davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10

and those that bolt their corn, Blu! be-
yond this beyond this they have nothing
especially to recommend them. The
average quantity of oats required to
keep horse undergoing hard WORK in
good condition Is about twenty pounds
day. OF course some horses will eat more:
Others cannot be induced to eat more
than fourteen pounds. Drivers or con-
tractors are partially aware of the fact
that the more they can get their horses to
eat, the more work they will do. But the
result of overlooking and over-working
Is the premature death of valuable ami
mails. Indian corn, when ii happens to
be cheap. may be advantageously used in
proportion of one to six; the object is
that it causes torpidity of the bowels.
This must be couRteracted by giving an
equal proportion of bran. Beans, but for
the heating tendency, would be a suitable
adjunct to oats, as they contain large
proportion of nutritive material. They
may safely be glen to animals that are
hard wrought and upward of seven years
old.
horse can't be maintained in good
health on grain alone; the stomach re-
qulres certain amount of mechanical dis
tentlon to keep 1t properly. Ordinary
allowance should be about twenty pounds
per day; something like five pounds in the
morning. five pounds at midday, and ten
pounds at night. A few years ago hay
became greatly in vogue; but the princi-
pal argument IN its favor was that the bad
hay was eaten along with the good. This
tells seriously against the plan, as horse
is certainly better without bad hay in his
stomach than with it.
All kinds of straw are inferior to hay,
oat being the only variety that should be
used. 1t does well when the horses are
not liable to get into too high condition
on it.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
Calf Rearing on Skim Milk.
Farm and FlreSide

For four years we have reared a score
or more of calves each year, using skim
med milk entirely after they were from
one to two weeks old, and are sure that
the practice is desirable for very many
farmers. We have not been able to Sc
cure so rapid growth, or so plump and
attractive appearance for the calves as
when they suckle their dams or are fed
wholly milk. Nor do we secure maturity
i'll SO short a time. In other words, we be
lieve pure milk is the best possible food
for calf; but satisfactory results and
often greater profits result for using the
cream for butter making and using the
skinned milk.
The change to skim milk should not
be made suddenly. Care should be taken
to have the milk of uniform temperature
when fed better below than above that
of fresh milk. 1t is better to feed three
times a day when the calves are young;
and better to feed each calf separately
than several together. A good device by
which the calf can draw its milk as near
ly as possible as it does in sucking, is bet
ter than to have il drink from pail or
trough. The use of linseed oil meal, bet
ter heated and thoroughly mixed with the
milk, is desirable. The calves should be
encouraged to eat grass or good hay, and
some grain or meal oats being preferable
as soon as may be. Large guam
titles of milk at long intervals are not
nearly so good as smaller quantities more
frequently given and accompanied by
other food. The milk should be contin-
ued until the calves are five or six months
old.
With such treatment we have produced
,ol ,-a- N 4, 80;
months; 600 to zoo pounds at one wear;
1000 to LOO pounds at two years old. on
grass; and l,5o0 Mt 81 months, after two
to three months of grain feeding.
These are not great weights; not SO
large as have often been reported from
like feeding, but they are not unsatisfac-
tory, and, with butter selling at 20 to 20
cents, as at present, these weights from
skim milk rearing are believed to repre-
sent greater profit than giving the calves
all the milk from their dams.
with our cows and heifers it has been
impossible to decide that those reared on
whole milk were larger or more symmet-
rical, when mature, than those reared on
skim milk although the latter require
somewhat longer time to fully mature
than do the former.
Our practice is to have the calves
dropped at all seasons. the hot months
being least desirable, but for rearing on
skim milk, the preference is given to
those dropped in the autumn. With COM
Portable quarters these will make almost
OF quite As much growth when young, as
those dropped in the spring. They can
be weaned at the time when they can go
on grass, and will come to the second
winter robust and in good shape or the
change to dry feed. Spring dropped
calves must go into winter quarters soon
after weaving.
For some reasons it Is desirable that
heifers should cslve in the spring. Fall
dropped cow-cslves can be so bred as
to drop their first calves i'll the spring
when they are about thirty months old,
which we have found TO be the desirable
age.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
Clean Cellars Necessary for Healthy Homes.

