davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01
Starting Early Vegetables.

Now IS the time to plant seeds OF to-
matoes, c~ucumbers. melons, &c., SO
that there will be plenty of early vege-
tables for the table in the spring and
early summer. Those yho can purchase
plants from a neighborine grower will,
doubtless, prefer to do SO rather than be
troubled with the boxes and cans in the
kitchen windows. But there are hun
dreds who are not SO fortunately situa-
ted, and having had long experience in
the matter, perhaps | can tell them best
how to plant them.
Cigar boxes, raisin boxes, tin boxes
anything, in fact, that will hold earth
will answer the purpose, and light,
sandy loan is the best soil to be used.
If it is full of humps and very cold, put
it III an old tin pan and bake it for an
hour in the oven. This will kill all the
seeds of weeds and make it crumble
easily in the fingers. Fill up the boxes
and tins with it, and when nearly cold,
press In the seeds with the fingers, put
ting the cucumber and melon seeds
about half an inch under the soil-the
tomato, cauli-hower and cabbage seeds
less than a quarter OF an inch Deep
i IcSS tic SUI ClOSCiN oNCI JIG NCcuS.
Water them so that the soil is well
moistened, and lay pieces of newspaper
over the top of it, and place behind the
stove, or on a warn mantel piece, for
two days, SO as to let the seeds swell,
keeping the paper over them wet.
Then put the pots into the warmest,
%sunnlest window you have, and as the
plants spring up, if you have planted
the seeds too thickly, pull out the
sprouts so that the tomatoes will stand
an inch apart, and cabbages and cauli-
flowers the same. and melons and Gu
cumbers should stand three inches
apart. Give them sun and air, SO that
they will not grow spindling and weak.
If kept In a kitchen window during the
day, the opening and shutting of the
doors, and the steam from the stove,
will give them fresh air and moisture,
but they will also need a little moisture
at the roots. yet not SO much as to damp
them off. 1t is a most desirable thing
to make the plants strong and rocky-
not spindling and wire-drawn. Half a
dozen good plants are worth two dozen
weak and slender ones. If wanted twice
a week with weak tea. this will prove a
good fertilizer, and the tea leaves spread
upon the soil often make a good mulch,
after the plants arc three or four inches
high.
When the season is so far advanced
that tender plants can be put out with
out danger Of being frost bitten. trans
plant into the garden, breaking off the
outside of the boxes and retaining as
much Of the soil about the roots as is
possible. The tomatoes should have
been repotted, as they increased in size,
into larger pots or cans, and when put
into the garden run a knife around the
edge Of the pot and transplant the whole
ball Of soil So that the roots will not be
disturbed and the plant set back 10
growth. | have planted tomatoes Gov
cred with small fruit, and they have not
wilted a leaf. Transplant after I
O'Clock at night, or on a showery day.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01

Cbowan rivers. Our soils are adapted
to en the al growth of cotton, tobacco, corn
wheat and other cereals, as well as Pc
t ntoes pc peas, peanuts; and in fact Ct . nearly fam.
all crops which may be grown In d 'e, al
perate region. In fruits we have all
kinds. consisting of apples, peaches,
hears, etc, as well as small fruits
TO good, active, enterprising farmers
this county offers many inducements.
Our climate is %salubrlous; water nrs I
rate. timber of all kinds plentiful, and
Land cheap. Our best improved Land
can be bought from $ to So per acre;
nn;mnroved. well timbered, from 81 to
- ner acre. Our people are hospita-
be- perfectly liberal in opinion as to
POLITICS, the dominant party, however,
being conservative democratic,
We want immicrants-good people,
from anywhere-to help us build up our
country. IltNh1 ~
Jackson, Northampton Co., n I.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01

