davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
Reports on the Onion Crop.
Country Gentleman.

!
The onion crop owing to smaller
acreage, dry weather and the maggot
i generally shows a reduced yield from
last year. The onions, though not as
large, are in most cases, of better quality
than those harvested in 1885. Complaints
of the maggot appears to be pretty gen
eral, with very few suggestions of 8
remedy.
Special reports to the New England
Homestead, place the yield of the crop
in Maine at from 200 to $50 bushels tc
the acre, prices ranging at SOC to 81 pei
bushel, with tendency, in many cases
| to sell.
In some localities there have been nc
pests, while in others maggots, wire
worms and frost have done considerable
damage. In the extreme northern part
of the State, the crop is an uncertain
one, the weather being so cold that the
hardest varieties are needed.
The yield in Massachusetts averages all
the way from $50 to 500 bushels to the
acre, according to quality of soil, culture
given, freedom from pests, etc. Prices
range at SOC. to ST per bushel, the same
as in Maine, and on the whole, farmers are
quite free sellers at this figure. In some
tops did great damage, the maggots al
mos discOuraging growers at Concord
The quality of the crop is generally good
In Connecticut the onions are smaller,
but of better quality than last year. Cut
worms and maggots were unusually prev
alent, half the crop in East Hartford and
South Windsor having been ploWed up on
account of their ravages. Frost also
caused considerable damage in some
places. AS yet sales are limited, and the
price varies from 75c. to 81 per bushel.
Only about 100000 bushels will be har-
vested this year from the great onion
fields of Orange County, N. Y, which
usually produce between 100000 and 6OO,-
600 bushels on the $500 to the 5000 bush
els planted, The new onion weevil which
proved so destructive last year, and the
cut-worm are responsible for this. Grow
ers in most sections are disposed to hold
for late market, although sales as SOC.
to 81. per bushel are reported. Frosts
and pests have spared the crop in a few
localities, and it shows larger average
yield than last year-50O bushels per acre
in Madison County against 400 in 1885.
In other sections the yield is not so
good, being from 200 to 500 bushels, con-
siderably less than in '85. The quality is
on the whole, much better than then.
The crop in Michigan is about one
third short, and in Wisconsin, although
the quality is excellent, the yield is short
6273 per cent, owing principally to
drouth, while in Iowa the crop is almost
failure. The Ohio crop is very good.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
The Rough Side of Steamboat ting,
St Louis Globe Democrat

This incident was related to Engineer
Thomas Duffy, of the Ed. Roberts, who
has had thirty-fve years experience on
the river, and who, to my horror, he
said:
Il believe every word of it. The
murders of roustabouts or deck hands by
mates on the lower rivers at that time
were accomplished by the wholesale.
Hundreds of such crimes have occurred;
they have been common talk, but no of
fetal action have ever been taken. 1t is
said that on the, which before the
war ran between St. Louis and New
Orleans, over fifty such murders were
committed, aud nobody ever punished
for them. These poor fellows we called
'rousters,' or rOustabouts, to distinguish
them from deck-hands, one grade higher.
When one of them offended the mate he
was invited down into the hold, and that
was the last seen of him."
"Would not the screens of the victims
attract attention."
'Oh, the murderer was too sharp for
that. A billet of wood usually did the
work, and did it quickly. Then the body
was pushed through the rudder hole"
"Have you ever heard of these terrible
crimes being enacted on any other
boat?"
''Yes. In those days rivermen did
great deal of talking about the -,
which was in the Red river trade, running
between New Orleans and Alexandria: 1t
was a very common occurrence for her to
ship seventy five 'rousters' at New Or
leans, and before she reached Alexandria
but few remained"
"What became of them?"
"Why, you can guess. Once while en-
ployed on lower river boat / was startled
one night by the rush of deck-hand
past me. l called to him to know what
was the matter, and he replied in t1emu-
lous tones: TT is just as well to die this
way as any other With these words he
jumped overheard. He was pursued by
a mate, had eluded him, and thus saved
his life, as 1 afterward learned he had
reached the shore in safety"
'Oh, 1t was terrible in those days, but
I am happy to say this condition of af-
fairs no longer exists. The life of a
'rouster' was then worse than slavery, but
now they are treated something like
human beings"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
Varying Quality of Ashes.
Country Gentleman.

