davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-09
THE BELLE PLANE, FLOOD.

The Well Still FlOwing-RepOrtS Exaggerated.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Sept. IA
special from Belle PLANE, says: The
artesian well here is still vomiting forth
floods of water. An engineer from Chi
cago, George Morgan, is here, but he
expresses no definite opinion yet, except
that the steps so far taken were the best
that could have been taken. This after
noon he will make an estimate of the
volume of water and capacity, and ascer-
tain as near as possible its
source. His belief is, it will in time ex-
haust itself. A cone 20 feet III length
and tapering from II to so inches, is
being made of heavy boiler iron. This
will be fastened to a 5-inch tube
loaded with sand and will be sunk
in the hope that it will gradu-
9lly settle in the hole and plug it up.
This will not be done before tomorrow.
The stories about the immense flow doing
great damage is an exaggeration. The
flow is being led off by two channels.
which are sufficient to prevent an over
flow.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-09
Autumn Seeded Grass.
Field, Farm and StOckman.

Whether to seed to grass in spring or
autumn depends on circumstances. On
some lands when the weather is favorable
fall seeding will seem to do the best. But
often when autumn months are dry the
gross gets such poor start that unless
the winter Is favorable it makes but a
poor showing the following spring. Cr1ck-
cts and grasshoppers do much drmag e
to fall seeded land. In dry weather the
young grass starts slow, and makes but
little growth, and at such times the in
sects are usually very plenty, and on the
border of the new seeded land they often
eat thestender grass as fast as it grows
until it is entirely destroyed. By seed
ing in spring we would avoin these
causes of failurs. By seeding in spring
with grain we save the blowing and har-
rowing or the land for one crop, as two
crops are sewn together. When grass
seed is sown in spring with grain on good
we'll prepared land, it is almost sure to
start and grow well till the grain ripens
and is harvested. If the grass fails it is
usually at this time. We have noticed
that whec the grain was cut green for
fodder the grass did mach better than
when it was left to ripen.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-09

try house, adds to the appearance of the
place?
The small mess of milk furnished by
one COW may be far richer than the larg-
er quantity obtained from another cow.
And it is the butter yield that is the best
test of a COWS value.
The greatest kindness you can do to a
young chick is to simply leave it alone
for the first tWenty-four hours of its ex-
istencc. There will be little difficulty ex-
perienced in getting it to eat shortly af-
terward.
Injudicious training will develop and
even impart vices and faults to the horse
which do not materially belong to its dis
position. The horse must be handled
almost with kindness, care and Judgment
to insure its being sure, safe and obedi-
ent animal.
Muddy barnyards will cause the milk to
fall off. When COWS are compelled to
stand knee deep in mud with their bodies
plastered over with it, dirt will find its
way into the pail, while additional food
will be necessary to supply that lost from
cold and exposure.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-09

for is not the most delightful part of a
dolls daily toilet the brushing and comb
ing of her hair? Then there are many
qualities of hair, from the best mohair to
the common fax.
We have said little about the tinting of
lips and cheeks, processes which involve
a nice appreciation of effect. So far doll
fanciers seem to be believers in the ruddy
hue of health, for we have never yet seen
an interesting" doll with cheeks of the
color of underdone pastry. But it would
be rash to speculate upon the future, for
the new science of taste may yet in
fuence even the nursery and the doll
trade.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-09
Train the Calves to Lead.
Nebraska Cultivator.

It should be considered as much part
of every heifer calf's education to be
broken or trained to lead by the head as
for the steer to work in the yoke. Before
a calf that is to be raised has reached the
age of four weeks, at should follow the
lead of halter or cord around the neck
as kindly as an old horse. It requires
but a few lessons at this easily age, and
the lessons once bearned, will never be
forgotten.
1t is a serious fault in heifer Or COW
that it will not lead easily by a boy or a
person of only ordinary strength. We
have seen COWS that required the power
of q heavy pair of horses to lead them at
the tail of a cart and sometimes to drag
them upon the ground to the great risk
of the lives or the usefulness of the ami
mails.
Officers of the Humane Society have
had occasion to arrest farmers for cruelty
in leading unframed COWS in this way,
and very bitter feelings and some expen-
sive law suits have got up from such
treatment of animals. All this might
have been avoided by half hours lead
ing of the animal when it was a calf.
GAS the twig is bent, the tree is Inclined"
is as applicable to the training of a calf
as to the bringing up of child.
The best trained steer at our cattle
shows are those which farm boys have
handled freely when but two or three
weeks old. We have seen a four weeks
steer calf that was chandelier" than many
mature oxen.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-09
FARM, HOME AND GARDEN
A WIFE'S LAMENT.
OMAHA WORLD.

