davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
To Simplify Selling,
Practical Farmer

Our soillng systems are generally too
elaborate, too many kinds of plants being
employed and too com plicated arrange
ment presented. This is Encouraging,
aud has the tendency to deter the unin-
itiated from engaging in soiIiEg. What
is wanted Is to simplify the process as
much as possible, and this may be done
with equal benefit TO the stock, with less
care and labor. A full demand may be
met with rye, orchard grass and clover.
Corn Is not sufficiently nutritious; only
the richest plants should be used. Rye
has the advantage of being sown late in
the season, SO as rot to interfere with
summer groupings, and 1T is the earliest
and most thrifty spring grower of all the
soilipg plants, admitting of the earliest
cutting, and of second cutting if the
first is made before the crop is too far
advanced. Il is then in tender state,
and is more readily digested and OF more
benefit than IF allowed to attain more
mature condition. It readily and fully
responds TO manure, and seems TO thrive
better with less manure than other soil
ing plants, especially if planted i'll its
favorIte soil, which is sandy loan. 1t
will here afford more benefit perhaps
than any other plant.
Orchard grass follows close upon rye,
and will fill up the time till clover is fit
to be used, and after that to the end of
the season. It thus becomes the prin-
cipal feed; the other plants, for variety
and early feed, are only supplemental.
! Only q small proportional amount of rye
need be grown, as orchard grass is nearly
as early, and the more that can be used
of it tbs oetter. 1t is the cheapest of ell
| the rich foods grown, requiring only to
be cut and fed, whereby avoid the labor
OF putting in the crop and the expense
OF seed which apply to clover and rye.
| The latter. aside from being an early
| feed, also favors the seeding down of
clover for which it is best of all grains,
| the in its turn preparing the land for the
rye and for other crops, which it does
better than any other plant, both in
mellowing and enriching the soil. 1t
should be raised largely so as to serve
not only as part of the summer feed, but
as hay, also, which forms The principal
| fodder for winter.
! By following this sinplified course tie
best results are obtained with the least
labor and expense. The plants are all
rich in nutrItive properties, and show
their good qualities at the milk pail an
in the condition of the COWS. The enrich.
| ing effect of the clover in connection with
the manure made will keep up the land
at high point of productiVeness, with
out. as a rule, the necessity Of resorting
to commercial manures.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
Harvest Hints.
Farm, Home and Factory.

Get everything in readiness for har-
vest. Commence cutting the wheat as
soon as the grain begins TO harden. Cut
clover when Just past full bloom and be-
fore it gets too ripe. Cure timothy and
redtop just after full bloom. Cut millet
and Hungarian soon as the seed has
formed. Cut oats by the time the grain
begins to harden. Cure clover in the
cock. Wheat can be stacked in very
short time after cutting and while con-
tanning more moisture than would do
with any other crop. Oats should be
well cured before stacking. Ordinarily
timothy or redtop cut in the morning can
be stacked or slowed away in the after
noon. So far as possible, everything
that can be made into good stock food
should be saved. The number of stock
we can make the farm winter depends
upon how carefully we husband the crops
now.
Prepare to SOW good crop OF turnips
1t is not too late yet to SOW fodder corn
Buckwheat can be sown after wheat Is
harvested. Keep up the cultivation OF
the corn and potatoes until the crop i;
made. In finishing up the cultivation
have the surface of the soil reasonably
level. Cucumoers for pickles can be
planted now. 1t is good time to plant
winter squashes. Sweet corn planted
now will give roasting ears before frost
Continual warfare must be kept uI
against pests of all kinds. If you secure
good cabbage, thor ough cultivation mus
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
Household Notes.

