davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
Fastening Asparagus Bunches.

The following points are given in a
bulletin from the Ohio experiment sta
ton: The practice of fastening asparagus
punches with rubber bands has, after
two seasons trial, been found to have
decided advantages over that of tying
with a string. The work can be done
more rapidly and better. The saving in
time is fully one-third, which will pay
for the increased cost of rubber over
string. In any case, the work can be
done in manner that is much more
satisfactory to dealers with rubber than
with string. 1t is stated that rubber
bands can be bought for two dollars per
pound, and the size best adapted to the
purpose runs about two thousand banQs
per pound, or sufficientfor 900 punches,
and that this would make the cost about
two cents per dozen lunches more than
string, if the saving in labor is not taken
into consideration. Rubber holds the
punches intact while string allows them
to fall apart and become unsightly.
The method employed in punching
with rubber bands is to slip band over
an ordinary teacup-one with straight
sides and without a handle-fill the cup
with asparagus shoots, the heads down
ward, and then slip the band from the
cup to the bunch. This makes a bunch
of about the right size and gives the upper
end a nicely rounded appearance. All
that remains to be done is to slip on an
other band and to square the butts with
. sharp knife. While metallic cup
might answer better, being thinner, a
teacup is not Objectionable in this par
ticular. If punches smaller than the cup
are desired the cup need not be filed
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
Read and Heed.

We here Siye a few gleanings from
Professor Bailey's invaluable Nursery
Book
Cuttings, particularly of growing parts,
demand a moist and uniform atmos-
phere, porous soil and sometimes bot
tom heat.
Cleft grating is in common use on
soft and fieshy stocks, as cactuses and
various fieshy roots.
All vines and all plants which have
runners or long and slender shoots which
fall to the ground may be multiplied
readily by la--erage.
''June budding" is a term applied to
the budding of stocks in early summer
while these are yet growing rapidly. 1t
is employed mostly at the south, where
the stocks can be grown to sufficient size
by the last of June or first of July.
The hardy species of Hydrangea are
usually propagated by green cuttings in
summer, under glass.
Green cuttings of Spiraea make the
best plants.
Peaches are nearly always worked
upon peaches in this country. Plums
are, however, occasionally employed for
damp and strong soils. All plums dwarf
the peach more or less.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
Honey Plants.

A. l. Root, authority on all subjects
pertaining to bee culture, says:
Past experience seems to have taught
US that not only is it true that no plant
bears honey invariably, but it is also true
that great many plants may now and
then give quite a yield of honey. Doolittle
got quite a crop Of very nice honey from
teasel. DR.. Miller had quite a little
honey yield from cucumbers, where they
were raised for pickle factories. Spanish
needle from the swamps sometimes gives
large quantities of very rich amber
honey. Last season DR.. Miller had a
yield of very nice honey right along for
months, and if am correct he does not
know yet where it came from. When |
visited him he asked me if could SEQ
enough white clover, or clover of any
kind, to account for the amount of honey
that was then coming in. 1 could not
And yet there was nothing else visible to
us in our miles of travel that should fur
nish it. Rape sometimes gives quite
flow of beautiful honey in localities
where the plant is raised largely for seed.
Mustard fields also furnish more or less.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
Reptiles il. the Mesozoic Epoch.

Early in the mesozoic epoch there ap-
peared marine reptiles which, though de-
rived from land species, became more and
ing II water, developed on that account
swimming organs. etc. Land reptiles also
began to develope in huge proportions
Why they grew so big no one knows,
but it may have been because they had
no rivals in the struggle for existence;
they had all they wanted to eat and nat
urally increased in bulk. At all events
no creatures are known to have existed
in this world comparable in size to these
reptiles of ages ago.-Interviewi in Wash
ington Star.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
The Use of Superphosphate.