I know a mountain. high and grand
And scanned with chasms dark and deep;
Dark stern, magnificent IL stands
And guards the hamlet at its feet.
Through cloud and fog and morning mist,
Unmeved by tempest, storm, or time;
And when the sun its brow has kissed
TIC smiles with radiance sublime!
The fertile valley lies below
Clothed in her Shimmering summer dress.
And smiledup to the gray, cold rock
That guards, but stoops not to caresS.
know face, kingly face.
That towers high above my own,
An artists eye, q form OF grace,
poets soul-a heart of stone!
He stands unmoved by praise or blame,
With conscious power and mind complete,
He lives for labor. art and fame,
Nor needs the offerings at his feet.
I'd give the world were the sun,
To kiss to smiles that naughty face,
And see the lightning glance OF love
Light up those eyes with tender grace,
nestle mutely at his feet,
He shields me from the storms of life,
/ bring kim offerings pure and sweet,
A worshipping, devoted wife,
But ahl bis heart, once all my OWE,
FOrgers the gracious tenderness
OF bygOne days. / sit alone,
He guards, but stoops not to caress.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-09
Grape Vines from Cuttings.
American Cultivator.


No kind of wood will more easily grow
from the eye than the grape vine. For
this reason the rapid propagation of new
varieties is very easy matter. The nur
serymen use single-eye cuttings in green
houses, and this is a very good way wher-
ever bottom heat can be furnished. But
all this trouble and expense are not need
ed, provided the right course is taken and
enough buds or eyes let on the cutting.
Every nurseryman do not rely on the
s1ngle-eye method. 1t is only used, in
fact for new varieties when wood is
scarce, and 1t is desirable to increase the
vines as fast as possible. Cuttings set in
the open ground should be prepared early
IL the spring, leaving two, or at most
three, eyes on piece. The lower part
must be cut off square at the bulge where
a bud has formed. Then remove this
lowest bud with a sharp knife so as to
make a clean cut. Leave the top eve lust
at the surface of the soil, which must be
packed around the lower part very close
". Plant in rows three feet apart. and
run the cultivator through once a week to
keep the weeds down. Plant cuttings six
to eight inches apart in the row and keep
down weeds with a hoe. If the season is
fairly favorable four-ffths of these cut
tings will make strong rooted plants by
the 1st of July. There is no need of be-
ing discouraged about those that at this
time show no signs of putting forth a
shoot. Pull one up and you will find the
bottom calloused and fine, white, thread
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
NOTES.

It is noticeable fact that fruit
growers who cultivate but few acres
usually reap the largest rewards, as
compared with the extent of their eff
forts. This is owing to the fact that
that they can select the choicest
ground, make it exceedingly rich, and
give it the best cultivation; whereas,
large cultivators are compelled to take
the average land, usually fertilize il
sparingly, and cultivate as they may
be able.
A goose farm is one of the curiosi-
tie of agriculture on the eastern shore
of Virginia. Within an area of {, 600
acres live 5000 geese, of several varie-
ties, attended by herders and regular
" feed with corn, etc. The object is
the collecting of down for quilts and
pillows, and once in about six weeks
plucking takes place. Only the
breast and the slider under the wings
are plucked, and it requires the yield
OF nearly 100 geese TO weigh pound.
The raw feathers are sent to PhiladeI-
phia for cleaning and sorting.
In the horse, coed width between
the eyes, the eyes prominent butsplac-
id, with a good height from the eye
to the ear, are good indications of in
telligence. If the forehead is promi-
nent and smooth, 1t indicates mild,
equable temper. A round barrel in
dicates good digestion; a double loin
strength; an oblique shoulder, sure
footed. With fiat, hard bones, long
IN the arms, speed Is indicated.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
Value of Green Manure.
Farm Field and Stockman.

