
find frost an inch below the surface. So
that trees growing in the woods have a
double chance. They are kept from
severe waste Of their juices by their
mutual protection from wind, and the
roots, without much hindrance from
frosty ground, draw in moisture all the
winter through and thus easily supply
what little waste there may be.
How different is this from trees
usual fate. Set out alone to battle with
the winds unaided, and with the frost en-
casing every root, 50 that all the moist
ure they can take up has to be first
thawed by their own internal heat from
the frozen ground, why should not large
numbers perish? 1t is not in the nature
Of things to be otherwise, and it shows
rather a limited acquaintance with plant
life when the loss occasions any surprise.
But there is not place in the whole
country but might do we'll. The coolest
place on the bleakest Western prairie,
by thick planting Of shelter belts of
larches or other wind-proof trees, might
have everything we have-everything
we call half hardy-everything in fact
that any reasonable horiculturist could
wish.
To be sure much has been done in this
direction in the West. The agricultural
papers and agricultural writers have
written over and over again as to the
necessity Of shelter belts before much
can be done; but when we read, as we
continually do, Of experiments with
these trees or those, and the conclusions
come to that they are not hardy West"
when we know it is all matter of wind
and not of frost, we see how much more
is to be done in pushing knowledge of
the shelter idea before those regions can
half enjoy the full pleasure of horticul-
ture; and it il in the hope Of reinforc-
ing our Western friends who have la
bored so long in this field that we have
been moved to pen this article.-[Gar-
dener's Monthly.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

THE THISTLE TAx.-The Canada
thistle is gradually working its way west
ward, having now reached Iowa and
Kansas. 1t appeared in Indiana and H.
linois several years ago, but vigorous
measures we're taken on the part of the
States, and the warfare is constantly kept
up. Men are employed at regular wages
to dig and burn the plants, it being in
effectual to leave them on the surface of
the ground to dry and die. Wherever
this thistle gets foothold in a commu-
nifty, the damage is equal to tax of ten
per cent. on all the farming land, at a
fair valuation. 1t is agreed that the
seed was first introduced, and it is still
introduced, in the hay with which fruit
trees are packed. 1t would be better to
raise ones own trees, and have inferior
fruit, than to be thus burdened. Oranges,
agricultural societies, and clubs should
make it an especial business to watch
the Canada thistle.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05
Do Varieties Of PatatOes Change!

Six months ago, if any one had asked
ME if it we're possible that in single
season there could be a radical change
in any given variety of potatoes, I should
without hesitation have answered in the
negative But the results of this seasons
work have somewhat modified my opin-
ions on this subject. The facts in the
case are as follows:
Last spring l sent to Williamstown,
Mass, for one barrel of the Bulkeley
Seeding potatoes, which were advertised
asa frst-class variety, and sold for five
dollars per barrel. They we're duly re-
ceived, and were very large and fine look
ing potatoes. The color was a very dull
white, and there were no indications Of
any other variety being mixed with them.
They were planted on very fair land for
potatoes, and fertilized with the "Agri-
cultural Compound" and ashes, in alter
naterows. They received ordinary field
cultivation. On each side of this varie-
ty planted large red variety of po-
tato. When / came to dig them, TO my
great surprise | found, instead of light
colored potatoes, such as | plar ted and
which 1 expected to find, they were a
bright red color. A very few hills were
found which were as white as any pota-
toes that l ever saw. Neither of them
looked like the one planted. They did
not resemble the seed, more than Ne
gro resembles an Indian. In several
hills of the red ones, and in two or three
of the few hills in which the white ones
grew, found the seed, we'll preserved,
and of the same color that it was when
planted. There was not the slightest
perceptible difference in the seed, but
here were red and white potatoes grow
ing from it. The potatoes were all dry
some weeks ago. As the white ones were
very smooth, and looked finely, I
thought 1 would keep them separate.
Both the white and red ones have been
kept in an open shed exposed to the
light and air. The red ones are still
red, but the white ones have gradually
changed color, and are dull white, and
very clo-ely resemble the seed. 1t would
seem from this that the white ones were
the normal product of the seed planted,
and that the red ones were sport" or
mixture of some kind. Still it does not
seem possible that there could be a mix
ture on so extensive a scale, for the
whole barrel of seed probably did not
produce more than three-fourths of a
bushel of white ones, counting both large
and small, nearly all the crop being red.
Again, except in color, the red ones
more closely resemble the seed than the
white ones, which is a very strange fact
in the case. As to comparison in point
of quality, / cannot say, as ! never saw
the variety, except the one barrel which
planted, and do not remember cooking
any of them.
! 1t seems TO me that this is strange
case. / do not remember reading or
hearing Of any such change as | have
mentioned, and certainly never saw the
like before. 1T any one can offer a rea-
sonable explanation, should be vary
glad indeed to have him do Sex.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

Mrs. Fremont, in one of her pleasant
papers on distinguished people she has
known" pays a merited tribute to the
memory of Kit Carson. The motive of
her article was the false light of fiction
cast upon his name by poet of the
prairie and sierra. He was certainly no
savage rake or ruffler. His domestic
life was as regular and blameless as that
of any deacon in New England. Even
in his resentments he was as sincere and
steady as clock-work. He once said to
Mrs. Fremont, speaking of man who
had treated him unhandsomely, "If ever
/ get the chance 1 will do him an hon.
est injury" A volume could scarcely
give n more vivid idea of the old from
tiersman than this phrase.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