The inquiries which are often made as
to the value of wood ashes as a fertilizer,
must always be answered conditionally.
A very different example of the difference
in their action occurred some years ago
in two pear tree nurseries. In one good
dressing of ashes doubled the growth. In
another in a different region, instances
nearly as striking, have occurred. This
difference may be ascribed to two differ
ent causes. The composition of the soils
may vary. and on some the potash and
phosphoric acid In the ashes may be lust
what is wanted; in others there may be
already sufficient supply, and the appli-
cation would be useless. Varying grades
would produce intermediate results.
The varying quality of the ashes would
also affect the product. The late valuable
report of the Maine Agricultural Expert
ment Station furnishes some Interesting
Information under this, head. Samples of
ashes were gathered from various sources
mostly from different localities in Maine
and nineteen samples were analyzed.
The general result was that spruce and
pine ashes contain less than ona-third as
much potash as ashes from hard wood
and only one-ffth as much as from pure
birch wood. The latter gave three times
as much phosphoric acid as the former
but there was considerable variation in
each case. The following were the gen
eral summaries from the various analy.
ses:
The potash in 100 pounds of hardwood
unleached ashes was nine and two-tenths
pounds, and in soft-Wood ashes three an6
sixty-fve-hundredths pounds.
The phosphoric acid in 100 pounds OF
hardwood ashes was equivalent to nearly
eight pounds of phosphate of lime, ane
in soft wood ashes to only three pounds
Teaching removed from the ashes al
but about half pound in 100 of the sol
uble potash, or about one pound and {
half of soluble and insoluble potash.
/ 1t will be seen that the ashes from
different woods varies from three to five
times in value. It must also be remem
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
Large Horses for the Farm.
From the Prairie Farmer.

There can be no doubt but that the i'm
portation of French, English and Scotch
draft horses has greatly improved the
standard of the farm horses in this coun-
try. While pure or nearly pure blood
horses of these breeds may prove too
large for farm work, it is quite certain
that the native horses, on the whole, are
too small, at least for the West. The in
PRODUCTION of self-binding reapers, sulky
plows and other implements of heavy
draft, has created an increased demand
for heavier horses for farm work. While
in the way of general utility, activity and
strength, our native horses are very good,
it is evident that they cannot cope with
the larger horses in doing the heavier
part of farm work, with the machinery
and implements now in use. Progressive
farmers see the wisdom of crossing with
the large and powerful foreign breeds.
The result of these crosses can now be
seen in nearly every part of the country.
1t is doubtful if the sulky pillow, self-blnd-
ing reaper, and many other useful nipple
ments, would be in so general use to-day,
were it not for such causes. Another
thing in their favor is that any surplus
stock can always find a ready sale. In
deed so great is the demand for grades of
the draft breeds in the cities and in the
lumber camps of the north, and prices
offered are so tempting to farmers, that
they find it difficult to retain a team of
such horses for their own use. The great
increase in the importation of draft
horses for breeding purposes shows that
the popular demand for them is general
and permanent.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
Not the Answer She Expected.
Buffalo Courier.

Two ladies arrived in Buffalo last Sun
day on visit to some relatives, and one
tells the following amusing incident
which occurred while they were en- route
over the Niagara branch of the Michigan
Central in which her companion was the
victim.
A diminutive, dirty-faced boy was en-
deavoring to please the passengers and
get few pennies by singing comic
songs in the car. When he had finished
and was passing along the aisle with out
stretched palm, making his collection, the
lady said to him:
"Don't you know it's wicked to sing
songs on Sunday?"
The youngster looked at her for a sec
ond and with twinkle in his black eyes
replied:
Don't you think its wicked to travel
on Sunday"
The passengers roared and no more
questions were asked.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
FARM, HOME AND GARDEN
MY DEAR LITTLE WIFE AT HOME.
MARGARET E. SANGsTER

