davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24
Too Much Toll.

\ Kansas subscriber makes the
following statement and inquiry.
Having recently sent to mill a
grist of clean, choice wheat-for
the grinding of which | paid in
cash. received in return for each
bushel sent twenty-four pounds Of
flour, nine pounds of bran, and five
pounds of shorts, being an aggre-
gate return of only thirty-eight
pounds per bushel, and showing a
shrinkage of no less than twenty
two pounds. Would you have the
kindness to state what should have
been the amount and proportions
of the products received?
"Choice clean wheat" should
weigh sixty pounds per bushel.
The shrinkage should not exceed
thee pounds. A well-constructed
mill Will make forty-five pounds Of
good family flour out Of sixty
pounds of good wheat-will make
three pounds of shorts and nine
pounds of bran. A mill less COM
plete in its structure SHOULD make
the same, or ven more, in the az
gregate. Imperfect grinding or
boiling will reduce the yield of
flour, but will add to the shorts
and bran. Colonel J. A. Stewart,
of Georgia, one of the best millers
IN the United States, a man fifty
years IN the business, informs us
that, in his experience with custom
mills-grinding for the one eighth
part-the yield of flour per meas
ured bushel was from thirty six to
forty two pounds, depending on
condition and quality Of the wheat,
and upon "the number and guam
tlty of bolting-cloth, fine or course"
lie adds that "the aggregate WELD
from sixty poun0s of choice whea
should never be less than ~ifty-seyen
pounds"
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24
Hauling out Manure.

For land that Is TO be manurcd IN
the spring. the manure may be
hauled ont upon it in the winter,
piled III large heaps, say a load IN
each. then have them put IN good
shape, and compactcd on the sides.
and then cover them up with earth
lightly, just enough to prevent the
manure from dryingo on the outside,
and the escape Of ammonia. When
the land Is to be plowed the ma
nure can be spread, and time used
in hauling it, if deferred till spring,
is thus saved. Farmers must use
their brains, as well as their hands,
in successful farming by planning
their work in advance. In winter
their teams may be idle, or partial
" so; and their owners and hired
help may be taking things easy.
Now, why not haul out what ma
nur IS ready: Cline is money"
we all know; and il any spring work
can be done in winter it is SO much
clear gain.
1t is customary to do all repair
ing of fences in the spring, but why
not repair them II winter, when
one can spare the time: The winds
Of winter may displace a board OF
rail here and there, but a few hours
labor will repair a mile of fences in
the spring when it is put in good
order III the fall. New fences NAV
be built IN the fall as well as in the
spring. In brief, hundreds of dol
lars may be saved on farms by do
ing work in winter that is usually
left till spring, and then but half
done for the want of time.-FurM-
eT's Friend.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24
Co. II is the Cheapest Food.

Speaking of food for poultry,
the UorM says that corn is the
cheapest that we can use in the
main, and it is very good to fatten
fowls upon-young stock especially.
But when we say "feed corn we
mean that this article should be fed
in the right way. MAN cannot
live by bread alone" we read in the
good book. SO fowls cannot live
upon whole corn alone, though it
be never SO good.
When this common grain is used,
it should always be crushed, or
cracked, il fed dry. If in ground
meal this should usually be scalded
and mixed half and half with
turnips and potatoes, boiled. This
is a satisfying and excellent mess
for daily morning use. But to
throw whole corn to the poultry
twice or three times a day and turn
away with the idea that you have
done your duty toward your stock
is a very grossly mistaken opinion.
Vary the feed. Give one-third
cracked corn or meal, with two
thirds cooked vegetables, and other
sound grains-as wheat, barley,
oats, etc. Thus you will feed
economically, judiciously and pro-
fitably, in the long run.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24
Driving Rats Away Without
Poison.

We know of three methods: First,
the old French plan: this is follow
ed chiefly in Paris by men who
make it a special business. They
take a deep tub, with water on the
bottom and a little elevation in the
middle like an island, on which is
only place for just one rat to sit on.
The trap is covered and has a large
balance-valye, opening downward.
On the middle of tits valve a piece
of fried pork or cheese is placed.
and when the rat walks on to it to
get the cheese the valve goes down.
drops the rat in the water and goes
back IN position. A road is made
from the rat-hole to the top Of the
tub by means of pieces of board
rubbed with cheese, so as to make
the walk attractive to the rats. In
the course of a night. some ten.
twenty, or even more rats NAV 90
down, and if the island was not
there, they would be found most
all alive IN the morning quietly
swimming around; but the proyis-
ION Of the little island saves
the trouble of killing them,
because their egotistic instinct for
preservation causes them to fight
for the exclusive possession of the
island. on which, in the morning,
the strongest rat is found in solita-
~ possession, all the others being
Killed and drowned around him.
Second, the New York plan. IN
vented by one of the friends. The
floor near the rat-hole is covered
with a thin layer of a most canstic
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24
Toledo, O..
For the FARMER AND MECHANIC.
PROF. FAIRCHILD'S OPINION.