Clean Cellars Necessary for Healthy Homes
In city and country alike, it is the dark
corners, the neglected and little used
places in the house, which most frequent
ly contribute to its unhealthfulness, and
in WAYS which are the mole lnsldlous be-
cause so often unsupported. In this re-
spect the cellars of many houses have
much to answer for, for they are general
" dark and damp, with no direct rays of
the sun to kill the lnephitie gasses which
always seek those low levels, and ventlla-
ton to dispense them, even where the eel
lars.themselves are not made to deposit
tories OF cast-of rubbish and vegetable
refuse.
Therefore the warning cannot be too
often given, especially IN the spring when
so many families move into new houses,
and when the good housewife generally
enforces the most thorough cleaning and
overhauling of the year to look to 1t that
the cellar is not neglected. Their cell
ings and walls should be plastered and
whitewashed or caIcimined when possible,
to keep them dry and clean, and the occu-
pants should prevent their cellars above
all things from becoming "Poke-holes
for rubbish: the floors should be well paw
ed or cemented to keep out emanatlons
from the soil; and where this can be done
they should be ventilated by keeping
open in dry weather, windows or doors
communicating with the outside air.
Examinations from cellars do not kill IN
a night; they are but to frequently not
noticed at all, although damp and moul-
dy cellars have undoubtedly done much to
undermine the health of many families.
The cellar air is taken up through the
rooms of the house gradually, and IN
small doses at time, but the warmer air
of the upper rooms produces an upward
current every time the cellar door is
opened, and neglect i'll regard to this
matter Is sure to entail serious conse-
quence because the real reason is often
overlooked.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10

If she Is obliged to do her own family
sewing. every tuck or ruffie that she puts
on her children's clothes is crime The
hour or hours spent in making an elaber
ate dress that baby will look lovely" in,
is waste of energy that a mother who
does her own work cannot afford. Baby
viii look quite as lovely in her eyes in a
plain slip, and if he has only his elabo-
rate dress to recommend him tC the eyes
of others, he might rather pass unnoticed.
Give the matter serious thought, oh tired
housekeeper; and see if you do not take
many unnecessary steps, and do much
that you might, without injury to any
ono, leave undone. Rest your body and
improve your mind keeping your face
and heart as fresh as possible, as you
value the love of your husband and
children.
Since this is a chapter of quotations,
will end it with the remark made by a
sarcastic gentleman: Women seem to be
divided into two classes, the over indus
trlous and the over indolent, and of the
two evils, we would choose the latter as
being the least"
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
FARM NOTES.

1t is said that there is not an establish
ed rule of agriculture which there is not
almost as much experience to approve as
to confirm.
The feathers of chickens may be util-
lied. A full-grown hen will yield when
dead and plucked from two to three
ounces of feathers.
If you receive trees or plants shipped
from a distance, it is well to place the
roots in water from twelve to twenty four
hours before planting.
Do not let the blackberry and raspberry
canes grow up in grass, but cultivate
them thoroughly, so as to secure greater
growth and stronger canes.
An inferior animal will make an infer
Tor use of the food it eats. A good ami
NAL will make a more profitable use of
the same or even greater quantity of
food.
Roaddust may be gathered easily now
and stored for use in poultry houses,
stables and Out-hOuseS in the winter,
where it will be worth much more than its
cost.
Some of the best cows are the result of
crossing our natives with thoroughbred
bulls, and this fact should encourage
dairymen to use only males of the i'm
proved breeds.
There is a strong favor growing for the
white breeds of poultry, as such fowls
dress well for market the pin-feathers
now showing as clearly as old black-plu
mayed birds.
solution of boracic acid is excellent
for fowls affected with sore head or eyes.
1t should be applied warm, using a soft
sponge, and marking the head, eyes and
nostrils well with it
Do not allow your meadows to be gnaw-
ed down into the ground because rains
have freshened them up a little. 1t is
not good policy to pasture meadows
severely in the autumn.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
What is Farming.
American Agricultur.list.