Never try to get whipped cream by
beating your COW.
If you value his morals do not per-
NIT your 6-month-old baby to read
lola.
1t is right to open camp-meetino
with prayer, but you can not open
oysters that way.
If YOU would be forever rid of corns
take a tablespoonful of powdered
strychnine every hour until needed re-
lief sets in.
Do not believe the man who tellsyou
that good way to remove moles from
your cheek is to battle the same in oil
OF vitriol. This is one way, but bet
ter would be to cut off your head.
1t Is no longer de rigueur infashion-
able circles to spank naughty children.
The use OF the mustard plaster judi
ciously placed is 4 much more eloquent,
not to say effective mode of punish
ment.
If you do not like Your cook and are
too timid to discharge her dock her
wages 81 for each Sunday out and
charge her 60 cents apiece for her
cousins meals. She will leave YOU
without notice.
A pleasant way to let your neighbor
know what you think of him if YOU
think unpleasantly is to hire parrot
and size your neighbor up in his pres
enee. After few dozen lessons the
parrot should be hung where the peo-
pie next door can hear him. The de-
sired object will be attained in 4 few
days and your neighbor will have no
redress except to sue the parrot for
SANDER, which is about as satisfactory
as getting a hen to lay cornerstone.
Do not lie in bed in the mornings.
The early bird catches the worm, and
if you are up Il sufficiently long time
before him you may read your
neighbours papers before he comes
down to take them from the step.
Your gains will depend largely upon
the number of papers your neighbor
takes, but cent day nets you $3.50
a year, except in leap year when you
will make cent more. In following
out this plan remember it is not COM
patible with the Obligations of a good
neighbOrhOod to cut out items which
you think will interest your wife.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
How to Manure at the Low est Cost
PHILADELPHIA Record.

Ore of the heavi est items IN manure
ing the land is the hauling and spread
ing. This expense can not easily be
avoided, but there are many methods of
enricbing land that are available, though
not always practiced. Where large
amount of produce is sold off the farm,
the fe1tilizing elements go with it and If
the fertility of the soil is to be retained,
something must be brought on the farm
to take the place of that which is sold off.
No farm will remain fertile unless the
plant food necessary Eor the growing
| crops is provided, and manure will not
retain fertility If it comes from 20 source
but the farm itself, as sooner or later the
supply must be exhausted. On stock
farms, where large quantities of bran,
middlings and ground grain are bought
and fed, no difficulty will be experienced,
but on farms devoted to the growth of
crops, and the crops sold off the farm,
the use of artificial fertilizers permits of
return to the soil of the necessary plant
| food in a concentrated form, the labor of
| their application being but small ex
| pense. Green manuring is the cheapest
mode of enriching land, as no hauling is
required. There is considerable labor
required in blowing land so treated, but
the blowing itself is beneficial, as it re-
duces the land to finer condition and
assists in destroying weeds and grasses.
No field should remain idle. When one
crop comes off another should go in. If
| the second crop can not be marketed, let
it be ploYed under for manure. Early
potatoes can easily be removed in time
for green manural crop, such as buck
| wheat, peas and oats, mi!let, Hungarian
oats or corn. These crops need not grow
very high. Under no circumstances
should they be allowed to mature seed,
even if the season permitted but should
! be turned under green, so as to quickly
decompose- large majority of far
mers, after harvesting their corn leave
the field until spring. How much better
it would be to pillow the field and SOW it
thickly with rye, turning the rye under in
spring for potato crop. The blowing
of the corn land would deoompose large
quantities Of weeds and grass, as well as
corn roots, white the rye SO grown
if preferred, can be made to do good ser
vice for early grazing by stock in the
spring. Other crops may be followed by
green mahurial crops in like manner
| thereby enriching the soil by the decom-
position of its own elements and saving
hauling to that extent. The manure
heap should also be composed of fine
material which will lessen the labor OF
handling the manure when the time ar
rives for spreading it on the land.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
The Wonderful Flea