In Europe the value of green crops,
plowed under for manure, is now at
tracing special attention. Vetches
there are favorite crop to be plowed
under. In this country, North, red
clover is the great renovating crop, in
the South the cow pea, not really a
pea, but bean, is largely used. From
foreign exchanges we fad that in Sax
ony and Silesia, where an almost
purely sandy soil abounds, where
there is consequently but little fodder
and cattle feeding will not pay the
want of ordinary manure has led to
the practice of employing instead
such green crops as the clover and
vetches.
So soon as the rye "a common crop
in Savony - has lowered, yellow
vetch seed is sown among it in proper
ton of two and half bushels to the
acre. Protected by the rye stalks, the
vetches soon sprout, but are still too
young at harvest time to be touched
by the reaping machine. Immediate
ly afterward they shoot ahead rapidly,
and ought to be in full flower by Sep
tenber. The field is then we'll rolled,
SO SIS to thoroughly Clay" the plants,
and the plow follows the roller plough
ing in the vetch crop. Every four or
five years about $50 pounds to the
acre of some of the common phosphates
are spread over the ground before the
passage of the plow. This treatment
enables the Saxon farmer to get a
good wheat crop out Of his land after
several fae crops of rye.
the great quantity of nitrogen in
the succulent green plants works the
chief part of the miracle, while the
decomposition of the fresh vegetable
matter under ground gives off carbol-
ic acid, which attacks the inert sill
catee and turns them into asSimilable
salts. But beside this the vetches,
until they have quite rotted away,
hold moisture for tue roots of the fol
lowing grain crop-a great point ia
sandy ground-and when decompo
sition is complete they gives vege-
table mold which is invaluable as a
bond in loose, silicious soil.
Prof. Vile, of the Paris Natural
Museum, is making great efforts to
Introduce this system in the vast
tracts Of similar poor land in France.
The expense is not great; in fact, the
manure is relatively cheap, not cost
ing as much as So so an acre.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08

off the water, uncover the kettle, al
lowing the steam to escape, thereby
rendering the potatoes mealy.
The secret In MASKING pot atoes is to
have all the utensils used as hot as
possible, and beat the mass till light
instead of pressing down smooth and
solid, adding cream, butter and salt
as will. a desirable result is reached
by rubbing the mashed potatoes
through a hot colander, leaving
them just as they fall into the dish.
Baked potatoes should be served the
minute they are done; better serve
with bone in them than wait till
they become soggy. The average
oven does not heat as quickly as wat
er on top of the stove will boil, so
whenSbake6 potatoes are wanted in
hurry they may be partially boiled,
then put into the oven to finish.
During the cold weather it is just
as well to wash a1week's supply,.ot po-
tatoes at once as only enough for one
meal; short broom will shorten this
process. After washing, dry well,
and keep in cool, dry place. The po-
tato is valuable agent for clarifying
fat of any kind and absorbing un-
pleasant odors. Put thin slices in the
fat and fry till crisp and brown, then
strain the fat and it will be ready for
use. A few slices in each kettleful
will kesp the odor of doughnuts, from
penetrating the house and prevent
the fat from burning. Grated, scald-
ed with boiling water and strained,
nOtat0ns Ynrke an exoe1lont starch for
darksfabrics. The juice is recommend
ed for chilbIains. Instances are given
where flowers have been sent long
distances, kept fresh, in followed
potato.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
CURRENT NEWSPAPER HUMOR.

