davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
Care GfC0WS in Calf.
Practical Farmer.

Where the facilities for separation are
at hand, it is doubtless safest to keep the
in-calf cows apart from the rest; but of
course this Is not always possible. Sep
ar alton, however, should not be supposed
TO insure absolutely the safety of herd.
so as to make inspection unnecessary.
In all circumstances, the more carefully
a herd is watched and tended, the small
er are the chances of loss from neglect,
accident, or undetected illness.
Even if the non-breedeIs-that Is to say
the cows and heifers intended for breed
ing, not at the time pregnant-are kept
apart from the present breeders, they
should be watched, and if not running
out with the bull removed from among
their female companions during periods
of excitement. Many a sprain, many
strain, and much loss of flesh from dis
turbance, and from time taken off graz
ing, might be avoided by watchfulness,
Among the heavy breeding cows, and
those not far gone III calf, constant sup
ervisiOn Is an important necessity. To
catch the first sign of calf casting and
Immediately seperate from their fellows
those about to cast Is often the only way
of preventing the evil from extending
to the whole of the breeding female por-
tion of the herd; while the notice and re-
mOval of any turning likely to cause
casting, the immediate application of
remedies in the case of minor accidents,
attention to slight lameness, and numer-
less other little details of care, go to
make the difference, very often, between
successful and unsuccessful stock breed
ing.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17

An illustration of the Colossal liars
of the west, General McCook relates the
following: He was travelling among the
Rocky MCunta, and straying out one
morning from the trail, stood for mo-
ment entrancen by the magnificent land
scape spread before him, when he was
aroused from his meditatiOns by the
footsteps of one of the the guides, who
had followed him lest he shonld lose his
way.
is not this magnificent, Bnl?" ex-
claimed the General anxious to chare his
delight.
Its mighty purity, Gineral," said the
guide, but | can show you bigger sights
nor this. Why one time Kansas Jim and
me had been trappin' three days and
three nights, and W Ccame to plain, and
in the middle of it was forest all turned to
solid stunt
The General smiled, and then asked:
Il have heard of petrifed trees before,
Bill.
The guide expectOrated without chang
ing countenance, and continued: Bill
that warn't all, Gineral; thar war buffalo
on the plain and he war petrified on the
clean jump, and his huffs had kicked up a
bit of sod, and I'm blamed if that warn't
petrited in the air!'
The General turned an amused counte-
nance on the narrator and said: "Why,
Bill, the sod would have fallen to the
ground by the force of gravity"
Without any hesitation Bill answered;
''Well, by Ginger, the gravity were
petrified too!''
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
A Useless New Potato

Some eminent bOtaniSt and practical
seed men put their heads together two
years ago, says the St. James Gazette, to
produce new potato. Our familiar var
iety is by birth a natives of the high
Andes, perhaps the very dryest region on
the earth's surface. 1t has occurred to
these scientific persons that the terrible
disease to which the root has of late
years become liable might be due to the
fact that it Is extensively cultivated in
the wettest parts of Europe. Darwin,
however, discovered a wild potato in the
Chonos Archipelago. off the southeast
coast of South America, which tiourished
naturally in the wettest marshes. So
Lord Cathcart ana his friends resolved
to garden the potato of commerce by
crossing it with the mOiSture-loving
kind. Roots were procured from Kew,
and the flowers fertilized with the best
native sorts. Seeds were thus obtained
from the Kew plants, for the first time,
and the tubers developed surprisingly
under cultivation. and proved of fair
edible quality. The plants grown from
the hybrid seed grains have just produced
fine crop. both in in quality and weight.
But slight initial error has somewhat
spoiled the experiment. The Kew plant
turns out not to have been a wet potato
from the Chonos Archipelago at all, but
only a wild variety of the commonest
kind. The men of science must try
again.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
FARM, HOME AND GARDEN.
THE SCHOOL MARIN.
WASHINGTON CRITIC.

Q, School Marin,
Thou who teaches the young idea
How to Scoot,
And spanheih the erstwhie
Festive small boy with hand that tsketh the
trick.
Who also lameth him with hickory switch
Ind crowneth him by laying the weigh,
OF g ruler upon his shoulders,
o,
Thou art daisy,
Thou maketh him the national embleTc-
Red, white, and blue
Tuou furnisheth the strips,
And he seeth the stars.
O, School Marin.
We couldn't Go without thee,
And We don't want TO try,
Thou art lovely ana accomplished
Above all women. and If thou art
Not married. it S because thou art
Too smart to De caught in that way!
All school marmS are women,
But all women are rot school Elarms,
And, angels pedsgogic,
That is where thou hast the bulge or thy sis
tiers,
O. School Msrm,
Tnou mayest not get much pay here below,
But cheap education is a National specially,
And thou wilt get thy reward in Heaven;
The only draw back being that uCu stay est
there
When thou goest after it, and
Who remain here below for cur reward,
Miss you Ike thunder.
School, Marin, if there is anything we can DO foe
you
Call on US!
pply early and avoid toe rush
Office hours from to p. n
We were schooiboy once ourkef
And can show the marks Of it.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17