The wonderful flea is the subject Of q
SIX etch in the Swiss Cross. It says:
The legs of flea are marvels OF
strength and elasticity. They are joined
to the body by long tendons that act like
wire springs. In making its leap, which
it is said, can cover 200 times iCs own
length, the flea draws the leg up close to
the body and then throws it out with
great force; but the impulse proceed
from the first joint alone, the others only
increasing it by their stretch while the
leap is being made.
Fleas are possessed of great strength.
Mounet tells of mechanic who made a
gold chain, as long as his finger that a
flea dragged after him, ard a golden
chariot, which he drew also. Bingley
writes of a matchmaker in the Strard
who had an ivory chaise, with coach
man on its box, drawn by flea. The
same man afterwards made a carriage
with six horses, coachman, four persons
inside, two footmen behind and pos
tillion on one Of the horses; all of which
was drawn by a single flea. Latiella
mentions a flea which dragged silver
cannon of twenty-four times its own
weight, mounted on wheels, and showed
no fear when it was charged with gun
powder and fired off. Rene says that he
saw three fleas drawing tiny omnibus;
that a pair drew chariot and that q
brass cannon was drawn by a single
one.
Fleas are quarrelsome and great fight
ers. When several are confined in a
glass, ttey will stand on their hind legs,
striking at their opponents with the
others. and roll over and over eaah other
losing legs and antenna, and at last Civ
ing Up their lives in the fight. There is
record of flea which lived ten days
after such an encounter, with no antenna,
three plates of his side broken in, one
eye gone, and with only four legs, and
these cut eff to the frs joint.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
Cultivation Of SquasheS.
New England Farmer.

Many people object TO raising winter
squashes in the garden for two reasons.
They are subject to bugs and require SO
much space TO grow in. Squash bugs can
be kept III check by the use OF sulphur.
After a reasonable growth has been made,
pinch of the ends of all runners. 1t is
by no means necessary to let vine run
over "au creation" because it is SO dis
posed. It is good idea TO plant squash
es neat fence, as they take kindly to
any sort of trellis. Fine squashes have
been grown in this way, ripening quicker
AID more evenly than on the ground. No
better variety Of squash is grown than
the Essex hybrid. 1t is fine-grained and
solid, of good flavor, very productive,
and most excellent keeper. Housekeep-
ers who have tired cutting from Hub
bard sqaush in hurry will fad the Essex
hybrid much easier to manage, ana equal
~ good.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
MOnOSyUableS.

Mine be the force of words that tax the
tongue
But once, to speak them round and full and
clear.
They suit the speech. or song, or suit the ear.
Like bells that give one tone when they are
rung;
Or bird notes on the air, like rain-drops flung,
That pour their joy for all who pause to hear.
Their short, quick chords and duh sense
charm and cheer
That tires and shrinks from words to great
length strung.
Strong. words. of old. that shot right to the
brain.
And hit the heart as soon, were brief and
terSe.
Who finds them now, and fits them to his
sling.
Smooth stones from brooks of English are his
gain,
Which shall make strong his thought, in prose
or verse,
Wills he with scribes to write. or bards to
sing.
William G. Richards in Harper's Magazine.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
Feed and Drink Vessels.
San Francisco Alta California.

The bottoms Of old wash boilers which
are often thrown away or sold for few
cents, make good feed pans and if taken
care of Will last for years. prefer these
to wooden feed trOughs, because you can
scour and clean them thoroughly in few
minutes which you cannot do with wood
troughs, rs they get sour in short time
and are more liable to spread disease.
For drinking vessels | take the botsom
of an old teaksttle. | cover this up after
the water is put in only leaving few
small spaces for the chicks to put their
heads through; thereby the water will
keep clean and cool. Inave managed in
this way for years with many chicks and
have not lost one by disease.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
Franks of the Moth-Hunters.

The widest scenes of the night late
" are the frantic methods of the moth
hunters. They are mostly young gen
tlemen and ladies from Bates. who 90
out into the darkness with their long
nets and wave them across the sky.
The favorite place is beneath the cleo
trio lights, where the bugs and moths
and bats and birds of the night gather
in multitudes. Up beneath the cleo
trio lights is, in most instances, huge
black shadow. The adventurous col
lege man climbs this pole on any back
street, and in the shadow watches the
glare and swings his long bamboo
handled landing-net out into the light.
1t is wild sight-for the arm that
swings the net is in the shadow, while
the big net itself floating across the
light looks like some huge bird Of the
night swooping down after prey. A
wooing pair on back street in Lewis
ton were telling their tales of love on
Wednesday evening as they sauntered
along arm-in-arm. Suddenly they
were transfXed as a young lady shot
across the blaze of the electric light,
waving huge net and acting like a
mad-Woman. They stood still just
long enough to see a mysterious arm
projected down out of the shadow of
the light and a second huge wing float
across the illuminated space. 1t was
too much for them, and the moth
hunters had to laugh as the young man
remarked that them folks were either
fools or crazy, and that it was best for
them to turn back.-LeWist0z5 he.
Journal
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
Heard 1t Before.