1t is something more than staying on a
farm. 1t is something more than skim
ming the soil. 1t is more than selling
hay or potatoes, and bulky crops unani-
nailed. Farming is a business, a pro-
fession, a practical and scientific opera
ton. The process of nature must be I'M
derstood and worked in harmony with
the chemistry of the earth and air. The
processes of nature must be understood,
if not in their technical terms and Ian
guage in that common way, in that sensi-
bic understanding, that common sense
way that their own advantage and capa-
bilities may be turned to the best ac-
count.
The lawyer works by law and precedent,
the physician works by symptoms and
indications, the merchant by rules and
observations, the mechanic by measures
and capacities. The farmer must work
by abby rules, laws, observations, and
experiments. He must be a skilled work
man in the productive, operative and
commercial circles III which his bust
ness lies and his sphere of circulation ex-
tends.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
Fertilizers for Small Fruits
Farm Field and ,Stockman.

Fertilizers should always be used on
small fruits if quality is expected in the
berries. There is right and wrong way
to use fertilizers, and unfortunately, the
wrong mode Is most frequently adopted.
The proper way Is to apply small guam
tity of the fertilizer for the growth of
the new canes and vines as soon as the
harvest of fruit is over. The object
should be to get as much healthy growth
and roots as possible, even if the new
wood must be trimmed, first cleaning
away the grass and weeds with a cultiva-
tor. 1t is not necessary to apply large
quantity, but the new growth should be
assisted in order to prevent taxing the
soil. Early IN the spring, before the
frost leaves the earth, cut away all old
and surplus wood, cleaning in among the
new canes thoroughly, and again use the
cultivator and if necessary the hoe also.
You may now apply As much fertilizers
as you wish, scattering it around the
plants of blackberries and raspberries for
about two feet or more diameter of sur
face, and the rains will carry it in. A
better plan is to broadcast the fertilizer
over the entire surface of the field, and
then cultivate both ways. In selecting
fertilizers sandy soils should have larger
proportion of potash. The heterogeneous
fertilizers will do best when used in the
fall or early summer, as they stimulate
growth of wood. 1t would not be a loss
to pick off inferior berries from the
canes if heavily loaded, though but few
do so. The object in using fertilizers
is to secure as much size as possible in
the fruit.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
STORIES ABOUT THE STAMP.
Interesting Facts in Connection with Affairs
in Postal Matters.

Interesting Facts in Connection with Affairs
in Postal Matters.
The report of the postmaster General
for the last fiscal year, which is now being
prepared at the department, shows some
interesting figures in relation to the post
al service. One curious feature shown by
this report is the point at which the ordi-
nary American draws the line of economy.
From the time the postal cards were first
introduced into this country until the rate
of letter postage was reduced to cents
per ounce, there was steady and con
slant increase in the sales of postal cards.
This change in the law went into effect on
the lSt of October, 1888, and for the pre-
cediug twelve months the department
had disposed of something like 3S5 ,00O,-
600 postal cards. Thus in ten years the
annual consumption of postal cards had
increased from a few millions up to a
third of a billion. The ordinary increase
in the value of stamps sold is in the value
of stamps sold is in the neighborhoOd of
Ii to Il per cent. per annum, and the
sales of postal cards should in the Ordin-
airy nature of things, increase in about
the same ratio, but since 1888 there has
been no increase to speak of. During the
last year there has been decided falling
off. This is due to the fact that people
have, since the reduction of letter post
age, gone back to sealed correspondence,
as the margin between l and cents is
not sufficient to induce them to use the
postal card to so great an extent as form
erly. Officials of the department believe
that the high-water mark in the use of
postal cards has been reached and that
once favorite method of communication
is distined to become less and
less popular each year, and that the pos
tai card will finally remain in use princi-
pally as an advertising medium through
the mails. Notwithstanding the inroad
into the revenues of the department,
which has been made through Congress
sional action each year, the receipts for
the fiscal year ending 1885 will show a
net increase over the receipts for the
year 1885 of about 81 100000. The reduc-
ton of postage on newspapers from 3
cents to l cent per pound caused falling
off in the revenues last year of about 81
100000. This shows that upward of a
million pounds of newspapers were depo-
sited in the mails by publishers alone,
besides the tons which were sent out in
wrappers by private individuals to which
postage stamps were affixed. The depart
ment is just recovering from the effects
of the reduction of letter postage, and if
there shall be no further cutting down in
rates it will not be five years before this
important branch of the government is
again self sustaining.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
The Danger of Dust.
London Lancet.