low them Arthur talking gayly, as
though determined to ignore the fact
that he is thoroughly unwelcOme to his
companion; Florence, with head erect
and naughty footsteps and eyes care
fully ayerted.
Past the hall, through the corridor.
up the staircase. through the galleries,
along more corridors they go, laughing
and talking eagerly until they come at
last to an old and apparently much dis
used part of the house.
TTayerSing more corridors. upon
which dust lies thickly, they come at
last to a small irOn-bound door that
blocks the end of one passage.
Now we really begin to get near it,"
says Sir Adrian encOuragingly, turning
as he always does, when opportunity
offers, to address himself solely to Flor
ence.
Don't you feel creepy-creepy?" asks
Ethel Villiers, with a smOtheTed laugh,
looking UP at Captain RingwOod.
Then Sir Adrian pushes open the
door, revealing steep flight of stone
steps that leads upward to another
door above. This door, like the lower
one. is bound with iron.
This is the tower" explains Sir Ad-
rian. still acting as cicerone to the
small party, who look with interest
around them. Mrs. Talbot, affecting
nervousness. clingS closely to Sir Adj
rian'S arm. Indeed she is debating in
her own mind whether it would be eff
fective or otherwise to subSide into a
graceful sWoon within his arms. lyon
der is the door of the chamber" con-
tinueS Sir Adrian. Come let us go up
to it."
They all ascend the last flight of
stone stairs: and presently their host
opens the door, and reveals to them
whatever mystery may lie beyond. He
enters first, and they all follow him,
but as if suddenly reeollecting some
important point, he turns, and calls
loudly to Captain Ringwood not to let
the door shut behind him.
There is peculiar spring in the
lock-" he explains moment later;
and, if the door slammed to. we should
find it impossible to open it from the
inside, and might remain here prison.
ers forever unless the household came
to the rescue"
"Oh. Captain Ringwood. pray be
careful" cries Dora falteringly. Our
very lives depend upon your atten-
ton"
Miss VilIiers, do come here and help
me to remember my duty" says Capt.
RingWood. planting his back against
the open door lest by any means 1t
should shut.
The chamber IS round. and has, in
stead of windows, three narrow aper-
lures in the walls, through which can
be obtained glimpse of the sky, but OF
nothing else. These apertureS are just
large enough to admit a mans hand
The room is without furniture of any
description, and on the boards the dark
stains Of blood are distinctly visible.
To be continual |
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
Pulyerising the Soil in Winter.

.fhBaoeiphla Record
Flowing the ground late in the season
is an excellent method of pulverizing it
and putting it in fit condition for
spring planting. But all soils are not
all alike, and hence in ORDER to deIive
the best results the farmer must thorough
ly understand the character OF the soil
and make those preparations for adapt
ing 1t to its purposes that may be neces-
sary. The frost is the winter agent for
reducing the soil. The hardest and
toughest clods are compelled to yield to
the powerful effects of heat and cold. and
particles are reached by frost that are
beyond the most complete implements
invented by man. When the pillow throws
up the soil the rains, dews and melting
SHOWS are permitted to enter and sink
down to alower depth that when the soil
is hard and compact. AS the moisture
freezes 1t naturally expands and forces
the particles apart. As this contraction
and expansion alternates with the chang
es of temperature the work of disintegra-
ton continues until the warm days of
spring.
Some soils are, however, injured by
fall blowing, being compacted by the
early spring rains; but such soils are usu-
ally of heavy clayed consistency. It is
in the management of such soils that the
farmer has an opportunity to experiment
and use his skill and Judgment. When
blowing in the fall the subsoil pillow
should follow in the furrow behind the
one that turns over the top soil, so as
to open the earth to as great depth
as possible. Rut unless the
land has been undetermined
the water will have 10 escape
from below. When heavy rolling soils
are left updisturbed during winter much
of the water flows away from the surface.
! but when deeply plowed it soaks in. If
it can not readily escape below the soil
becomes cold, and though the frost may
| pulverize it finely, yet the heat of the sun
will bake the surface and leave the earth
cold and wet below.
Undertaking not only permits the
! passing off of the excess of moisture, but
allows the air to enter from above and
below. As the level of the water is low
cred the air follows, and the soil is not
only warmed, but chemical changes oc-
cur, the land produces larger crops, while
the work of cultivation is more easily
! performed. Thus, by understanding,
subsolling, and blowing in the fall or
early winter, the soil Obsorbs moisture,
| dlT anu neat, anu uOeS NOT Dake IN spring
while the frost puIverizes it to the finest
degree.
With these preparations at the season
the farmer is saved much valuable time
during the busy season of the year. The
stubble and sod decompose and gradual
ly become plant food, while the insects,
and especially the dreaded cut-worm, are
destroyed or lessened in number. Such
soil will also contain greater proper
ton of moisture during drouth owing to
its capillary attraction and the fine CON
condition to which it is reduced. But, no
matter what the first preparation may be,
the farmer who makes good use of the
| harrow in the spring will be amply re
! paid at harvest time.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
The Uses of Straw.
-