You ask how | like living in
North Carolina? / answer very
much indeed. After a five years
residence here, | an fully con
firmed in my previous good opinion
of the State. And | do not hest
tate to urge others to settle here,
provided they seek a delightful eli
mate. And wish to assist IN de-
veloping a State for which Nature
has done as much, as for any State
in the Union. What kind Of peo-
pie do you want? ! answer, Far
mers, mechanics and teachers. Me-
chanics with capital to build facto-
tories, and work up the great yari-
ETY. of products, that we can pro-
duce from our soil and mines. We
want some capital, and a great deal
Of energy and industry.
These qualities combined and
applied, will produce results five
times as apparent, and remunera-
tive az II the North. | can speak
more particularly of Farming, or
rather of Gardening, as this has
been my business since coming here,
from Binghamton, n. Y. five years
ago. | am running a truck farm,
near Raleigh, and grow fruit, flow
ers and vegetables for the Raleigh
market. We grow nearly every
variety of fruit and vegetable that
is named IN u seed catalogues,
and most varieties of flowers, at
tain their highest perfection here,
so that their cultivation IS a perfect
delight.
You ask if | have been success
full. | answer; Yes, and no. Not
in saving money for | have made a
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24

potassa. When the rats walk on
hi, it makes their feet sore; these
they lick with their tongues, which
makes their mouth sore, and the
result IS that they shun this local.
". not alone, but appear to tell all
the rats IN the neighborhood about
II. and eventually the house ls n
tirely abandoned By them, notwlth-
stand the houses around are full OF
rats. Third, the Dutch method.
This IS said to be used successfully
in Holland. We have, however,
never tried it. \ number OF rats
are left to themselves In a very large
trap or cage. with no food whatey-
err: their craving hunger Will cause
them to fight. and the weakest Will
be beaten BY the strongest. After
a short time the fight Is renewed
and the next weakest Is the victim,
and SO it goes on till one strong rat
is left. When this has eaten the
last remaining of any Of the others,
it is set loose; the animal has now
acquired such a taste for rat hesh
that he is the terror Of all ratdom,
going about seeking what rat he
may deyour. In an incredibly short
time the premises will be abandoned
bv all other rats, which will not
come back before the cannlbal rat
has left or died. -NQHufact1rer.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24
Shrinkage.

Farmers are IN doubt whether to
take twenty cents for their corn this
fall, says the Io,ra Register, direct
from the field, or rely upon getting
thirty cents net spring. After corn
is dry enough for cribbing It will
shrink about n fifth by the next
May. Unless well protected from
the vermin they will destroy from
five to ten per cent. The interest
of the money from the sales Install
would be five per cent. These three
items make thirtv-fiye per cent. IN
shrinkage, depredations and inter
est. The shrinkage on wheat IS
abo-.t even per cent, and depreda'
tons of yermin, three per cent. ;
interest five, making altogether
fifteen per cent, 50 that elghty-five
cents this fall is better than one
dollar next June. The shrinkage
on potatoes is light, but the loss by
frost and rot l. heavy, and it IS
better to take thirty three per cent.
less in the tall than the spring.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24

Hoe CHoLERA.-I have lost nine
ty ESSEX hog Of different ages, since
September first, with what is term
ed hog cholera. lit is contagious,
| wish to ask your numerou or
respondents whether my hogs could
have taken the disease from hogs
passing over the railroad from the
great hog producing States Of In
diana and Illinois, where the disease
prevails to an alarming extent. My
farm is located one mile from one
Of the main thoroughfares to the
east from these States. My hogs,
for the previous five months, had
only clover and bluegrass pastures
to live on. | know Of no local
cause for the disease, unless they
contracted it by wallowing in strong
sulpher water and muck, which
they did to a great extent during
July, August and September. The
disease to my knowledge, has never
been in the neighborhood or yiclni-
ty before, and my hogs are the on
ly cases up to date IN this country.
IL. l.. II.
Toledo. 9.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24
The Burt Oat.
Editor Southern PlqnfatiOU.