Many farmers who have been disap-
pointed in the use of superphosphate
may lay it to the presence of lime in the
soil by which the free acid of the fertil-
izer is taken up and the superphosphate
is made insoluble. The whole benefit OF
this fertilizer is derived from the soluble
phosphoric acid in it, and as this becomes
insoluble by its combination with any
lime that may be in the soil, it, of course,
exerts no immediate effect upon the crop
Hence, when land has been lined in the
fall it is useless to apply superphosphate
in the spring. This should be remem-
bered by farmers.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
Burglars Weapons.

Over 100 tools and processes, which are
marvels OF ingenuity and scientific
knowlel &c, have been invented by safe
burglar. A recent burglars outfit capt
ured b. the police consisted of little
giant Knob breaker, diamond drill and
high explosive OF the nature of dyna-
mite, but PIT up III the form of pow
der. It would open the strongest bank
safe in half hour, and without noise
enough t. disturb people in the next
house, wnile the entire outfit could be
carried il the pockets of an ordinary
coat.-Rochester Democrat.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
FARM, FIELD, GARDEN.
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS CON-
CORNING WORK ON THE FARM.

Timely Hints on the Cultivation of the
Corn Crop-How and When to Plow.
Small Details That Affect the Failure
OF Success of the Crop.
Many of our progressive cultivators
have left off old methods for the newer
one of drilling in the seed, surface ma
nuring and level or shallow cultivation.
Other good farmers still cling to old
ways, while others again strike me-
dunn between the old and new systems.
Following is what Southern Cultiva-
tor has to say on the subject of planting
corn:
The first blowing may and should be
deep and close on all soils that are stiff
or inclined to run together, and we know
of nothing better for the siding furrc "
than a moderately long square or dia-
mond pointed scooter. 1t is not neces-
sary to plow out the entire middle at
once; on the contrary, we have found it
generally expedient to run round the en-
tire crop, or as much of it as may be
ready for the operation, and then return
and plow the middles out. On mellow,
soft clean lands deep blowing is not at
all necessary if the ground was well
plowed before planting. Indeed, in our
own practice we adopted the gener
rule that W ',erever a sweep, scrape or
other wide expanding cultivator will do
good work, no other implement or deeper
blowing is required 1t is pretty safe
rule all through the cultivation of any
crop, thus always giving the preference
to the implement that will do satisfac-
tory work al the time, and the largest
amount (acres per day. with the least
labor.
The first blowing of corn should be
done SO carefully as to obviate the ne
cessity for hand hoe work, which may
be easily done on smooth, well prepared
land. 1t is not a bad rule to require
every plownlan on such land to stop and
remove, or cover with his hands, or a
paddle kept at hand for the purpose,
every bunch or sprig Of grass that might
have been destroyed by the p1ow I'm
der such a rule greater care and skill
will be exercised by the plowman, for
no man likes to stop to uncover or cover
anything.
If the plants are healthy and vigorous
and the land not specially infested by
bud worms, we greatly prefer thinning
out by hand or by means of a narrow
paddle in advance of the plows. 1t may
be done when the ground is too wet to-
pillow or hoe, each hand being armed
with a stick or paddle three or four feet
long, and carrying two rows at time.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
THE TRENCH SYSTEM.
The New Method of Raising Potatoes.
The Largest Yields on Record.