"Maude," he said, softly, as he
pulled out the tremulo stop "a his
larynx, ''will you marry me?"
NO" she answered with all the
earnestness of sincere conviction.
He paused as if in deep thought, and
then said:
Strange, strange, how 4 simple
word revives scenes and impressions
tkat have passed away. I am almost
certain that l have heard that before.n
Merchant IrG55~.--
Elizabeth Of Romania IS the most
talented lady OF royal rank in the
world. The Queen, known in liteFa-
ture as Carmen SYLVIA" rises at 5
O'Clock in the morning, dresses without
assistance and. lighting Il lamp, is soon
busy with her writing.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09

Editor Willard Cobb of LockDort.
tells this story Of Roscoe Conkling's
remarkable memory. In the fail of
1866 Mr. Conkling came home 70 Utica
to make speech upon the exciting is
sues Of the hour, and the Herdtd want
ed to report it in full, but couldn't do.
it unless the orator would give it a
copy of the speech in advance. This
he did on the afternoon of tic evening
when he was to speak. and in the even
ing he delivered the speech almost
word for word as furnished Ia advance
although the effort WIS to every ap-
pearance extempOre. Il made more
than eleven solid columns of the Utica
HeTdid.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
A Lovers Stratgem.

a Young countryman who had long
loved a girl who lived mile or two
from him was nearly in despair about
winning her hand, and was on the eve
of selling out and leaving the country,
as the girl had refused him three times,
and it was out that she was engaged to
another fellow. Our hero had noticed
that his rival and the girl would walk
in an old meadow field nearly every
afternoon, and he grew madly jealous.
In his cattle he had young bull that
was always mad with everything but
his master, because he was an especial
pet. Now Dave, as he called the bull,
was to be the object with which to
satiate his revenge. He would turn
him into the meadow, hide himself,
and see his rival tossed like football.
So enc afternoon, calling to Dave, who
would follow him like dog, he re-
paired to the meadow, let the fence
down, and turned the bull in. He
then strolled off, and walked around as
miserable as a man could be who was
committing an evil deed. An hour or
so later he heard the deep muttering
of the bull, and fastening to the meadow
yards from the couple, paving dirt
and shaking his head. The man was
trying to get the girl to run, but she
was so terrified she could not move.
The bull made dash, and the fellow
ran shrieking for the fence. The bull
rushed on after the shrieking fellow.
while our disconsolate young man,
having jumped the fence, rushed to the
girl, as the bull dashed on after the
fugitive rival, and, catching her in his
arms, told her such coward was I'M
worthy of her. As Dave saw his young
master he left off pursuing the other
man, returned and went to licking his
hand, while the indignant girl vowed
she would never more speak to a man
that was afraid of COW. She soon
afterward married Dawes boss.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
Last Year and This Year,

Young man lover the counterfeit
should want to exchange this engage
ment ring for something else, it Will be
ell right won't itS
Jeweler-Oh. certainly with pleasure
We are always glad TO accommodate our
patrons.
Same young man a year later lover tie
counter)-I believe You told me when
bought this ring could exchange it for
something else?
Jeweler-Yes, sir, what will you have
Yourg maxwell, I'd like to exchange
it for barrel of -four, bushel of pota-
toes, a ham of meat and load of COAL
Puck.
Emperor William arrived at Stockh
and was received by King Oscar and the
crown prince.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
THE FARM AND HOME |
GRASS AND ROSES.
REV. JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE.