SHEEP ON Run Down LANDS
Why is it that so many recommends
sheep for all run down farms? | sup
pose there is very little land so poor but
that some sort of herbage grows there
on, and sheep are o%mnivorous eatherers
OF heritage, and they keep down most
all foul growth where they are kent at
work to obtain a living. They make
some return IN increased numbers. while
they yield certain returns of wool
spread Iertlllzlng matter more equally
than other stock, ali tending to account
Tor the favorable opinions which are 50
generally held. The mechanical as we'll
as chemical condition of the soils alter
ed by these processes of grazing and
treadlng to which the gradual improve
ment, if Improvement there. NAV no
attributed. If such are not the perva-
olhg causes, to what can we attribute
Certain results Sheep on bush pas
lures are excellent subduers, provided
the bushes are first cut close to the
ground, and sufficient numbers are
turned on. But with most of rs. at
tne present day, the question of immee
diate dollars and cents is more of AN in
centlve than the subduing Of old husb
pastures merely. We all know thor
large feeces are not usually obtained
from sheep kept short on bushes and
scant heritage, but that good food and
plenty OF 1T IS what causes wool tn aram
u duant11les; and that by keeping
sne9p Wen Is the only known way Of
pIouuciis the largest quantity and best
4oailty. w. III. WHrrF
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01

PRUNING TREEs.-Set Il green l1
to prune trees where limb, 81 aH.
are to be removed, and the chance
ten to one, that he viii c~ounmrA'
the top and saw through the Iihb .s'..-
1T falls OF It's " weight, tearip5 0''.
the bark and wood, intilctln9 q --'
ugly wound, which may reqlIIr .'-
to heal, and which, if not carefully
tected from the weather, will cause ~ IT,.
decay as to destroy the tree; ..
method commonly recomment'N
prevent injury is, to begin at t-'g Ig.,
tom and cut half way through, ana 'n1r
hnish at the top Or with 'efI 't-
limbs, to have them snpporteI W
crotched pole or pitchfork held o. -.
assistant below but we have t''ih' -,
better plan, and quite as easy, 70 %
make two cuts, the first at a cQn'eIht"
distance, say a foot, from the I
where we wish the limb reiH''L
This short stump can, except ~
case of very large limbs, be eaei! "[i
III II hand, while the final cut l. 'n''
with the other.-FruH Recorder.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01

Fowls IN ORCHARDs.-Last fall we
visited an orchard in which fowls were
kept, the owner OF which told us that
before the fowls were confined in it the
trees made little or no growth, and only
a corresponding amount of fruit was OBJ
tanned. But what a change was evident
now, The grass was kept down, the
weeds killed. and the trees presented an
appearance ct thrift which the most en-
thusiastic horticulturist could not but
admire and envy. The growth of trees
WAS most vigorous and the foliage re-
~markably luNuriant the fruit was
abundant, of large size, and free from
worms and other im~perfections. The
excellence was accounted for by the
proprietor, who remarked that the
hens ate all the worms and curculio In
their reach, even the canker-worm."
He found less trouble with their roost-
ing in trees han he expected, and that
a picket fence six feet high kept them
within bounds. His orchard was di-
vided into three sections, and the fowls
We're changed from one to another, as
the condition of the fowls orthe orchard
sections seemed to require. Poultry
World.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01
TO BIZ. CONTINl ED.
GRAIN IN ORCHARDS.-In a recent

GRAIN IN ORCHARDS.-In a recent
issue of your paper | notice an article
in which the writer is DESTROYS of be
coming familiar with the project as to
whether sowing small grain (oats) in
an orchard would prove satisfactory.
| think not. should he be dealt with
similarly to myself. Though the rails
ing of such had only once been engaged
in. and its proving by far contrary to my
expectations. | u~nhesitating abandoned
the idea of raising small grain in an or
chard of any age in the failure. ! now
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01
Ice country to live I'm !

AT an English trial for adnltera+
1t came Ii that a patent medicine deal
er sold annually go, 900 boxes of tast-
eless caster oil pills, composed of cap-
enne pepper, soap, bitter aloes. ginger
molasses, rhubarb, tar, and a little ess,
tor oil. Cas-
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01

The slelghing at Alburgh, VT. last
week was the best Of any during the
winter, and the travelling on the lee
sefe and sound. There is = nroSnaat
now OF the ice remaining in the laLa ~
Alburgh until the first of Nav as - a.
nearly 30 inches thick and nareaa+ha
sound. This would be sometbine tIat
has not happened for many years: ia
Nice country to live in
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01
Beaver Greek, Ashe County, y. c.