Darkness, damp and dust are potent
agencies of disease. Everybody recog
nizes this; but how many fail to adopt its
precepts! If there be sermons in stones,
surely the summer dust and its dangers
would prove fruitful subject for medical
discourse. There is As great a difference
between London and country dust "a there
Is between corresponding muds. Pull
verified matter would be harmless enough
If IT were deprived of its physical
prosperity of ready DIFFUSION. The at
mosphere is laden and swarms with par
ticulate matter of high complex nature.
Its chief peril tn living beings resides in
the organic constituents. Largely this
organic material consists of minute forms
of life in "A state of latency, only waiting
for spell of heat and moisture and "A
favorable amount of light, or il may be
darkness, to awaken ii into activity. The
habits of individuals III every class of
society, including the masses. are calcu-
lated to diminish, but rather to augment
the amount of organic matter in our at
mosphere. MuCus. saliva aud humor.
peculiarly known as matter" must be
discharged from the mouth and nostrils
to the extent of many gallons daily and
not little of this comes from infeCtive
sources: while We venture 10 think that
the bulk of it mingles with the dust of
our streets and courts. If as seems not
unlikely, consumption Is largely caused
10y germs then q very ready theory may
be advocated concerning the mode in
which the contagion is caught. Who can
estimate the amount of mischief that the
shaking of mats may have caused? How
many young girls, early in the morning
on their way To business, have, so to speak,
received their death blow while inspiring,
all unconscious of harm, some of the
clouds of dust that always greet them
who can tens The abatement of this dan
ger and nuisance is difficulty that seems
insurmountable, Much may be done by
personal habits of prevention.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
MORNING.
PHIL. L. PARKER, CHICAGO.

The stars grow DINNER; one by one
They fade into the gray-grown SKY;
Ar in the cast some fair clou1s lie
And wait the coming of the sun
The pallid cloud cloud tn ct now but seems
strip o silver in the sky
A crimson pennou soon viii hy,
Kissed by the suns warm, loving beams.
The wind, which has been sleeping. wakes,
And moves a feet of silyery sails.
That bearing from US costly bales,
Sweeps proudly o'cr the restless lakes.
And sailing out they meet the sun,
Who redly rising from the lake,
Hisupward course begins TO take,
And day is all too soon begun
Now breaking rudely on the
There comes the roar OF busy life,
The rush and clangor Of the str re
For metals which the world holds dear
And some this morning have been born;
And some have walked 10 we'd to-day;
And some to lay Their dead away,
And wept the coming ST the morn.
To him who gains & ride the day
Shines out OF all bright days the best
Rut ne with sorrow IN bio breast
Kneels down with leaden heart To pray.
The piping babe this morning born,
II life be grant him for long,
May learn OF sorrow ana Of wrong;
May feel the bitter blast Of scorn.
or in his life may pleasant mlrth
Aud happiness and ease belong.
And life be ike wine sweet and strong
Such Is the accident OF birth.
Yet he he rich or bs he poor,
Love. II he strives. shall he for him,
Death shall sometimes make his eyes dim,
For each will knock upon his door.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
Building Il SilO.
Ei..I1 Lury,, and GtppkyIy "a N

Experiments at the.Massachusetts Agri-
cultural College in building silos show
that the principal involved i'll building
ice-houses may be applied to silos. 1t is
shown that a hollow frame of scanding
of suitable size, covered on the outside
with matched boards. and lined on the in
side with two thicknesses of one inch
matched boards with a layer of tarred
paper between them, thus securing par
TALLY air-tight Enclosure, surrounded by
dead space as a protection against FROST
is the best and cheapest form of construc-
ton, and that if the boards and timbers
are saturated with hot coal tar, the dura-
ton of the silo will be very much increas-
ed One great objection to the building
of silos heretofore has been their cost.
The idea is worth elaboration and those
who have ensilage to put in this fall
may still have time to erect this cheap
building.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10