From the Farm, Field aud Stcckman.
The value of straw is too little taken in
to account either on or off the farm. Too
many farmers seem to act on the principle
that it should be fed to cattle. This is
the least i'm portantof its uses. its value as
food is so slight that cattle fed exclusively
on straw woald die about as soon as when
fed on any such substance, as dead leaves,
for instance, the only use of which is to
properly distend the stomach. The feed
ing use of straw, therefore, is only in
connection with concentrated food.
But there are other uses of the straw of
cereal grainsSRhich render it an import
ant integer in farm economy. One of
these is the covering of sheds. Another
and the most important is its use as bed
ding for animals. Another use to which
it may be probably used when cold and
wind are severe, is in forming an impervi-
Gus barrier, by filling space foot wide
between two rough walls of sheds. These
walls may be made of any rough material,
as slabs, poles, but near enough together
to prevent the pulling out of straw by the
animals. Thus sheds and stables may be
rendered as warm as much more costly
structures.
The use of straw is to much ignored as
a means Of comfort used as bedding for
animals. Under sheds it should be laid a
foot thick, and in the yards not less than
six inches. In stables that are regularly
cleaned it should be not less than six in
ches in thickness. Thus it will fully soak
up and hold the liquids and retain them
while spread on the land to be plowed
under. 1t takes no more material as bed
ding six inches in thickness than less, for
only the soiled portions need be removed
The added value to TIE animal in cOnserv-
ing warmth is not generally estimated.
1t not only keeps animals comfortable,
but as manure straw is valuably prin-
cipally in proportion to the liquid man
ure it has soaked up. 1t will pay to use
literally in the directions we have men.
toned, and less SO as a food in winter
than is generally practiced.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
Ventilation of Stables.
Practical Farmer


The necessity of pure air is as urgent
for horse or cow as for human be-
ing, and it is fact that the wants of ami
mails in this particular are quite as fire.
quently disregarded. In some respects
brute animals have the advantage; in
Others human beings have. The stables
of brutes are seldom made as tight, as
exclusive of external air, as the dwellings,
of man, and they do not have such ex-
hausters of oxygen and manufacturers of
carbOnic acid gas as stoves to corrupt and
poison the atmosphere they breathe. But
then, on the other hand, they stand and
lie IN their own excrements and are forced
to breathe the ammonia and other mcphi-
tic gases rising therefrom. Besides this
horse or COW having much larger lungs
and consuming much greater volumes of
oxygen, exhausts the vital properties of
the atmosphere much more rapidly.
There is another consideration too
generally disregarded, in constituting
stables for farm animals, and that is the
placing of the hay-mow before or above
the animals so that the fodder receives
their breath with all the impure exhala-
tions of the lungs. Few stop to think
that there can be anything wrong in this,
yet there can be little doubt that the
quality and healthfulness of the hay is
greatly affected in this way.
The question of the proper ventilation
of human habitations, and especially of
school rooms, churches and lecture-room.,
has always been preplexing one, and is
far from being settled now, after years
and centuries of discussion. How to ex-
pei the vitiated air and admit pure air,
without at the same time admitting a
dangerous draft has been the source of
the perplexity. We know that portion
of the carnations from lungs and skin
is lighter than the atmosphere, carburet-
ted and supplemented hydrogen, rising to
the upper part of room or stable, and
another portion, carbonic acid gas, is
heavier, sinking to the lower part; how
shall ventilatOrs be arranged so as to CON
duct the v:tiated air from both the upper
and the lower levels? These questions
are much more easily asked and answer
ed. 4 perfect system of ventilation is
yet to be devised.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
What Worried the Statesman.
R,gt0u PararJ

Rising Statesman to Reporter: I'm
very glad to see you, but of course you
will not mention that this is my birth
day, and that many of my friends have
called"
eporter.-"What else would you like
to have suppressed in the same way?"
I'm afraid that something will be said
about the fact that 1 am sending my fam
lily to Europe for the winter"
Does anything else worry you?'
Nothing but this: Isn't there danger
that what you put in the daily will also
appear in the weekly edition? Then, too,
I am anxious lest it may be necessary to
give weeks notice for a thousand extra
copies or so, and that my friends may be
disappointed about getting the papers"
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
CABBAGE SOUP.