The dear little wife at home John,
With ever so much to DO,
Stitches to set and babies to pet
And so many thoughts of YOU
The beautiful household fairy,
Filling your heart with light,
Whatever you meet to day, John,
Go cheeriy home tonight.
For though you are worn and weary
You needn't be cross or curt:
There are words lise darts TO gentle hearts
There are looks that wound and hurt
With the key in the latch at home, John,
Drop troubles out of sight,
To the dear little wife who is waiting
Go cheerily nome tonight.
You know she will come to meet you,
smile on her sunny face,
And your wee little girl, as pure as pearl.
VIII be there in her childish grace,
And the boy, his fathers pride John,
With the eyes 80 brave and bright,
From the strife and the DIN. to the peace John
Go cheeriy home tonight.
What, though the tempter try you.
Though the shafts of adverse fate
May hustle near, and the sky be drear,
And the laggard fortune wait;
You are passing rich already,
Let the haunting fears take flight,
With the faith that wins success, John,
Go cheerily home to- night
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
Selling with Sheep.
philadelphia Record.

Sheep have been so long connected
with the pasture in the minds of stock
growers that many farmers will not en-
gage in sheep-raising unless under con-
ditions that permit of wide range and
the use of a large tract of land. SO gen
eral is this practice that only the uncul-
tivated land is given up to sheep, and it
is not expected that attention will be be-
slowed upon them. It required half a
century to change the mode of raising
hogs from feeding on mast in the woods
to the clover field and ground grain which
has proved such profitable change. And
it will ere long be discovered that there
is no reason for not giving the sheep a
higher position on the farm than that of
forager or scavenger.
Soiling with sheep has never been prac-
ticed, but system closely resembling it
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21

| The idea among the English has been
that the best mutton is obtained from
and 4 year old wethers.
trees which can be more easily distin-
gulshed when the foliage is on the trees
The standard for a good COW is said
to be 600 gallons of milk year, and Oh
this there should he 10 per cent Oh
cream.
Mulch the rose bushes with leaves OF
cut straw, placing some kind of heavy
material on the mulch to keep it in place
Strong unbleached muslin is excellent
In place of glass for poultry houses or
| chicken runs, and is much less expen-
sive.
A correspondent of the Rural New
| Yorker has found onion roots a foot
long and still growing down, though too
| fine to follow.
| During the last year II, 081 ,218 cwts. of
wheat went direct from India to England
2,661,5S3 to Belgium, and 2,145,313 to
| France.
Warm and cold milk should not be
mixed. The new milk should be rid of
its animal heat before adding it to prev
ious milkings.
Make a harness fit properly, and a
horse can wear it without distress, pro-
vided that it is also kept decently clean
and comfortably soft.
A stalk of corn, twenty feet high and
bearing thirteen well developed ears, is
reported to have been grown at Encinitas,
CAL, this season.
Give the sheep a mess of ground oats
every evening from now until the lambing
period. AS soon as grass fails give them
all the hay they can eat.
Plenty of rubbing will produce good
coat on your horse. "Eibow grease"
opens the pores, softens the skin and pro-
NOTES the general health.
Double daisies should be lifted, separ-
ated and replaced every year to prevent
degenerating. The present month is a
good time for this operation.
Budding is in season whenever matured
buds may be had and the stock is in
proper condition-that is, the bark parts
readily from the wood.
Throughout the entire year turkeys are
| salable in lesser quantities for the city
hotels and restaurants chiefly, and they
| average well the year through.
! Mark cuttings of currants and goose
berries now; six inches long will answer.
Mellow the soil, insert them vertically
and press the sell firmly about them.
| Should the wheat field appear uneven.
or grass appear, go over it with a harrow,
1t will not injure the wheat. Early in
the spring it should be narrowed again.
An Indian farmer advocates cutting
off part of the tops of potato vines when
they grow too rank, and states that he
had increased the yield by so doing.
One of the greatest drawbacks that
new beginners in poultry raising have is
the desire to crowd fifty fowls into
! the space that half that number should
occupy.
Lay off the walkways now, and have
them made hard with gravel. The grass
plots adjoining may be worked over and
resolved and the locations for next season.
| fower-beds arranged.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
No Use on a Farm.
Omaha w orld.