G. X. Aruott.-Vmegar for picking
should be sharp. Select small cucum-
bers to vinegar add a teaspoonful of
alum and a teacup of salt to each three
gallons of vinegar; tie in q bag pepper,
ginger root and any other spices needed,
and boil all together for five minutes;
after cooling, cover your pickles with
vinegar.
W. II. S,oinsom, Plymouth, ". c.
Grease will remove tar from WOODEN
cloth. and benzine will remove the
grease.
hrs. ". J. Hutchmson-We have
never tried the following. but have seen
it recommended for removing grease
spots: Spread two pieces of coarse
brown paper over the grease spot, with
a large pinch of buckwheat -four be-
tween them. Then place a warm fiat
iron on the paper and let it remain u
til it coolS.
ID. u. Frdnk-The best way to feed
artichoke fodder is to cut and feed
same as corn fodder.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01

Why clover is good for an orchard
when the heritage is suffered to lie and
rot on the ground, and why clover Is
bad for an orchard if the crop IS mown
and carried off. is pretty clearly shown
by the following figures, which give the
contents in pounds of nitrogen and MN
eral matter contained in one ton OF dry
clover hay, and also the mount OF the
same substances III a ton of fairly good
stable manure:
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01


pAMPAS GRASS, OR UPLAND RlCT-
| have not noticed anything III the FIR
mer or any other paper, for OF against
the above named grain since it was ST
extensively advertised two years ago. ]
then purchased three 5O-ccnt packa-~
of it, planted it with great care. Attu.
long and anxious watching SIX plant,
came up, maturing but two heads, hos"
ever, Of good size. Not wishing To cou-
denim it without fair trial, | pIanteIa
few rods last spring from homegrown
seed. Notwithstanding the season WIS.,
wet, cold and otherwise untavorab.c. J
would have harvested a satl,tlct'.
crop, had not a dozen good-s!zed M
turned into an adjoining lot Of corn, ,@
it for the pampas patch, and had aae.'
demolished it before | discovered tAe-
mischief. | find poultry and cattle We.
fond Of it. | have no doubt it "ot'
be eatable made into ''sIap-iack, e'
cooked as rice, for a change, thnA
would yield better here, and maxi
surer and cheaper crop than corn ~.
stock. 1t is not without some nrr.
being nutritious, quite hardy when
climated, and yielding well. 1t can .'
harvested as cheap if not cheaper tu~4
corn but how are We 10 cure "A la.-.
crop of it We cannot stack or cflp.
without having it heat and rot. il
shocked like corn, there j. great "a-..
In heading it from Smelling out. Ia
tend planting a few acres this season u.
turn hogs on in the fall. and for turin"
experiment. If some one can gItt-
cheap plan for curing a large crop ".'H
out too much risk of spelling. II "9o.'
make a profitable crop to feed ON o'
farm, if not for market. Ii mas .
good forage plant for COWS Or oil.
stock. Will some other subscriber give
his experience with this gram? A".
no seed to sell, but should any oi l'
readers who have not seen OF tr-fr4 j.
wish to experiment, | viii send then -.
package on receipt Of stamps tor I.
age. 1t is not only useful but ai d
tractIye plant to grow. People A.
come quite a distance TO sec Hl
OF pampas, and many of ON Ia.-..
Will grow more or less OF it tins -g'7.
1t should be planted and cultivate sa-
as sorghum. 4. j. PAR>HAL'-
Rosedaie, Hanson Co, Dako'a
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01
For Home and Farm
Harmless GOssipinp

