davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11
ABOUT LATE POTATOES.
How to Overcome the Dimculties Incidsuo
to Growing . Good Crop.

How to Overcome the Dimculties Incidsu3
to Growing Good Crop.
Whether late potatoes can be made a
profitable crop or not depends consider
ably upon the season Unless mulched
the yield in dry season could hardly
be made profitable, while in an aver
age season, with a reasonably good
soil and proper cultivation, very fno
crop may readily be made. There iS
always one advantage with both pota-
toes and turnips- if there is fair aver
age crop and prices are low they cam
always be fed to stock with profit,
while if they command good price
the crop is nearly always a profitable
one to sell
With all root crops il is necessary to
plow the ground deep and thoroughly,
and with late.potatoes this is especially
the case. Have the seed ready so that
the planting can be made while the
ground Is fresh. Run ont the burrows
reasonably deep and then plant and
cover carefully, stepping on the hill SO
as to press the soil down well upon the
seed In many cases it will pay to roll
after planting. especially If the soil Is
somewhat dry
Potatoes to grow well need a good
deal of moisture and for this reason, in
an ordinary season. late potatoes
should be covered tolerably deep. One
advantage in blowing and preparing
the soil deep before planting is that in
giving the cultivation afterwards the
the surface only needs to be stirred.
and, if care Is taken to stir it frequent
ly, shallow cultivation will aid TO retain
moisture in the soil, while deep culti-
walton. especially if the plants are
L \ ~
The greatest difficulty in growing
late potatoes is that 1t so often happens
tn at we have a dry spell of weather
when the tuberS are forming, and, in
consequence, the yield is light Thor
ough cultivation continued until after
the plants are in full blossom, or
mulching soon after the seeds are
planted, will in very many cases make
good crop. when in an ordinary or
| dry season, with less care in the man.
agement. the crop would prove a fall
ure. How much cultivation is neceS-
sary will depend upon the character Of
the soil and the growth and thrift of
the plants. but the soil must be kept
| clean and in a good filth and must
| be cultivated often enough to secure
| this
If mulching is followed the rows can
be made much closer together, as no
| cultivation is needed. Old wheat straw
makes the best material to use as q
mulch. 1t can be applied as soon as
the crop is planted or be delayed until
the plants are beginning to make their
appearance above ground 1t should
be applied about twelve inches thick.
so that when it settles down it will be
sufficient to keep down the weeds and
! thoroughly to protect the soil The
principal advantage in mulching is that
no cultivation is necessary, and in a
dry season especially the mois ture is
better retained in the soil.-St Louis
] Republic.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11
Copyright. 1891. by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Co.
CHAPTER vIIL-CoNr1NUEp

CHAPTER vIIL-CoNrNUED.
"What news from the river, Winters?"
The worst, General. Six gunboats
lhave advanced-two are disabled and
are drifting helplessly down the stream,
while the others seem likely to follow"
"Ah! then, after all, the blow must
be struck on land!'
And General Grant passed on,
strange, cold CLEAN of determination
lighting his usually impressive features.
Meanwhile it was faring but badly
with the hapless garrison. On the
night of the 18th council of war was
held by the beleaguered commanders.
They had done all that mortal men
could do, and knew that the end was
come. General Floyd turned over the
.. command to General Pillow, taking,
however, his brigade across the river,
and Pillow turned it over again to Buck
-ner, succeeding, too, himself, in escap-
ing in wood scow.
At daylight Grant was ready for the
final assault. But see! the white flag
waves and an officer comes from the
beleageured ranks with offers of capitu-
5iatiOn. Grants terms seem hard:
Nothing but unconditional and i'm
mediate surrender ne cried, ''or will
move upon your works"
Then Buckner sent back the bitter
message: Necessity compels me to &C
aept your ungenerous and unchivalric
TERMS and Fort Donelson was won and
fifteen thousand prisoners captured!
All, how quickly the news sped
North and South. What glad hurrahs!
what bitter tears, what JOY, what sor-
row, greeted that fallen fort.
Johnston heard the news at Nashville
and retreated in hot haste. Buell.
heard it and seized the defenseless city,
and Carey heard it at Columbus on the
Mississippi and spiked his guns and
flung them in the river, and fell back on
Island Number Ten, thirty miles away,
whose strong works he hoped would
shield him.
And two gentle women at Melton
burg heard it and on their knees
thanked God-not that Fort Donelson
was fallen-but taat their soldier-boy
was safe.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11
WHEEL DIRBER-