7 looked where the roses were blowing;
They stood among grasses and reeds;
I said. "Where such beauties are growing
Why suffer these paltry weeds:n
Weeping, the poor things faltered,
I'VE have neither beauty nor bloom!
We are grass in the roses garden,--
But our Master gives US this room.
1.-The slaves of a generous Master,
Born from world above,
We came to this place in His WISDOM
We stay to this hour from His love-
1--WE have fed His humblest creatures,
We have served HIM truly and long;
We have no grace to our features,
We have neither color nor song.
yet He who has made the roses.
Placed us on the self same sod;
He knows our reason for being
We are grass in the garden of God. ="
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
The Lady Who Fished.

! She was full of cunning crinkles. little tricks
| and willy wrinkles. to catch crabs and
periwinkles in the waters of the bay.
/ She knew all the leading iobbers in fish tackle
/ reels, and bobbers and she always
caught the robbers that would steal her
| bait away.
! She could see without her glasses how to catch
| the trout and basseS, and she gathered
in by masses victims of b willy skill
Only one thing was the matter: she could fish
| but couldn't flatter: and that made the
| young men scatter; she could never fill
the bill.
| Railway Advocate
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09

The thistle at the Antipodes seems to
attain most vigorous growth It's root
penetrates to depth of from u feet
to 20 feet, and this root. even when cut
into small pieces, retains vitality, each
root producing a new plant.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
PRACTICAL RECIPES.
GINGER POUND CAKE.

GINGER POUND UAhE'
Three cups of -four, one cup of moiasses,
ole cup of bqttermilk, one half cup OF
butter, two teaspoonfuls of saleratus' two
teaspoonfuls of cinnamon, one teaspoon
full of ginger, and two eggs.
WHIPPED CREAM FOR BERRIES.
Take cream which is not too thick as If
it is too rich it will easily turn to butter.
Have it ice cold and then beat with an egg
beater, unless you have whip churn
which gives the cream different consist
ency. Cream should treble in quantity by
whipping.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09

be given. Celery plants can be set out
now. It is not too late to plant bush
beans. Keep all the ground in the gar
den occupied. Do not allow weeds to
mature seeds.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
SUCH Is FAME.

How Some Great People Find Themselves Very
Small at Certain Times.
A society" woman at whose table Long
fellow was dining, asked him: ''Oh, Mr..
Longfellow, have you ever published a
book?" This was after two-thirds of his
life work was done. Hawthorne says that
III his later years he met many people
who knew him we'll as the ex Surveyor of
the Port of Salem, but who never knew
that he had written anything, and had
not even heard that there was such 6
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
PRESERVED Strawberries.

To every pound of fruit add one pound
Of powdered loaf sugar, sprinkle the
sugar through hem; let them stand ff-
teen minutes; them put them over hot
fire and let them boil quickly for fifteen
minutes. being careful to remove all
scum rs il rises. Seal up tightly and
keep IN cool dark place.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
SMALL SHORT CAKE.

Into one pint of sifted -four, rub one
teaspoonfuI of baking powder and ONO
tables poonful Of butter. Mix with half a
pint of sweet milk, stirring as little as
little as possible. This will make quite
soft dough, which must be fattened out
with . spoon Ga q well buttered pie pan,
and baked twenty minutes in an oven
about right for biscuit. It is better to
sift the powder in the flour before the
butter is rubbed IL. Carefully split the
cake while hot, and fill with strawberries
previously slightly mashed and sweeten-
ed TO taste. Thoroughly chilli one pin
of crea m at least tweuty-four hours old.
Whip until stiff, add two tablespoons
powdered sugar and serve with the
cake.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
DANISH PUDDING.

Three quarters cup of pear tapiooa,
one and half pints boiling water, one
salt spoonful of salt, one quarter cup of
sugar, one half tumbIer of currant jelly,
canned peach or ounce, or in summer
one pint of ripe berries, using more sugar
if necessary. Put the tapioca and boil
ing water into double boiler and cook
one hour, or until soft and transparent.
Stir often. Add the salt, sugar and cur
rant jelly, aud stir until the jelly or fruit
used is thoroughly mixed, then pour into
a glass dish and serve very cold with
suUar and cream