Such is the soft name given >,
cies of moral barbecue, in VIII
victim is served up whole for the
ta,nment of a class Of individuals w
sole employment seems to b. cr..
and carving human character AMI
man happiness. Wherever a r.,
ton is to be sacrificed. there the.
of prey collect to feast and tattep .n
yet palpitating carcass, and the
appetite grows eve by what +,
upon. And yet, fatal to the rc,..
welfare of society a such moral ,.
balls may be. their rayage> are >s s~
IL conducted that they seldom
amenable to the letter Of the law. vl
spirit they are constantly z1ala.
Many an innocent sufferer. worn
body and mind by the consciou~r.
being the object Of calumnies and
picions he has not IN his power Ia ,...
openly. has gone down broken h..
to the grave, thankful for the sunni
Of death, and hoping to find ara.
from the injustice Of his fellow by,n-,
the bosom Of a mercltui God.
1t is not 70 be supposed that All ,t
indulge in goSSiplng. or, aS ii >hou,lf.
termed. III the retailing of private
dial, fully understand what they aru
ing, or really intend to DESTROY the i
piness of another. Thouehtlc>,'v
without malice Prepe"Se, they listen
the covert i~nsinuation, or the siaudr-..
tale, and to pass away an idle men,.
or to awaken the light laugh. EFF.
additional circulation, little dream
that they are scattering fire brands
rows, and death, while they cry. ..
not III sport = The bah thus la,
In motion, without any design Lrl..
present amusement. grows bv a-rr...
ton. and acquires fresh momemm. .
its progress, until it sweeps away c,--
thing lovely and Of good report uNI..
families or nelghborhood>, aud leaves.
desolate waste, where nothing green .-
beautiful can ever spring up again.
But while making al exception f.
favor OF a class whoare SHINING though
lessly, and may be brought to see THEN
error before it is too late for Repentance
we are compelled to add that there ag
those In every community to whom DE-
traction seems the very breath Of lI
and whom no feeling Of pity or r.er.,
ever ayails to turn from their purpa,.
These individuals are the more dan1er
Gus because they usually stab in tLo
dark, and betray with a kiss OF pretcu.
ed friendship. Carefully avoiding an
open attack which might be met before
a human tribunal, they sully with their
poisonous breath the taireat reputation
before their unconscious victim has oUr
Suspicion of treachery on danger.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01

| read an article on clarifying sorgh-
UNI and concluded to try the expert
ment. | put in the clay as directed,
but found it did very little good; if any
as our clay in in this county contains no
lime. then threw in a small quantity
oflime, this made considerable differ
ence-the scum rose better and the mo-
lasses was brighter in color. Ithen
poured one gallon of Juice on a pint Of
lime and added a pint of lime water to
every two bushels Of juice this caused
the scum all to rise at once, and the
skimming was nearly all done at once,
and my molasses has been pronounced
equal to the golden syrup.
AMnS EAN
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01
Items From the Home and Farm.

Thomas p. Nouard. Washington, v.
C.-You can get knobs for cattle horns
of anv dealer in hardware. Wood ashes
mixed with common earth or muck are
a stronge fertilizer than coal ashes
alone, and consequently of mere benefit
to your corn or other crops.
j. Wolfe. Charlotte, ". C.-N rite 70
Orange Judd Company, New York city
for a dairy thermometer. Butter Will
make firm in the hottest weather If the
milk and cream are kept cool. The
former never should have a temperature
below 30 degrees and the latter 60. The
cream should be removed when the
milk first turns sour and kept at an
even temperature until churned. The
atmosphere in the milk room must be
kept absolutely pure and with these
rules observed you will always have
good sweet and firm butter. Green
clover makes excellent butter. Food
has nothing to do with butter being
soft.
G. " A. griffin, Bells Ferry, n. G..
If your mare has been subject TO fall
ing fits for any length Of time. there is
nothing you can do to prevent them eX-
cept TO be very careful about her diet.
Feed regularly and never allow her to
gorge her stomach. 1t may be caused
from Spasm Of the stomach or from a
congestive condition Of the brain. The
condition powder prescribed in this col
umn for a sick mule will do her good.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01