SIS the head of the house ina" Ser.
vant-"Yis, SCR. He's in the library
tbryin TO write a letter with his new
stylographic pen. Wull yez come
in9" Book agent Chastity, ''No I'll
call again"
Winnie's mother had been comping
the little girls long and handsome
but wind tangled, ronp-snarled hair.
When the operation was finished
and it was not uRaccompanied with
several severe pnlls-Winnie asked,
''Did you get out many hairs, mann.
MAJ" eyes, DEAR" was the answer,
quite a good mana" ''Then He'll
have to number them all over again,
won't He?"
Boarding housekeeper to applicant
for room: ''What is your business
young man?r 81 am an instructor
madam. I coach deficient collegians. u
'Eh-what's that?' ga tutor, MADAM
I am a tutor" ooh, one of them
gents that plays in the band eh2 AL
right; I didn't know but what you
was one of them poor miserable fel
lows that gets their ivin' by teaching.
Come right in SIR"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
Leather frOnl Cork,

Cork leather, as produced in France,
is claimed to possess some special adj
vantages, as compared with natural
skins. In production thin sheets or
pieces of cork are covered on both
sides with an extremely thin India
rubber skin, with an ordinary textile
fabric outside Of all the whole becem-
ing thus a sort of homogeneous texture
or tissue; and although the cork sheets
ia their normal state, are readily per
meable by water, friable and brittle,
and possessed of very light strength
and cohesion, having only the positive
qualities of lightness and non conduc.
ton OF heat, get when subjected to the
treatment in question, the product is
very supple and exhibits great strength
in resisting tensile strain. While also
still retaining its comparative light
ness and impenetrability to heat, it is
both waterproof and impermeable to
moisture. The external appearance
of the material varies according to the
nature of the textile substance used in
combination with the cork.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
Why They Seek American Wives.


The popular taste over on the other
side of the water appears to be grow
ing more and more warm toward
America and Americans. The wealthy
and titled men of the Old World are
seeking with increased earnestnest
American brides, and it is erroneous
to suppose that all they are after is
the parental Doodle. There is charm
about American girls that English do
not have. The women Of great Brit
ain are brought up from their earliest
infancy to maintain submissive and
meek regard for the other sex. They
are taught that the only thing in life
for them is to marry comfortably, and
go into sort of serfdom for the rest
of their lives. No American girl goes
into matrimony with any such idea.
She is bound to get the upperhand If
she can, and she has a sweet
and brisk independence about
her that is most attractive to
men who have met with nothing but
the other sort of thing. So it is that
American girls who at first shocked
foreign society, are III great demand
in Earope nowadays as ornament to
saloon and drawing rooms, and even
as the prospective wives to nabob ma
tives.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
Sarah in Dakota,
Detroit Free Press.

A Detroiter who was returning from
Dakota the other day met an old chap
on the train in Illinois who question
ed him as to where he had been and
inquired:
MAYBE you run across my daugh-
ter out there? Her name is Wat
son."
ST do not think 1 did," was the re-
ply
out there as soon as she was mar
ried."
81 didn't see her"
Didn't you happen to ride by any
house where a woman was whis-
ling2"
mo"
"Sarah whistles, but you may have
missed her. Didn't see man and a
woman having a fight anywhere2"
No"
"Sarah and her husband have
regular set-to every two or three days
but you may have taken another road.
Didn't hear any woman hollering,
'Durn it to Goshenr supposed"
"No."
''Sarah hOllerS that when she stubs
her toe, she can be heard two mile
and 8 half if the wind is right. Meet
any woman on the highway who was
smoking a clay pipe and sloshing
right through the Maud puddles2"
mo"
That's Sarah, you know! Didn't
stop in any neighborhood where the
school-teacher had been licked and
the sewing society hustled to gosh,
eh9"
mo"
''That's Sarah again. I guess you
didn't travel around much"
''But Dakota is great territory, you
know2'
Eyes, suppose, but if you had been
at one end while Sarah was hollering
her husband to dinner at the other,
you must have heard her. Maybe
you are little deaf"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
SOrter Mixed.
Detroit Free Press