Farmer-"What is that you say you
call that thing?"
Agent-"A patent jack, sir, for lifting
great weights, works with screw and
lever, and with it you can raise anything,
no matter how heavy"
"Can't see what use it is to me-
"Well, suppose you want to move that
barn"
1--WE got no cause fer to move that
barn."
"Well, anything, no matter what. Give
me something heavy to raise and L
will show you how it works"
Amt got anything of the kind, mis-
ter, unless you want to try your hand on
the mortgage"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
SCOTCH wooDCocK

Beat the yolks of three eggs, then stir
them into quarter of a pint of cream,
and bring the sauce to the boiling point,
but do not allow it to boil, or it will
curdle. Have ready some slices of hot
buttered toast spread on anchovies
pounded to pastel; pour little of the
hot sauce over, and serve very hot and
very quickly, allowing half a slice for
each person.
WELSH RAREBET.
Cut very thin slices of the best Cheshire
cheese; lay it in the stew pan on the hot
plate till melted, pour little ale over it;
let 1t stand till quite hot and like light
custard. Have ready some hot toast cut
into small pieces, pour the mixture over
1t, and serve at once. 1t is not good I'M
less very hot.
RHODE ISLAND CLAM Oh OYSTER FRITrERs.
Make batter of two cups of milk, two
nightly beaten eggs, six cups of flour,
three heaplng spOonfuls of baking pow
| and little salt Add four dozen raw
CLAIMS, chopped, and half a teacupful of
the clam liquor or the same quantity of
oysters and their LIQUOR. The oysters
need no chopping. Butter griddIe. and
drop on in spoonfuls; brown and turn:
uneSe are more QlgeStlble than when
dropped in hot fat, as they have less OPP
portunity to absorb the dyspeptic
grease. Dyspeptic persons sometimes
prefer their CLAIMS or oysters cooked in
the regulation griddle-cake batter and
cooked on the griddle with as little but
ter as possible. Butter and pepper them
to individual taste at the table.
BOILED DISH WITH PUDDING.
Seven or eight pounds of salted beef
boiled with all kinds of vegetables. Take
one quart of Indian meal and sift into IL
teaspoonful of baking powder and
pinch of salt; add to this two thirds of
cup of molasses, one cup of currants, and
one-half pound of the best suet cut into
half inch cubes. Scald one pint and half
sweet milk, and add to it the above in
gradients; work together evenly, and
pour into cone-shaped pudding bag:
tie the bag about four inches above the
batter to allow for swelling of the meal.
and put into the liquor with your beef
and boil three hours: be sure and have
kettle large enough, SO as not to over
flow when you add your cabbage, carrots,
parsnips, turnips and potatoes later.
Serve the pudding with your favorite
sauce.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
TREASURE.
ALL THE YEAR ROUND.

The flowers plautsd in the flush of spring
Have budded, Eloomsd and withered long ago;
The gram my lavish fingers used to throw
Long since has reaped for others garnering;
Yet am rich amid my nature dear.h;
My gold is where the rainbow touches earth
My wealth is molten of full many an ore
Dug from he sacred caverns of the Past;
Stored where the Presents quiet light is cast
Piled in the Primrose land that lies before,
ALI blent together. all of Priceless worth.
All hid just where the rainbow touches earth
And memory, Faith and Hopesits guardians are
As holding Loves srr~ng hand make my way,
Knowing near a little every day
The one sure goal where, passing DER the bar,
find, in all the glow of second birth,
NV Treasure. where the rainbow touches earth.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
The Household.
IVORY JELLY.