weight of the roller presses each peg
clear down into the soil, and thus holes
just right for the young onion plants
are made as fast as person can walk.
For lettuce, celery, cabbage or other
plants, some of these pins or pegs may
thus be opened eight or twelve inches
apart. OF course. the size of the roller
should be such that the circumference
is exactly three or four feet, otherwise
the pegs must be inserted either nearer
together or further apart, so that their
number will be Invisible by twelve. A
marker may be attached in the way
shown. i think tool of this kind
would come handy in any garden, and
do not propose to be without it much
longer.-Cor. Farm and Fireside.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11

the lower part only being made solid,
the upper part being fastened to the
stanchion by means of a coach screw.
The part is made movable and can be
pushed aside as in Fig. p In the CEN
ter of the swing door is strong wood
en- bolt. b, whose construction may be
readily seen from the design This is
made to work neatly but easily, and is
shot into corresponding hole in either
side of the trough. thus retaining the
door in the desired position. An iron
handle is attached by means of which
the bolt is worked, while at the same
time it serves to draw the door back
ward or forward. The door is pushed
back and bolted, leaving the trough
clear. as at c, Fig. 2. When in this
position, the Stops may be poured in
from the passageway without even the
slightest annoyance from the hogs in
side. 1t is then drawn forward as at
d, and the greedy animals take posses
sion.
The fact that the entire building
should be raised off the ground will ad-
NIT of an elevated platform, Fig. 4.
placed at one end of the house. It
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11
AGRICULTURAL HINTS.
CONVENIENT HOG HOUSE.

An Article of Extraordinary Interest to
Progressive Farmers.
To raise good hogs and make pork
making profitable, it is essential that
the buildings and appliances be well
arranged and kept in good order. No
mudhole with few rails around it
and some boards over one corner will
serve the purpose. The building, for a
limited number of hogs, should be
36x12 feet. with a passageway four feet
wide along one side. and it should be
divided into six apartments. each 6xS
feet. which communicate with each
other by means of sliding doors and
with the outside by either hanging doors
or doors opening outward. The parti-
tons should be solid and about three
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11

comfortably, perhaps iuxuriously, seat
ed within but know that there was a
fellow-being on the eve perhaps of per-
ishing helplessly amid the dark flow of
that deep roaring river! Again and
again he hallooed loudly, but in vain.
''Ah, if 1 should perish here-such a
fate" thought he, shuddering. ITO be
cast a drowned corpse on some lonely
swamp, and to be found and stripped by
some reckless wOOdsman who will never
even send word of my fate to the dear
ones at Meltonburg."
With a brief invocation ON his lips, he
gave the horse the rein, and with a
fierce and angry snort the gallant beast
plunged into the torrent. Floating
roots and trunks of trees, the debris of
the storm that had swept the land,
struck rider and horse and forced them
down the stream; but after twice near
ly giving up the struggle, the horse
gained its footing on the opposite bank
and emerged from the flood, painting,
snorting, dripping and trembling in
every fiber.
Leading the sturdy steed by the bride,
and caressing it the while, he made
his way up the bank, and, guided only
by the lights in the mansion, he CROPPED
his way onward. It was large house.
The glowing warmth within shone
through the curtains and bespoke COM
fort to the weary traveller, who could
scarcely drag along his benumbed
limbs. He boldly approached the door
and knocked vigorously. A colored
man-servant answered his summons,
and hastily calling another to take his
horse to the stable, ushered the
drenched visitor into a comfortable
room, on whose hearth a big log-fire
was burning.
AS Frank stood reveling in the glow
ing warmth, a tall, dignifed, aristo-
cratic old man entered, whose keen,
dark eyes expressed a spirit that could
be suave or irritable as occasion
prompted.
"Where are you from?" he asked, abb
ruptly, more in a tone of authority than
of anxious inquiry.
Frank, shivering with cold, told his
story briefly and without comment
When he recited his adventure with
the wounded youth in the forest, the
hosts manner quickly changed. Moth
ing could be more urbane and agreeable
than the tones in which he babe the
young man welcome to his roof
eve must thank your accident for
procuring us the pleasure of your visit
in this lonely place." he said, with a
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11
THE LAND OFFICE.
Why Many Settlers Never Receive
Patent to Their Claims.
An Abuse Which Needs Immediate Cor
rectiOn - Hon. Thomas H. Carter, the
New Commissioner OF the ONCE,
= Good Man.