A very hospitable lady, who does not
live over fifty miles from Utica, gave a
party for her friends, among the young
misses and masters, the other evening.
Round dances we're proposed, when the
lady said 81 cannot allow you to have
any round dances. II any Of the boys
wish 20 hug the girls, let them sis down
upon the chairs and go right at Il in
earnest, but-no round dances, mind
your' Wasn't that sensible2
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

The Chief Justice Of Rhode leland
asks the Legislature to reduce his salary
from $4,000 10 $4,000, on the ground
that there ought not to be more than
$500 difference between his compcnsa-
ton and that Of this Associate justices
who get but 81 900. The said Associate,
however, while agreeing with him upon
the main point at issue, are Of opinion
that an equally efficient and altogether
more satisfactory method to obviate the
discrepancy would be to increase their
salaries to $500.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

The Brooklyn Argus says: ave take
pleasure in denying the rumor that the
pension bestowed upon Lord Byron's
old and faithful servant, Falcieri, by
Queen Victoria, has had the effect of al
ienatIng the affections of Mrs. Stowe
from her Majesty. Our distinguished
countrywoman merely observes that
there is no accounting for the caprices
Of royal personages. and reminds us that
there was once a German princess who
upon her death-bed signed codicil
leaving a pension to pet cat"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

David Crockett, after returning home
from his first trip to New York, gave
his backwoods audience his idea Of the
first gentleman in the metropolis "Philip
Home is the most gentlemanly man in
New York, boys, and I'll tell you how |
know it. When he asks you to drink he
don't hand you a glass-he puts the de-
canier on the table, and walks Of to the
window and looks ont until you have
finished" ="
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

A widow, named Mary Shearcr OF
Paterson, who had attained the age Of
los years, died in England on February
Sd. She was a person Of remarkable
yigor Of intellect, and retained the pos
session Of all her faculties till within a
few months Of her death Her descen-
dants consist Of ten children, over one
hundred grandchildren, sixty great
grandchildren, and two great great
grandchildren.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

A New York lecturer on Japan the
other evening stated that it was impos-
sible to swear in japanese. The worst
epithet that you can apply to a man in
japan is to call him hungry devil" A
Baptist missionary attempted to trans
late the New Testament into japanese,
but could find no equivalent for the
word "baptise." In his ignorance of the
language, he used the Japanese word
which means to "soak" and the text
thereof read, "In those days came John
the Soaker," ETC.,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

In the greenhouse Of Mr.. Mansfield, at
Newton, is a white Lamarque rose tree
over twenty years old, covering over 100
square feet OF ground, which has furn-
ished twenty or thirty buds daily since
December Il Is estimated that its yield
for the season will be $500 buds, which
at 50 a hundred, gives a profit Of &225
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

Two San Francisco capitalists recently
bought 1000, 600 acres of land in Oregon
at the rate of 81, gold, per acre.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05

Hickory nuts, $3.50 per bushel flberts lac
per pound, 40 pounds per bushel; Italian chest
nuts, lac per pound, Sc pounds per bushel;
Grenoble walnuts, 15c per pound, 80 pounds per
bushel; pecans, lie per pound, so pounds per
bushel; almonds 35c per pound, IS pounds per
bushel black walnuts, from 75c to S1.25 per
bushel; buttsrnuts, from 81 Is to 81 per bushel
The Red Cloud chief., 1875-02-17

A full assortment of ladies' shoes,
all the latest varieties at
G. 4 Co.'S,
-WANTEp.-Every one to know,
that Berenzeu & Co. are selling of
their entire stock of Groceries. Goth
ing Boots, Shoes &C.. at cost. This
l. no humbug.
ladies, call at D. & Cos, and get
a nice dress pattern for &c. per yard.
Granscrs call and see if Il. Il.
Sherer, amt selling Drugs and Paints,
cheaper than any other house in the
valley, all others know It. livery
thirg waruted.
DR.. Thos. B. Williams wishes to
say that all who are indebted to him
must call and settle by Jan. lst. eth
er with the cash, or by giving . note.
l9-td.
Initial, Tinted raperand envelopes
at the Post Office. 24wi
School crayous for S5ct a box at the
Post. Office. eiwl
fyou want cheap reading 60 tc
the Post Of5ce. 24w4
The Red Cloud chief., 1875-02-17

Notice.

TIE whom il may concern. All per-
IONS are herby notified that the NJ. Z.
Il. Il. Company have become tired Of
this wholesale slaughter upon their
timber, IN the Republican Valley.
And from this time forward We
propose to protec, our " Interests,
and by so doing We think We sh IL
protec; the best Interests of the set
tiers. As We are convinced that there Is
no timber in the Valley to spare.
Especially to be drawn on, ofthe State
or cut into lumber. or in any manner
wasted. And We hope all good citi-
zens viii consider these matters care
fully. aud lend Us their influence TO
protect what timber there may be left
}. II. LoTIRID6E,
Land Com'r. N. Z. Railway.
o2nae