Editor Southern Plantation:
| see IN the Plantation that you
request those who have raised this
oat to give the result of their ex-
perlments. | could not get seed last
spring, but was in Mr.. Burt's farm
In February, while he was gowing.
l was sowing at the same time a
very excellent variety of rust-proof
oat, on much stronger land. His
oats grew much taller and were
ready to harvest fifteen or twenty
days before mine. l think it the
best oat for this country that has
been introduced, and particularly
for thin lands.
A. T. GOLDSMITH.
Port Deposit, Ala.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24
Winter Management Of Breeding
Swine.

We give a few general rules for
the direction of the young breeder,
and regret that We have not space
to assign the reason for each:
FOOD.
1st. Make a kettle of corr mush
every day, and COVERT with boards
and blankets to keep it hot.
I'd. Put a bushel and a half Of
bran or light shorts into a kerosine
barrel, add four pals of hot mush.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24

one pint Of salt and fill with well
water. This IS a breakfast Tor
twentv-four large sows. or thirty
SIX Young sows. For Young sows
ALWAYS use the shorts.
81. After the slop give each Il
imal from two to four ears OF dry
corn. a. il seems 70 demand.
4th. Repeat the process at /
O'Clock 7. NJ. and, 4, SOC a. they
are through put up for the night.
9TH. Ia case Of quite young pigs,
cook stronger shorts with the mush
and feed oftener.
9Th, If an animal i not inclined
to exercise: feed coarser food and
less OF it, and, pursue the same
course if the animal shows weak
ness in the back. If the weakness
continues, give q teaspoonful OF
Epson salts ana ginger with a
little salt petre daily.
eth. The morning meal should
be fed in the building where they
sleep.
Sth. Never feed on the north
side Of the pens, nor IN any place
exposed to the wind.
9Th. Notice how each animal eats
and drinks.
DIVISION.
Do not allow more than six hogs
to sleep III one nest; and, if posi-
BILE. do not feed more than that
number together.
1st. 1t avoids ''piling up" IN the
nest.
I'd. 1t enables the herdsman to
give his individual attention to
each animal.
Sd. 1t secures an even condition
Of the whole herd.
1st. The pens should be high, SO
as to be ventilated without admit
ting strong currents of air.
I'd. They should be large enough
to provide a place for feeding and
sleeping.
Sd. The nest must be kept clean
and dry by cleaning and changing
the straw every alternate day and
by keeping out the storm.
4th. 1t is better to floor the nest
but the wind must be kept from
under.
9TH. Keep the swine out Of their
nests during the day, unless the
weather is intensely cold.
EXERCISE.
1st. Turn the swine out for ex-
ercise at 10 o'clock A.. NJ; and I'M
less very cold or stormy, keep them
out till 4 P. H..
I'd. The place for exercise should
be well protected on the north and
the west.
Sd. Do not let any hog remain
at the pens without taking any ex-
ercise.
1st. Breeding males should be
fed the same as sows; except in
place Of dry cor give all the oats
they will eat.
2. Give a small yard for exercise;
and # he will not notice a SOW, give
him more exercise.
Sd. Never allow the male to run
with sows, nor worry with a SOW.
4th. In case of a very choice an
imal keep some cheaper male for a
trial animal.
9Th. One service is sufficient.
9th. After coupling, shut the
male in his pen, and see that he
has a good nest.
9TH. A SOW, in heat, should be
separated from her mates before
and after coupling.
Sth. Allow twenty-one DAYS for
retain; and from eight to ten days
less than four months, for the pc
Rod of CESSATION.
9th. Make a careful memoran-
dunn of all important transactions.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24
JANUARY "a, ISIS

| will conclude hy saving tina. p
hove great faith in the fnturo ~,
the Old North State. | have ,.
my lot with her for life ~ Y.
And | again urge those sec
new homes. TO come with us.
share IN the bountIcs THAT ara
store for those who are .nGu<tr.-.
and willing 10 work.
{. Il. FAIRCHrIr
Raleigh, y. c., Jan. l4th ISIS
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-12-25
OF the lovely martyr, had dyed his gar