The New Method of Raising Potatoes.
The Largest Yields on Record.
The trench method of raising potatoes,
which originated with Mr.. Ebert S. Car
man, editor of The Rural New Yorker,
promises to work q radical change in the
old system. Progressive farmers in vari-
Gus sections have succeeded in raising
phenomenal yields by the trench system.
Numbered with big yields recorded is
that of 738 bushels on one acre by Charles
B. Coy, of Fresque Isle, Me-, who gained
the first prize at the American agricult-
ural contest in 1889. In small plots DO
tatoes have been raised at the rate of
1000 bushels per acre. In his book,
tsThe New Potato Culture" Mr.. Ca11nan
gives the following directions to those
who want to make trial of the trench
system:
A common plow may be used to form
the trenches by blowing both ways,
forming an open or dead furrow, or
shovel or listing pillow may be used.
Let the bottom OF the trenches be ten
inches wide at least. This bottom should
be mellowed and the seed potatoes placed
one foot apart. Cover them with two
inches or more of soil. Then apply the
mulch, scattering it evenly over the sur
face soil of the trench, and then SOW the
complete potato fertilizer at the rate Of
800 pounds or more to the acre. Finally
fill the trench as lightly as possible with
the return soil and give level cultivation.
The mulch referred to may be of cut
straw or hay, or similar material AS to
the depth Of the trench, Mr.. Carman
thinks it does not pay to plant at depth
beyond six inches.
Mr.. W. j. Sturgis, of Wyoming, who
won one of I lie American Agriculturist's
prizes, writes to The Rural New Yorker
of his plan Of planting by the trench
system He says: II plowed the land
six inches deep, worked it up fine and
made trenches two and one-half feet
apart, six inches deep, planted by hand
eight inches apart in the trenches, cover
ed with garden rake two inches deeD;
after the p]"nts were up [ raked more
soil in the trenches, and repeated this
until the vines were large enough to
plow with single shovel pillow. plowed
them twice, and by that time the vines
were SO thick the land could not be
worked any more without injuring
them. use no small potatoes for seed;
but pick smooth, good shaped tubers,
cut off and throw away the seed ends,
then cut from one to three eyes to the
piece, making the pieces as large as the
potatoes will admit Of | think it best to
cut, plant and cover the same day."
Mr.. Coy, whose yield was 738 bushels
per acre, scattered on the bottom of the
trenches, after these had been laid off
for the seed, 1 100 pounds of commercial
potato fertilizer and mixed this well in
with the soil. At the time of the first
hoeing he applied 900 pounds more of
fertilizer. His land was laid off in
trenches twv feet nine inches apart, and
the seed was dropped twelve inches
apart. 1t was covered by the hoe to
depth of two or three inches.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
An Angry Client.

A lawyer of some eminence in this
city, while enjoying social hour with
some friends the other night, narrated an
incident of his practice in which Daniel
Drew, then liking of Wall street"
figured. Mr.. Drew had been sued by
persons who had been let out at the small
end Of the horn by him in stock trans
action. The rugged fnancier was indig-
nant and vicious when he sought the
aforesaid lawyer and requested him to
take the case. The amount for which
the plaintiffs sued was about $50, 900,
and Drew said that he wanted the case
brought into court so that he might
''show up them fellers."
The lawyer made careful investiga-
ton of the facts and found that his client
had scarcely leg to stand on in court
He was anxious to win the case, how
ever, and determined to see what in
genuity and an exhaustive knowledge OF
legal technicalities would accomplish
Circumstances favored him, and through
carelessness on the other side he succeed
ed in non-suiting the plaintiffs. Elated
with this result he called on Mr.. Drew
and triumphantly announced that vic
tory was theirs.
"But [ haven't had a chance to tes-
tify,'' said the old Spectator peevishly
THAT was not necessary. We have
won the case without trial"
"The deuce you havew exclaimed Mr..
Drew angrily. "Well, you are fine
lawyer to look after the interests of your
clients. [ wouldn't give dollar bunch
for such lawyers as you are"
"You don't seem to understand, Mr..
Drew" explained the lawyer. eve
have won the suit and you are $50, OcO
ahead, to say nothing of the costs"
Thunder and lightning, manr' fumed
the brusque Daniel, "what do l care
about the $4,000? wanted to get on
the witness stand and tell what | thought
of them fellers. New York Times.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07