Especial Washington Correspondence
''An my sympathies are with the set
tiers upon the public domain" said
Commissioner Carter, of the general
land office this afternoon.
Senator Stewart, of Nevada, Senator
Carey. o. Wyoming, and several officials
of the interior department were pres
ent discussing the subject of contests;
that is, the Instructions which are put
In the way of final action by tie land
Office in granting patents to home
steaders- Commissioner Carter said:
''Under the existing rules, John Smith
may live for five years upon quarter
section of the public domain, and then
advertise the fact that he intends to
prove continuous possession and &C
quire title by patent from the govern
ment. None of the neighbors have
anything to say against this final proof,
on the part of John Smith, because
they all know that he has earned his
title by compliance with homestead
laws Therefore, on certain date, Mr..
Smith goes before the register and the
receiver of the local land Office, proves
up on his claim, and the papers are sent
to the general land Office at Washing
ton, together with certificates of the
local officers to show that it is a clear
case, and all fees have been paid. But,
before the patent is issued. one of the
neighbors of John Smith has a personal
quarrel with him about religion, a
horse trade, or politics, and that
neighbor sits down and writes a
letter to the commissioner of the
general land Office, protesting against
granting a patent to Smith for his
homestead, and declaring that his entry
is a fraud and without sufficient proof
Of genuine residence. That stops the
issuance of the patent until the case
can be investigated. 1t is placed along
with thousands of other contested cases
and must await its turn. In the mean
time John Smith has no complete title
to his home, and he may die without
completing title, because it takes at
least two years to reach a case when it
is once sidetracled in that way. But
suppose that Smith lives two years and
in the meantime furnishes plenty of
proof to show his right to the land,
shows that the contest was prompted
by malice alone. Ultimately he would
get his patent for the land; but just
about the time the general land Office is
ready to settle the matter and issue the
patent, along comea another letter from
some other neighbor who has recently
taken a grudge against Smith, with
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11

FIG. 4.-PLATFORM FOR LOADING HOGS
should be substantially made and have
a gate, A, at one side. The gate bears
a hook and when not in use is folded
back and fastened to a staple in the
wall.
To remove hogs from the pen, close
the gate and back the wagon with its
rear end squarely against the end of
the platform. The movable block L.
Fig. 2, is then pushed aside, and the
swinging door is then easily removed
The hogs may then. without the least
difficulty. be driven along the passage
and directly into the wagon with not
one tenth the vexation OF loading from
the open pen--James NJ Shull, in Rural
New Yorker.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11