There were old men with scraggy whiskers
framing their faces, who rode beside la
dies with iron bowed spectacles and an
tlgue sun-bonnets, all dressed like the
younger folks in their Sunday best and
all bent on having good time.
While yet the clan was gathering the
Smith Family band arrived on the scene
lchabod Smith acting as drRm-maior
They marched up into the grove TO the
air of Yankee Doodle The Smiths
went wild over the music, while aged
steedS, accustomed TO nothing more class
ic than the plowboy's whistle. arched their
necks and pranced about like colts. A
little army of peddlerS, with whips and
canes and cheap jewelry, came down upon
the happy gathering about noon and tried
TO gain admission on the grounds that
they We're the Smiths from the adjacent
town of Bedminister, but the only orici-
nal Smiths informed them that if they
did not betake themselves away thew
would be knocked into Smithereens. and
they accordingly departed.
Huge lunch baskets were brought to
light about this time from beneath the
seats of the various wagons. and tables
were spread beneath the trees, with cold
chicken, sandwiches, cakes. pies, and lots
OF other good things, including big. lus-
clous peaches, fresh from the neighbor-
ing orchards. Rev. Mr.. Ansem Smith. of
Peapuck Methodist Episcopal chur,h.
said grace, and then all fell TO eating with
v1gor born of good health and appetite.
After dinner Lizzie Smith, the pretty
l5-year- old poetssS of the family, recited
some original verses, commencing:
The Smiths are here with much 10 boast
OF honored uamsS; a mighty host
or poets, authors, and divneS
Their words appear in golden lines
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
How to Feed Horses.
Forest, Forge and Farm,

In recent lecture before an English
farmers club, MI. Storer gave the fol-
lowing points as to the best method of
feeding horses.
In the first place. they must have food
in the second place they must have
grooming: and in the third place, they
must have good stabling. In regard to
food; of all animals, the horse. in COM
parison to its size, has the smallest sto-
mach; it is, therefore, of great impor-
tance that the food should contain as
much nutriment as possible in the small
est bulk, more especially when undergo
ing hard work. Hay and oats have this
qualifications TO greater than any of the
feeding stuffs in general use, and that
they should form the staple food has
been proved by long experience. Bruis-
ed oats are very suitable for old horses
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
Mrs. David Davis Fortune.

4 dispatch from Bloomington, Ill,
says: When the late Judge Davis con-
tracted his second marriage he provided
for his bride by a ante-nuptial contract in
lieu of doEer or provision by will in the
event of his death. few days ago Mrs
Davis left for Como, Ill, to reside with
her mother, and before going executed a
quit-claim deed to all interested in his
estate except as to the following lands
secured TO her by the ante-nuPtial con-
tract: The Buck creek farm, IN Gridley
township, of 1850 acres: farm of 800
acres IN Chenoa; farms aggregatlng $40
acres in Dewitt county: the Rounds farm,
in Cecil county, Nd. the size of which Is
not mentioned This makes 3,040 acres
in Mclean and Dewitt counties, worth.
at very moderate estimate, over 100000
exclusive of the Maryland land Mrs
David Davis also receives provision for a
comfortable house furnished, and also
other money considerations"
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-09-10
The Michigan Peach Crop.
Cyleman'S Rural World.

Last spring Michigan peach growers
deplored the loss of the peach crop
throughout the State. They declared
not only did the rigors of winter make a
clean sweep of the fruit buds, but also
hundreds of trees, and crop of peaches
i'll any section of the STATE was wholly
unexpected. In the face of all this you
find the Chicago market gorged with
peaches, and the boats trayersing the
lake come in every morning heavily
freighted with thousands of baskets of
rosy peaches. In fact, the Wolverine
State has not only plenty of this fruit,
but one of the largest crop, they ever
raised, and next week, when the shipping
will be at its height, she will be sending
into the Chicago market about 10000
baskets daily. No explanation of this
phenomenon has been made yet by any
of the Michigan fruit growers.