Take three tablespoonfuls of the dust,
mix with cold water as you would arrow
root, and three half-pints of warm water,
and let it boil slowly. Pour it into jar
to get cold. A semi-clear jelly will then
form un top, leaving a thicker deposit
below. Skim off the clear jelly, dissolve
it over the fire, add wine, lemon juice, or
any favoring preferred, always sweeten-
ing to taste; pour it into mould, and al
low it again to get cold, when 1t will be
ready for use. If preferred milk or
cream can be added instead, thus form
ing blanc mango. Jelly prepared from
ivory dust is very nourishing, and much
recommended to invalids and delicate
children. The ivory dust can be pro-
cured of ivory-turners
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21

bered that as ashes contain no nitrogen,
they cannot be a complete fertilizer, and
in those instances under our observation
where they appeared to produce little or
no effect on the crops, superphosphates
in the absence of nitrogen compounds,
failed to benefit the crops.
In all these instances, there are so
many controlling influences that the real
practical value of ashes in different local
tiles can be determined only by careful
experiment.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21

Dwight Sherman, of Des Moines, Iowa,
is in New York visiting his brother, Gen.
William T. Sherman. There are four
brothers in the Sherman family, William
T., John, Dwight, and an invalid, who
makes his home with the latter.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21

Those who have practiced soiling
sufficiently to test it know it to be most
valuable aid in the economy of dalrylng.
A bright idea from Cholly: i say
bows. since she has refused all three of
us individually, say we follow her home,
and try it as body. She couldn't resist
u.s.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
FARM NOTES.

The idea among the English has been
that the best mutton is obtained from
3 and year old wethers.
The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-09-02
ALWAYS STRANGERS IN PARIS.

l asked an American lady who
had lived long in Paris what her ex-
perience had been, and she answered
that she liked Paris, but she
did not know whether she liked
the French or not. 81 think that
Paris" she went on, is the only city
in Europe that an American can
live in for years without getting to
like the people. You cannot live
ten years in Florence without liking
the Italians, or ten years in Dresden
or Munich without liking the
Germans. But you can live in Paris
nearly all your life without liking
the French-indeed without knowing
them any better than you did when
you first came" In this last clause
lies the secret of this opinion,
think. Long as the American may
remain in Paris he remains o
stranger; except in very rare in
stance he does not penetrate into
French family life; like the farmer
in Leech's sketch he "gets no for
rarder." The Partisan does not
take the American OF any other
The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-09-02
NOVELTIES IN POSTAGE STAMPS.

Among the issues of postage
stamps by foreign countries there is
none more curious within recent
years than the new issue of NADIA
gascar-3g inches long by "a in
ches wide-and none that will be
more eagerly sought by collectors.
There are eight in all, ranging in
value from Id to Is. They are
issued in England, for letters mailed
at the British Consulate in Antana-
narivo, and gummed only in the
corner. The letters are sent to
Mauritius, where the MaIagassy
stamp is removed and kept for a
voucher and the Mauritius stamp
substituted. The Peruvian Govern
ment announces its intention to re-
deem all outstanding surcharged
stamps and use only the new issue
q purple, 2 green, so rem. / sol
br. }, to which 20 blue is to be
added. Paraguay is having
green and 2 vermillion, similar to
1884, printed in Buenos Ayres.
The United States of Colombia have
issued hideous 10 yellow, with the
head of President Nunez. A COM
plete new issue is announced. An
toquia has issued new set
green, % blue on yellow and 5 blue
similar to last years. Shanghai
rejoices in new issue, 40, 80 and
100 cash. The first reached this
country last week. Tobago has
surcharged its z4d blue with lid in
black, and st. Kits the Cd green
with I'D black.
The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-09-02
Improvement During
the Year.

Increase in Premium In
coHic,' ..'..... ......S s. 49,, $4,000
Increase in Surplus. 1878, 622. O3
increase IN Assets. 1891 ,461 SO
For full particulars apply to
ALEX.J. CARTWRIGHT,
No. 3. Kaalumanu ST.,
General Agent for the Hawaiian Islands.