another statement casting doubt upon
the legality of the entry in some other
technical particular. The general land
Office Immediately marks the case for
contest, and again it goes into the
pigeon hole for examination. Some
cases are thus kept pending for a life
time, or longer"
''Is there any remedy for this condi-
ton of affairs?" inquired Senator Carey.
THAT is what l am trying to ascer-
tain," responded the genial and ener-
getic man from Montana. cit seems
to me that our rules can be amended in
some way so as to protect the settlers
from unfair contests and give them
their titles without needless delay. It
has been suggested that a rule be made
requiring every contestant to make aff-
davit concerning his charges, subject to
prosecution for perjury; to require him
to deposit with the local officers enough
to pay costs of contests, at least ten
dollars per day for attorneys fees, in
the event of his failure to prove fraud
upon the original entryman; or other
failure of compliance with law. Such a
rule it is believed would prevent all
spitework contests, and reduce the num-
Der of such cases to minimum. It
would work no hardship on the con-
testant, if he has good case; but it
would make him pay for his peculiar
pleasure if he were merely contesting
for the purpose of annoying his neigh.
bor."
Hon. Thomas 81. Carter, the recently
appointed commissioner, is not unfamil-
lar with the land laws Of the country;
and. having lived for more than a score
of years west of the Mississippi river,
he is in full sympathy with the pioneers
who penetrate the undulating wilder
ness toward the setting sun; and who
have made what was once known as
the Great American desert bloom
and blossom with the fruits
of industry, thrift and honest
toll. Transforming an empire into
. modern wonder, a veritable ex-
tended plain of Esdraelon. He has
taken hold of his work with the cease
less. tireless energy which is character
istic of the man, which brought him
speedily to the front as a leading work
ing member of the house of representa-
tives during his brief career in the ma
tional legislature. The general land
Office is essentially work shop and
every employe from the commissioner
to the labOrers and charwOmen must
needs be workers. Every township in
the entire country is intimately related
In this Office. Hese arc the records which
give stability to the titles TO all of the
lands originally peopled by the ad-
venturers from European countries un-
der patents from potentates- Here are
the maps and plats Of original location
and entry % every acre of ground which
has been taken under the homestead and
other land laws in the territories which
have become states during the past ten
decades To this bureau of the interior
department. All registers and receivers
IF land offices throughout the country
must make their reports, and from this
office they receive orders. There are
one hundred and nine local land Offices
now in operation In each one Of these
Offices there Is = register and a receives,
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11
A USEFUL IMPLEMENT.
1t Is in Barrow Shape and Commonly
Called q Wheel DIbber.'

1t Is in Barrow Shape and Commonly
Called a Wheel Dibber."
A good friend sends me an idea for a
wheel dibber, to be used in setting out
the young onion plants. The suggest
ed implement is in wheelbarrow shape.
the wheel having spokes with outer
ends four inches apart), but no fellies-
I have hit upon an improvement on
this originally impracticable plan. and
present herewith an illustration of the
implement as I now have it in my
mind, and will have it in reality before
many days. 1 imagine it will work
firstrate. 1t can be made easily and
cheaply. In the first place, / will get a
piece of maple, oak or other hard wood
log, say fifteen inches in diameter and
a foot long. This / am going to have
turned nicely and a hole bored through
for bolt to serve as an axle. Handles
are to be attached in the way shown in
the illustration 1T is then a roller, and
may be used for that purpose in the
garden. following after the seed sower,
in any place where the use of a small
roller is desirable. Inch holes are
bored in circle around the roller, mid
die way between the two ends, four
inches apart, and short wooden pegs or
pins are inserted to act as dibbers- The
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11

