Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-11-06


solid tissuey consistence. Besides
these products which here are really
farm products, are grown in most
abundance oats and grapes as the sta
pie, rye and very little wheat follow.
Potatoes are considerably grown and
consumed but they are of an inferior
quality by reason of planting them
too close together. The already poor
soil exhausts its nourishment on a
great number of small tubers about
two-thirds grown. Buckwheat holds
a good place on the farm. Garden
products are very like ours with the
cabbage excess.
The farms are not fenced. Small
portions of land devoted to pasturage
are fenced with wire, poles, or more
generally with a hedge fence or water.
All parts of the farm are utilized for
pasture as the women or children will
tie one to three COWS or goats together
and then lead them to the various
patches of grass in the corners and
along the hedges.
The animal product Of the farm is
sheep, COWS, rarely horse, goats and
poultry. Hogs are few The COWS
do the work. They are harnessed by
traces tied to piece of padded iron
laid across the forehead or by traces
tied to bent padded piece of iron
laid on the bulge of the neck in front
of the withers, and strap passing
around under the dewlap, thus form
ing collar. Have seen none yoked.
On the road single cow is driven,
generally she is hitched on one side Of
a self standing tongue and thus the
UuoluCSS SOGo GU
The tillable land is unfortunately,
like that of England and Canada,
divided into long narrow strips with
an increasing, ungainly looking, yearly
dead furrow. 1t is queer but the
German farmer plows in direct oppo-
sition to book instruction. He owns
an Intimately ancient appearing pillow,
exactly 100 years behind the Ameri-
can pillow. He plows very shallow.
The depth of the blowing is regulated
by two wheeled truck on which the
beam rests. He plows much of his
land Immediately after reaping it,
Harvest in Germany is at least 10 days
later than Wisconsin. Oats &c. are
cut in the last of August After
several hundred miles in
Germany, have not yet seen a single
reaper or mower. Even grain cradles
(others are plenty) are very scarce
and he resorts to the old method of
m owing his grain or using sickle.
He nearly always fails it out on small
farms Threshing machines exist here.
Now in the work of the farm there is
no monopoly but men, women and
children all work, and the principal
man on the farm seems to be
the woman. Generally the German
farmer lives on very simple, plain food
and is not mistaken for a rich man.
Meat food is very dear in Germany
and vegetables supply its place.
This is unfortunate for the bone of
the nation and accounts for the great
number of bow-legged children and
people here as the meats contain more
Of the mineral salts necessary for the
of the bones, especially
IN children before they put the weight
Of the body on the legs The nitro
gen of the meat is also required to
hasten tissue changes so they will not
be fabby, fat and heavy and thus add
more weight to an already soft, bend
ing bone.
The farm yard appears in the dis
lance with two large and several small
buildings, which are built of bricks
and rooted with tiles. In bright sun
shine they look beautiful and the suns
rays are reflected from the red or
white tiled roofs as from shattered
mirror. A foreigner would not know
which was the dwelling house only for
the ascending smoke, as the barn often
is the larger Order is very we'll pre-
served in the yard. The tiles are
, hou+ tho c;1o of abInrIoc and made