ment.
When next He is seen In the land OF
his birth, above His brow shines the
star that the wise men first saw in the
East, around Him the glory the rhrp.
herds first saw in Judeab, and his ever
green is bright in their reflected splen
dor. Henceiorth, thus baptized aud
glorfied, the namclcss little wandercr
Is known as the Christ Child. Am
every year when tho SHOWS have Gov
cred the PLAN and winter has locked
in ice all nature, He comes amongst
men. He knocks at the doors Of their
hearts. He thaws and melts them,
and opens them, spreads bounteous ia
bles in the palaces oi the rich ami
opens wide their halls TO the homeless
aud the houseIess. IIc kindes warm
warm fires on the cold hearth
stones OF the poor. He drives ont w.ni
and spreads plenty He lights up the
home OF the good aud the cell oi the
convict. He gllds the roofiree OF the
king and peasant alike. lie imparts
To aye his own eternal youth, To infah
cy wisdom more divine than that oi
age, and while the angelic message.
"tlory to God in the highest, peace
on earth, to men good will" rings out
clear on the morning chimes, ol
Christmas as erst by night on Judea's
plains, the treasure house Of all that Is
grand, wise, high, great, rich, precious
or beautiful in the whole universe, or
tho history of ages, is poured out AT
the feet Of the Christ Child, forever re-
newing the scene ut the lowy mangcr
OF Bethlehem.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-12-25
PROFITS OF FARMING.
GENERAL BrrIER TELLS THE DAIRYMEN
THE SECRET OF NATIONAL
PROSPERITY.

From his speech at the New York Dairy Fair.
A. an example of what may be the
profits Of the smaller industries Of farm
ing, which, by the farmers OF the Uni-
ted States are reckoned almost value
less, It is an astonishing fact that in
the year Ut 1866 France exported as
much III value of eggs to England alone
as We exported OF bacon and hams,
one of our cbiet exports Of provisions
in 1863 that is to say, in round mum.
bers, s5 1000 900, while we exported
eggs to the paltry number of 4l2 doz-
ems. No man who has not seen these
tgures, who has not examined the
agricultural productions OF France,
can believe that the 3S 0OOO0V OF
her inhabitants, on a territory so
small as To give only three aud hall
acres to an inhabitant, cond vie, il ag-
ricultural productions, save cotton and
tobacco, with nation like ours, OF
about the same number OF inhabitants,
whose territory gives more than hity
acres to each inhabitant, or hearty sew
,nteen times as much land for cultiva-
tiOn.
Another and more certain test o! tho
distribution OF wealth in France is seen
in this: The population being divided
INTO 9.00O,000 families, allowing four
10 the family. which is nearly the ratio,
900 900 of those families, or 100000
oi people, are in easy circumstances; that
il, able to live without work or business.
Ofthe remaining s 1000, which may
be said to he com, posed oi the indus
trial and working classes, 5000, 900 only
are inhubltants Of the tonws. That Is,
of the Nholc population, two-hiths OF
the people IN France live IN the cities
and three fiiths live in the country.
This gives very surprising result as
compared with England, whore four
flths of the whole people live in towns
and one fifth only in the country. We
have yet no data with which | am ac-
auainted to make like comparison
with this country. There are nearly
6 0U0.000 houses In France, the great.
est part Of them cottages, with small
plots of land. Nearly the whole Of this
number are small ireeholders belong
ing TO their occupants.
After hearing these statistics the
question arises, how are these very
great results posslblc2 What is the
secrctl 1t is the thorough cultivation
of her soil. Of her 1872 100000 acres
Ga 900 900 are arabic l2,000,0 900 only
are in meadows, or, as we say, fields
and grass 5000 600 in vineyards l..
500 900 in orchards and gardens; 2.
$50 900 in miscellaneous crops 20
100000 in wood and forest 100000 in
ponds 20 100000 only may be called
heath or waste lands, the remainder
being for roads, public squares canals
and pleasure grounds-about 1000, ,OOO
acres. Thus it win appear that two
thirds of the area Of France is under
actual cultivation every year. But the
question stil recurs,bo can this be
possible2 The answer is, IL becomes
: possible because OF the minute subdi
! vision OF the land, the small freeholdt
:, into which all France il divided.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-12-25

TuE AMERICAN CoMMUSE.-Dr llol-
land, il, the August number OF Serb
mrs Magazine, discusses calmly aud
logically our commune, and covers
the ground 80 completely that we re-
gret our inability to give the article
entire. The following sentence we
commend To the agitators aud their
blind followers "lhat we have u
'proleiaria' there can now be no ques
ton class that has lost ills good am
bltion, lost its pride Of citizenship, lost
its industry, lost its hope, and IS ready
10 1--we on what II can get Thc traml'r
and deai.beats of the country and city
form the lowest layer Of the proleta
riut but there Is n still larger class
hanging about halfway between them
and respcctability, that are far more
dangerous than they. They arr
men with brains still active, but viii
hands tied by circumstance, and TIED
so tightly that they grow desperate
aud are ready 70 be led into desperate
schemes by the ingenious demagoguc'
who undertake 10 manage them
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-12-25
SPECIAL NOTICE TO TEACHERS.