Shortly after the war tourist on a
southern river steamboat, lettering
around the lower deck, observed an
old darby seated on the edge of the
boat swinging his legs over the waer
in q most comfortable manner, and
drawing near entered into converse
ton:
"Old man, how do you like your
freedom?"
The old darby looked puzzled, and
after scratching his head thoughtful-
", and shaking it obviously awhile,
replied:
glossy, hits sorter mixed"
What do you mean by that. my
friend?n
''Well, bossy, hits dis yer way.
Endurin' slave time I wuz on dis yer
up-riber boat an wuz to fall into emmy
leetle cat-naps, like rs nifty APP to do
an drap overbode, somebody'd screech
out: Nigga overbodep an de wissel
'ud blow, an de backin' bell nd ring,
an dey'd hab me out'n dat riber fo'
toch water mos. But desc here days,
do rs jes ez sleepyfed ez I useter wuz
an old man Mods jes ez APP ter grab
me, ter drap overbode, Mars Mate 'ud
sing out:
:" Man overbode!
Mar Cap'n on de harry-cane roof
ID boiler down:
"'Who is it?'
''Dey'd spon:
" 1t am nobody but er d freed
mani
can bessy, dey mout fling out er
ropes end fur nae ter lay holt on
but stop dat whole boats Ne-sn-ee
bub! Cayse you see rs jes lik emmy
or'nary white trash new-wuf muffin
ter nobody"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
Preparing Potatoes.

Anna Barrow says in Good House
keeping: A coed potato when cut
will show light cream color, and a
white froth will be the result of rub
bing the cut surface together. Reject
that variety where drops of water ap-
pear. Another test is to put potatoes
into solution of salt; the good will
sink, the poor float. The juice of po-
tatoes is disagreeable, if not absolute
II poisonous, and should always be re-
moved. The poisonous element escap-
es in the steam when potatoes are
baked and remains in the water where
they are boiled; hence that should not
be used for yeast, or for any other
food.
For soups, etc, potatoes should be
sliced, covered with cold water, and
allowed to stand some time before US
ing. The water draws out the juice
and keeps the slices from turning dark,
as they would if exposed to the air; it
also extracts the starch from the little
albumineus cells opened by cutting,
which is desirable to render the fried
potatoes crisp.
Select those OF uniform size to cook
together, unless it is desired to have
some done before others. Much of
the saline virtue of potatoes is lost by
removing the skins before boiling
still when old, and equal advantage
is gained if after pairing the vege-
tables are left in water. Cook in boil
ing or sailed water, not allowing the
bosling to stop when once begun un-
til the potatoes are done; then pour
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
To Help a Horse.
Our Country Home

Almost any horse will do better
when fed cut feed. This term means
to cut the hay and straw about a
fourth of an inch long, and then soak
it in water for six hours, and then to
mix it with the grain ration in the
the form of meal. When prepared in
this way, a horse will require less
hay and less grain in proportion, and
really do more work.
This mode Of preparing this food is
specially benefited to old horses, and
those which have the heaves or at all
affected in their breathing. An old
horse actually running down on hay
and whole grain, will begin to thrive
when the food is prepared in this way.
The benefits are actually beyond ex-
plantations of science, so far as the
composition OF the food is concerned.
The benefits 60 beyond the real vir-
tue, or nutriment furnished by the
food, and are found ia part in which
the food does not do. 1t is In con-
densed form, but not so condensed
that the condition is unfavorable for
all digestion; but on the contrary,
most favorable, as there is medium
and proper combination of coarse and
fine material, with a judicious balance
Of constituents, all taken into the
stomach at the same time. Not so
when hay and grain are fed singly.
There is then no com bination of food,
and generally so much of the first is
given that the action of the respirat-
| Dry organs is impeded, and the dust
| arising from the hay is drawn into
the lungs, where it causes irritation
and often is the beginning of the dis
order called heaves. All working an
imals, including oxen, will do better
on cut food.
The saving in the amount of hay
will always pay for the extra labor.
We had an old horse, years ago,
which could hardly stand up when
fed dry hay, on account OF the heaves
when fed nothing but oats soaked IL
hours, he performed well and got fat,
although worked in a team every day.
We are satisfied that farmers, as a
| rule. feed their horses too much hay,
and often too much grain. They usu.
ally feed all the horses alike in their
ability to digest food. Horses may
be kept poor by overlooking as well as
by giving them too little.
Cornmeal is good for a walking
horse, but not suited to one required
to go On trot. tits never good food
for horses which have to exert them.
selves so as to get heated, nor is il
good food for horses when it is expect
ed that they will move quickly. It is
the food for the slow horse, as il
makes fabby muscles and sluggish
| action.
Oats, On the contrary, strengthen
the muscles and cool the blood. In
| winter it will be well to mix portion
of corn with the oatf to help keep up
the animal heat.