Take one piece of veal, beef or mutton
you can afford; put it into some cold
water and let it boil, removing the scum
as 1t rises; have ready some onions or
leeks, Parseley, turnips and a carrot cut
IN thin slices; let it simmer one hour,
then add pepper and salt. boil quickly,
make two three or according to
family-small currant dumplings the size
of an egg and the heart OF very close,
tiny cabbage thoroughly picked, washed
and divided into quarters. After having
removed the stalk, put the dumplings
and cabbage into the soup: let it boil for
half an hour when it Will be ready to
serve. Put your meat and dunn pings on
a separate dish and your soup in tur-
cen or deep pie dish; do not strain, but
serve as it is. This is considered in some
countries rare, good dinner, but to deli
cate appetites and children 1t is in my
opinion, far too strong. Potatoes should
be boiled separate and can be either mash
ed or served whole according to discre-
ton
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
CHOCOLATE PUDDING.

One quart of milk, four tablespoonfuls
of corn starch or flour, four tablespoon
tuls of sugar, four tablespoonfuls of boil
ing water, two eggs, one tablespoonful of
salt. Reserve cup of milk and put the
remainder on to boil. Put water, sugar
and chocolate IN sauce pan and stir over
hot fire for minute, when the mixture
should become smooth and glossy, then
stir 1t into the boiling milk. Mix the
corn-starch in the cold milk, add beaten
eggs and salt, stir this into boiling milk,
beating well for about three minutes: turn
into mold that has been dipped in cold
water, and let it stand fifteen minutes.
Serve with whipped cream, sugar and
cream, or vanilla sauce.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
\ Lawyer Surprised.
Boston Transcript.

Lawyer Awe gained my case, old
boy, and my client escapes the halter.
Lawyer BLOW did you DO it?
A.-NOw you ask me hard one. The
case had been given to the jury, and they
had been out a couple of hours, when
they sent in a communication asking for
instructions. 1t turned out that they only
wanted to ask a very trifing. irrelevant
question. They wished to know if the
senior counsel for the defense, meaning
me, was employed by the defendant or
assigned by the. government. They were
told that was engaged by the defendant.
Well, they returned to their room, and in
less than three minutes they again came
into court with a verdict acquitting my
client On the ground of insanity. / never
was so SURPRISED in my life.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
Important,

When you visit or leave New York City, save
Baggage, Expressage and So Carriage Hire, and
stop at the Grand Union Hotel, opposite
Grand Central Depot.
III Lon dollars, 81 and upwards per day. Euro
peau plan. Elevator. Restaurant supplied with
tie best. Horse cars. stages and elevated rail
rrui II all depCtS. Families can live better FIR
less money at the Grand Union Hotel than at
any other iirst-ClaSS hotel in the city.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17

with over "a per cent of cob, would yield
only about hfty-two and three-fourths
pounds of corn to seventy pounds of ears
difference of 1315 per cent in favor of
the former.
Again, the heaviest ears, lot sos, aver
aging nineteen and one-eighth ounces
each, had 15115 per cent of cob. Then in
some of the prizetakiug samples the ears
were but six or eight inches long, and of
comparatively light grass, weight, the
other merits turning the scale in their
favor. The intelligent, investigating
reader viii find very many points in the
table worthy of examination and numer-
Gus comparisons that will be both inter
esting and instructive.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
What He Wanted Lampblack for.
Buffalo Express,

A few evenings ago a fne-looking, we'll
dressed negro, as black as black can be,
entered drug store and inquired semi
confdentially of the clerk: DO you keep
lampblack?"
81 can give you some," was the reply;
how much do you want?"
We'll, you see, sah-ah-is it very nice:
would like a little, sab, IN pretty box
like those" pointing at boxes contain
ing toilet articles in the showcases.
Well, " said the clerk, obviously, 81
dunno; what do you want it for:"
For de toilet, sab; for my wife-she
powdahs, sah!'
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
THESE ARE SClENTIFIC FACTS,
WARMERS SAFE CURE
Drain the swamps.

Drain the swamps. Col. Thos. Coggs-
well, Chinatown, n. H., reports twelve
tons of good market hay cut from three
and half acres of reclaimed waste lands
at the two cuttings last year and the
present, these being the first valuable
crops the land has ever produced since
it was in swampy, rocky forest.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-17
ROUGH on RATS. Z"

Clears out rats. mice. reaches, flies, ants. bed
bugs, beetles, Insects skunks, Jack rabbits spar
ross, gophers. I5c. at druggists.
brotheE-in-Isw Of weiI-known United
States senator drives a cab 10 Washington for o