In order to facilitate and perfect our
enrolling list as early as possible at the
Institute, will all the teachers pre-
pare, on card or paper, before leaving
nome, the following: First Your
name in full. Sccond-The name OF
the school you are teaching, aud the
township or borough in which 1t is l"-
Gated Third--The number OF terms
taught IN the county. Fourth--Num
her Of County Institutes attended, (the
present one included). Place the pa
per or card in a stamped env,lop,
addressed toyourself With this done
ali that will be necessary will be T.
collect the envelopes. These envel
npes will he used. after the close OF thu
Institute for sending out tho ccrtih
Gates.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-12-25

VIII all our teachers make an effort
to reach here in time for the opening
session on Monday. Our instructors
costing us twenty-five dollars day,
will be here to begin their work, and
of course. will draw their pay It no
teachers arc present | hope that wc
may have u iull turnout ut the open
inr ON Monday, as u great deal of i'm
porlant miscellaneous work will be at
tended To-, among which the conditions
upon which professional certificates
will be granted will be announced.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-12-25
LOCAL GEOGRAPHY. y.

we hear mucn Sulu, IN tnthc lutteT
days, with regard 10 the claims of
practical education. The question
which affords Herbert Spencer a sub
ect Tor long and learned essay, viz:
What knowledge is of most worth y
very properly merits the attention OF
every parent who has children TO edu-
cate, and of every young lady or gem
tleman who are required TO educate
themselves.
So much is to be learned, and 80 lit
tie time given for the same, that the
principle ofse!ection must be judicious-
ly used. Children need not be made
acquainted with all that pertains To
Norway or Madagascar, while they
are unable TO give the boundary OF
their own township or county, or To-
cate The principal cities Of their own
State. Aud yet how frequently do we
find, even among those who claim To
he the teachers OF our land, a most Ia
mentable ignorance upon the simplest
matters oi home geography. These
things ought not 81 To be-"
We give below series of questions
r.,a',ns " on'' "' eaJ 1ai"'a' :, ,''.,'l ~ % and
ehl o'a,cs W''i nnu " "ee'", a'u
pr"ntao'e VA','iSo W P''la'o 'o' 'uo.'
p"p.'s similar i'S's ~ q".s''o's .e'P''''
ihg the o'a'c !" "n'o" '"'y NV
QUESTIONS.
l. Bound the township, county, and
State in which you live.
2 Draw maps Of the same, giving
strvamr, railroads, towns aud cities.
3. Give the area in miles aud acres
also population at last census.
4. When, where, and by whom
were they first settlcdg Give incl
dents. f...
8. When was the state admitted IN
to the Union?
6. When was the present Constitu'
ton framed
Z. Name the first Territorial and
the first State Governor.
8. Give name, date, loration, and
history Of battles fought within The
State.
9. Give names OF principal railroads
now completed.
TO- Give, IN the order OF size, the
names and the locations OF cities hav
ing population OF more than l0,Oo0
IL. Name the counties that lie oI
Lake Erie and the OHIO river respec
lively.
IL Name the counties of the West
ern Reserve, and give the history
/. l3. What portion Of the State Is EN-
braccd in the "Black Swamp
II. What Presidents has the Stat'
iuiuished2
10. Name and locate the prlnclpa
educational institutions Give churac
, terirtics.
l6. Describe the public school sys
TEN oi the State.
II. Give the names OF the leading
educational, religious, and politica
, Journals.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-12-25

Left to herself, nature is always
more or less civilized, and delights in
certain refinement; but where tho
axe has cncioachcd upon tho edge OF
the forest, the dead and unsigbtly
limbs Of the pine, which sbc had con
cealed with green banks Of verdurc,
are exposed ~ sight,
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-12-25

Never trust this heart Of thine that
il will be ordered, and kept IN good
frame, " thou carry not always o
strong hand and narrow eye over il.
II once thou let go the bride Of watch.
fitness. il will run out 80 far that II
will be hard to bring IL back again.