sweet smile. AID, if you will excuse
me few inutcS l will see that a
chamber is prepared for your occupa-
ton. You will be glad to be rid Of that
dripping uniform
But the poor lad, wounded in the
woods" Frank said, anXiously. 1--WE
must lose no time in going to his relief"
''Ah, that is already attended to. A
party OF my people, attracted by the
firing, fastened to the spot anG found
him just as you left him. They brought
him here an hour ago-doubtless you,
being ignorant Of the country, wandered
by more circuitous route
And is he much hurt?" Frank asked,
greatly relieved by the information. 1t
did not strike him then as remarkable
that his hosts people" should have
been SO fortunately successful in spot
ting the whereabouts of the unfortsln-
ate young man, though afterwards
events made the mystery clearer.
You certainly saved his life" the old
man declared, C-avely. ''And now,
without more talking, let me go and
make preparations to relieve your dis
comfort.
Frank soon found himself in delight
full quarters-a CHEEKY, airy bedroom,
with a roaring fire on it's hearth and
suit of his hosts clothes and linen lying
handy on the snowy cOverlet of big,
old-fashioned four-post bed. To strip,
to wash, to dress. was but the work of
few minutes to the young soldier; but,
quick as he was, he vas barely ready
when a servant announced that supper
was served and Mr.. Lascelles was
awaiting his company.
mir. who?'' Frank demanded of the
retreating domestic.
''Mass'r Lascelles, boss. An the
ladies don gone down in the dinin'-room
already"
Lascelles! Could fate have thrown
him once more in contact with the
charming heroine of his adventure at
St. Louis? Why not? She said she
lived in Kentucky; then. what more
probable than that this mansion were
her homo, and his host the husband of
the courtly old lady, who had nursed
Charlie Fulton so tcndcrly? With these
reflections, he descended the staircase,
and following the sound of voices, en-
tered the dining-room.
Yes, there she was, flashing in the
superb beauty that had set his heart
af1ame so many months ago-she and
announcer girl dDOuC uoT own age arm IN
arm, while the old man stood slightly
frowning at the unavoidable delay.
Mary Lascelles recognized him in an
instant. Without the slightest sign of
embarrassment, she stepped forward
with outstretcheG hand very tiny and
delicate it was, too, Frank noticed) to
welcome him.
''Why, Mr.. Besant," she said, sweetly.
''This is indeed an unexpected pleas
ure."
Then turning to the old gentleman
she added, with demure assurance: Il
had the qualification Of making Mr..
Besant's acquaintance during my stay
in St. Louis last fall, grandfather"
Mr.. Lasceles did not speak. but a
scarcely perceptible movement of his
eyebrows expressed his surprise.
''And now" continued the charming
girl to Frank, ''let me introduce you to
my cousin, Mabel Carter. There. you
know us all now. so let us get to sup
per-"
Conversation at the table flowed
freely, but Besant could not but observe
that when brief allusion was made to
the fall of Fort Donelson-not by Frank.
you may be sure-hcr proud nostrls
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11
Palladium Plating.

Palladium, which is whittier, lighter
and more fusible metal than platinum,
has of recent years been much used to
plate watch movements, says the Elec-
trician. According to NJ. Pilet, MILL
grammes (about one-seventeenth of a
yrain) of palladium is sufficient to coat
the works of an ordinary sized watch.
NJ. Pilet recommends the following
bath: Water. liters; chloride of
palladium, 10 grammes; phosphate of
ammonia, 100 grammes; phosphate of
soda, 500 grammes; benzoic acid, 5
grammes. This bath is suitable for all
metals except zinc.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11

WE have an inquiry about the null
berry tree, its value as a fruit producer.
We believe that the surest answer to
give in reference t0t the Russian null
berry is that it is somewhat uncertain
Some make q success of it, while others
do Northwestern Rural
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11

u.
NERS-
are nailed is a scantling, cut round at
the ends, so as to work freely in two
inch hole. This door, when unconfined,
swings directly over the center of the
trough. The trough, A, Fig. s. is made
of 115x1O inch hard wood material, and
is fitted closely between the stanchions
which support the roof, while resting
ON the end board is somewhat triangu-
lar shaped board, b, which serves to
give greater solidity to the trough, and
closes an opening which would other
wise be made by drawing the swing
door forward.
The swing door, Fig. 2. is supported
at one end by a solid block, A, firmly
nailed to the upright, while at the
other end the block is in two sections,
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11

Buy a little white hellebore and ap-
ply it when the insects begin to attack
the currant bushes If we would grow
cuTrants we must grow currant leaves,
a fact that no one need be told
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11
Very AHecti0nate.

HAS this dog an afectionate hearth"
''very. He got attached to a tramp
once, and the tramp couldn't leave him
without leaving behind him a piece of
his trousers to console the poor brute. "
-Jury.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11
Not an Extinct Race.

Sunday-School Teacher-Johnny, who
was the prodigal son?
Johnny-Oh. that was the fellow who
went away a dude and came back
tramp.-Puck.