mat uepends upon the breed and the man
agement- Pekins, well cared for, viii lay from
100 to $50 eggs in year.
VIII picking ducks during the laying season
have any effect on the laying2
We tried it once and the picked ducks quit
laying, while the others did not.
Is it absolutely necessary that ducks should
have access tn pond or stream of water?
1t Is not. Anyway, the Pekins are sort of dry
land ducks, and can be profitably kept where
there is neither pond nor stream of water for
their accommodation, provided they always
have water enough to drink.
Can breeding ducks be kept confined to yards,
or is free raLge necessary in order to secure
fertile eggs?
The most successful duck growers in south
ern Massachusetts, keep their ducks confined
to yards for about nine months in year-from
November undl August. Those that are
keted when about or 10 weeks old are never
out of their yards until they are taken out to
be dressed for market.
Can duck eggs be Matched in an incubator?
OF course they can. Rankin, who raises
more ducks for market than any other man in
America, matches all his ducks in incubators.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
Utilizing Tree Stumps.

Tree stumps that chance to be on ones
lawn, whether these be large or small.
high or otherwise, may be rendered very
decorative. The center Of low ones NAV
be followed out a little and filed with
bright flowers and the sides almost hid
den by trailing canary creeper, nastur-
tiu1n, passion flowers or any hardy vines.
Sill we think if they are allowed to be
overgrowa and completely hidden by
Virginia creeper or other climber the
effect will be equally pleasinp.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
Hard Milking Heifers.

J. L. r has grade Jersey heifer
that promises to make fine mixer, but
she milks so hard there is danger of her
losing her milk. We are asked if there
is any way of expanding the opening in
the teat, so as to remedy the evil. With
an old COW that is hard mixer there is
nothing to be done, but with a young
heifer we would not despair. Make a
little plug out OF hard wood, the point
not too sharp. 1t must be about the
eighth of an inch in diameter for half an
inch, then slightly smaller for quarter
of an inch, then swell to two-eighths of
an inch in diameter. This inserted in
the teat and allowed to remain there will
expand the muscles Before inserting
the plug the teat should be we'll creased
and manipulated to make it soft and PHI
able; also grease the plug. The depres-
sion in the rug i intended to prevent it
from dropping ot-t.-American Agricult-
uriSt
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
Rough on De Dude.

De Dude (who does not like very
high collar)-These collars are too high.
Show me something lower.
Salesgirl with dignity)-Those are the
cheapest we have, sir. We don't keep
slop-shop goods.-New York Weekly.
The London county council reports
that the value Of rental in London is
forty-two and half millions sterling.
Capitalizing this on the principal of
twenty years purchase, London is worth
81, 250, 600, 900.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
Covering Seeds.

a rule for covering seeds is TOO add a
covering four e9 the thickness of the
seed. As me seeds are very small only
slight sprinkling Of The soil will suffice.
If tie soil is heavy seeds cannot push
hrCuh if covered TOO much AMI the con-
sequence is not only a loss of the seed but
also of time and labor.
J. PAUL. Chicago salesman. jumped
from train at Milwaukee Monday and
was killed.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
Gaining Confidence With Bees.

Most persons who undertake beekeep-
ing enter upon the work with some mis-
giving. lille they do not exactly fear
the bees, yet there is at first an involun-
tary hanging back, reluctance to han
die bees more than is absolutely neces-
sary. Beginners should wear not only a
vail but also gloves; many novices who
see old beekeepers handle with bare
hands try to initiate them-ike to ap-
pear professionally go among the bees
with reckless air. Some Of the most sue
cessful beekeepers have said that before
the first year had passed they had almost
decided that there was something about
them that antagonized the bees, and that
they couli do nothing with them.
An acquaintance declared in the fall
of the first year: GIVE had enough of
bees. They will not accept me. It is
useless to tell me that bees do not sting.
They don't do anything else with me- !"
But he decided to struggle through an
other year, for in spite of many stings
he had a good crop of honey. Before
the second year closed he remarked that
bees were as harmless as flies. What
had brought about this change? He had
reached the confidence point" and the
bees knew it, and recognized him as mas
ter. He had become so familiar with
the work, so much interested in it, that
he forgot self, forgot to jump, to jerk
his hand away when bee started to ex-
plore the back of his hand Therefore,
let every beginner faint not, but keep up
courage and keep at the bees. Without
knowing when the change takes place,
he may reach the stage of perfect conf
dence, and will make light of the stings
implanted earlier in his own faltering
hand.-American Agriculturist.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
A Good Starter.