This part of the State is one of three
counties Northampton, Hereford and
Bertie) lying between the Roanoke and
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-10-24
TABULA OHIO FRIDAY, OCTOBER a. 1879

women with q smile. If you ask the way
in any of the towns, they will answer in
English more or less pure, and turn out Of
their course To take you TO the place you
seek. Nothing pleases them more than to
treat you TO their Swedish punch, and
they cry "lSehOle as they drink, 70 give
you welcome in their kindly Swedish way.
OF course the whole country is more
or less poor. That is natural conse-
quence Of its latitude and its physical
conformation. Four-sevenths of its area
is covered with forests. Another seventh
is occupied by lakes and rivers. Even in
the open spaces the granite constantly
crops up and defes husbandry. Only one
Seventeenth part is cultivated soil. There
are mines Of iron and copper, and Swedish
iron is the best the world produces. There
are coal mines which are now worked at a
profit. But no country, even with re-
rich from October to April every year.
4" What do you do IN winter2 asked of a
steamer owner, the other day. We lie
up, was the answer. "Why don't you
take to a winter trade?" l got the sig
nitiicant answer. Most other trades are
forced to lie up too. Of course cOun-
LII NulEu luuo " uAICLnhllN4 AhD
u certain class of animals, cannot be other
wise than poor country. l was not sur
prised 70 hear at Gothenburg that the num-
Der Of emigrsnts to America this year, from
that port amounted to 10 nearly 5000. /
have seen IN the last three weeks at least a
dozen small towns. Each had its school
house, its church, its newspaper, and most
of them had their public garden. The
streets were paved and lighted with oil
lamps, swung across as they were in old
Paris; the houses, though mostly Of wood,
we're trim and neat; no broken windows or
dllapidaIed walls, or heaps Of refuse Of
Tending the eye as they do in English cOun-
try districts. The people were as neat as
their houses. have not seen half-a-dOZen
beggsrs since ! have been in the country.
Even in the capital, where misery as well
as wealth generally cOngregstes, saw no
signs OF poverty, while crowded opera
house, OveraOwing cafes, and brilliant
shops betOkened an easy opulence. In
short there is a general level Of comfort in
Sweden without any violent contrasts.
Perhaps some explanation is TO be found
in the fact that Sweden is not one Of the
great powers of the world. She takes
low seat in the councils Of the nations.
But her army and navy cost her only
trifle; her taxation is light and her nation
al debt Is trihing $3.50, 600, OO0), and has
been solely employed IN the construction Of
railroads. Finally all her children 60 to
school, and over 80 per cent. of her people
can read aud write. There are supersti-
tions in the country places, but they most
ly come of the noble North mythology.
Children whose imaginations are fed on
such stories as that Of 8 Balder the Beau
tiful," may grow up with odd faneies, but
| would not for all that Danish such tales
from the nursery.
Sept. %, 1879.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-10-24
Prison Life in France.

There are twenty-one central prisons
in France for prisoners with sentences
of five years and over. The cell system
is adopted in prisons for the detention
Of prisoners not sent up for more than
q year and a day, but in the central
prisons as many as 100 sleepin one ward,
certain of their number being response
bic for the preservation Of order. The
dermItories are lighted, and there are
openings from the galleries through
which the guards may inspect them
By day the men work in GfeherS, fifty or
q hundred in umbrella ferules, Chinese
lanterns, etc, are manufactured, and
such light work as CLOSING paper, sew
ing copy books and making hair orna-
ments is done. The work is let to con-
tractors by a tsriff fixed by the Local
Chamber of Commerce, to prevent any
undue competition with free labor. Half
of the profits of the prisoners work
goes to the State he is allowed to spend
a Quarter in procuring special articles OF
diet, etc, and the remaining quarter IS
Maid him on leaving so that discharged
convict often finds himself with ffom
Sl0O to $500 cash capital. A large pro
portion of the prisoners use this in set
ting themselves up in trade or in prOcur-
ing passage to other lands. These ne
wards of industrial labor, together with
the industrial training itself constitute
together the main and tolerably effectual
counterbalance of the otherwise grave
evils of association. The element Of
hope is always prominent in French
prisons, and it is the sheet-anchor OF
their administration. A visitor to La
Sante, at Paris, observed in the hTst cell
he inspected a table on which lay 9
pipe of tobacco, q half bottle OF wine and
a novel;