"What are you going to do with your
boy?"
Il think of getting him on the police
force
Has he any special qualifications"
"Well, he is never around when he is
wantedr'-Puck.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
ALL ABOUT DUCKS.
Practical Information on Several Inn
portant Points.

Practicaf 1nfOrmatiOn Several Inn
portant Points.
The following queries were recently
asked and answered in The Prairie
Farmer:
Is the duck business profitable?
Yes, when tightly managed.
Which is tie best breed of ducks-that is, the
most proftab- breed-to keep for eggs, for mar
ket and for feathers?
The Pekins. Ducks of this breed will lay
earlier in the season, lay more eggs in a year,
mature earlier and are moro domestic in their
habits than those of other breeds. Their feath-
ers are almost equal to geese feathers.
How many ducks tPekins) should be mated
with one drahe2
Five or six.
How many eRes Will duck lay in Year,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07

The records say that there were in all
1911 regulars and 1914, $50 volunteers,
or 294, 191 soldiers in the aggregate, On
the American side in the war for inde
pendence. The figures as to the number
Of sailors in that struggle vary within
wide range.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
Inconsistency.

Poet-Yon said the other day in your
paper that poverty is not a crime.
Editor-Well?
Poet-And yet you decline my verses
simply because you say they are poor.
Puck.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
He Missed His Chance.

A couple of property owners were in
speeding some plots of land near the Lux
emburg palace, when one of them re-
marked, Look here, | remember the
time when could have had good slice
of this land for the price of a pair of
boots
why didn't you buy it then?"
Il wanted the boots worse. lie Petit
.Journal
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07

1t is stated that in so per cent. of the
cases which go through the Bankruptcy
court in England no dividend is ever
paid at all. A grocer and provision
dealer failed in Glasgow. His liabilities
were 81, 40. while his assets amounted
to one-sixth of penny per pound.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07

In localities exposed to the north
cork is better than III those exposed to
the south, and it is seldom found in cal
careous soil, preferrlng always that Of
the felspar, this being found principally
in the province of Corona 1t grows
md develops in ground of very little
depth, and sometimes in very stony
ground
The Globe-republican., 1891-04-29
A SPANISH TREATY.

A Treaty of Reciprocity Negotiated With
the Spanish Antilles-The Reported Ad-
vantage to This Country.
MADRID, April 22.-The reciprocity
convention between Spain and the
United States as drafted by Premier
Canovas Del Castillo, representing
Spain, and Gen. j. w. Foster, represent
ing the United States, provides that in
return for the privilege of free entry
into the United States of Antilles
sugars, molasses, coffee and hides and
a reduction of the duty on tea America
will obtain exemption from duties on
most of her raw and manufactured
products and reduction of the tariff on
cereals and -four. The negotiations
were protracted upon the question Of
the entire abolition of the tariff on cere-
ais, -four and oils, including petroleum
to tobacco was also raised, but not COM
ing within the scope of the third sec'
ton of the American tariff laws was
put aside.
Trade in American flour, burdened
with an extra duty of 90 per cent since
1889, has been completely wiped out. to
the advantage of the Spanish product.
Under the new convention the entry of
American flour practically free of duty
will lower the price to about So per bar
rel and will extinguish the importation
of Spanish -four, while increasing the
Cuban consumption to 1000, 900 barrels
yearly, all OF which will be American
product.
Under the new convention America
will obtain a kind of zollverein with
the Spanish Antilles. Her wheat, beans,
flour, lard, petroleum, manufactured
products and machinery will enter prac-
tically free of duty. Among other Span
ish exports olive oil will be replaced by
American lard, and beans, now export
ed to Cuba in large quantities, will
cease to be sent. The advantages re-
sulting to Cuba will be great but it is
impossible to estimate the injury to the
Spanish trade,