davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
TO sucCEEp WITH HENS.

According to Annie C. Webster, writer
well-known to the readers Of poultry litera-
ture, one of the greatest drawbacks is
cramped room. The hen that is cramped
up in a small:space with others Will nearly
double her number of eggs when given more
freedom. Too many over-sotck their
grounds. Starting out with limited
amount of land they continue to increase
their stock until the hens become uncom-
fortably cramped. Give them more free
dom and room. and a less number will lay
just as many eggs. Kill off the poorest lay
ers, and others will increase their products
proportionately.
One must be an enthusiastic lover of
birds to make success in poultry. The
hens are only domesticated up to certain
point, and they still hold close affinities to
their original wild state. They love to get
out into the wild country, and roam about
in the fields and woods, and work for their
living. One must study the habits and
needs of the hens if he or she would make
them do their best in laying. If the hens
are uncomfortable they cannot do their
best.
Light and room are essential-more SO in
the summer than in the winter. Heat,
closeness and darkness breed disease in hot
weather. They reduce the vitality of the
hens, and consequently their laying ca
pacity. Let them have plenty of both if
they are expected to lay more eggs. Com
paratively few people seem to realize that
fowls exposed to unfavorable conditions
suffer from cold and rheumatism, and that
all through the summer they will be sneez-
ing with colds, while they suffer from the
heat at the same time.
Proper food and water according to the
season must be given to them. During hot
weather they do not need heating food SO
much as insects, seeds, berries, green
leaves and grass. They also need cool,
fresh water in abundance, =
Too many have the same diet for their fowls
in summer and winter, never taking the
trouble to change it. The hens return this
treatment by giving the same number of
eggs in the two seasons, taking of course the,
low winter number as standard to go by
Give them more of the green leaves and
ripe fruits and they will do better in laying
eggs than if stuffed with heating food.
Another point is cleanness. The hens
surroundings must be clean or she can not
be clean. Uncleanliness means discomfort
and disease. Unclean nests and roosts re-
duce her strength, and consequently a less
number of eggs is laid. See that the poul-
try-yard and house are cleaned out not &C.
casional!y, but often and regularly.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
THE BEST LAMN GRASS.

Will you please tell me and other readers
of The GAZETTE what grass would be best
as a lawn grass for the Panhandle countryl
Clifford Tex. y.
We are scarcely familiar enough with
the Panhandle as yet, to feel entirely sure
what grass would do best with you. You
may have some native grass that would
give better satisfaction than any of the old
and generally known species. We propose
to come up and study such things in the
Panhandle ere much more time has elapsed.
OF the old grasses it probable that Bermuda
would give you fair satisfaction through
most of the summer, and that Texas blue
grass would give you nice green lawn
through winter.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
A WORD OF WARNING.

1t has been printed in the Massachusetts
Plouwman that ''the beginning, and con-
sequentlv struggling fruit grower, cannot
be cautioned too often against wasting
money on new and much advertised varieties
of fruit. Nurserymen put them on the
market with insufficient testing, and some
times Zone grieves to say exaggerate their
merit beyond all the bounds of truth. The
nurseryman's interest in new varieties is
tinancial-not philanthropic."
Especially does this word of caution
apply in the case of distant nurserymen.
The home nurseryman, who operates where
he will be brought face to face with results
growing out of his sales, is apt to be more
careful than the man operating far away
through tramping agents armed with pic
ture books showing fruit carrying more
points of excellence than we're ever ex-
hibited by any species outside the boundary
lines of the garden of Eden.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27

and capable OF stinginr anybody. If our
well-inforrled correspondent has really dis
covered saurinn Of that character she has
something entirely new to science, and
hence something Of much interest, indeed.
But it will never do to risk common or
local names and take one to task as in error
for referring to what the people call q GER
tain thing, which name may be applied 10
quite different thing in some other region
For instance. the tree scientifically known
as Populus angulata and called poplar at
the North, is the cottonwood" of the
Southern states, while the poplar" Of the
South is an entirely different growth called
tulip tree at the North, and Liriodendron
tulipifera by botanists. The gopher of
our Western prairies in a pouched rat,
while the gopher" of Florida is a dry land
turtle
Yes, it is all entirely right with US. The
asked-for article on celery-culture will be
Forthcoming in short time.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
THE WILSON'S ALBANY.

A Texas nurseryman has written us
somewhat spicy letter charging us with be-
ing on the old fogy list in our recommends
ton of the Wilson's Albany strawberry as
possibly the best general purpose berry to
be had. We didn't exactly make that kind
of recommendation, but merely stated that
the Wilson and the Neunan were varieties
capable of standing more rough usage than
any varieties known to us. We further
stated that the fruit was entirely passable.
and that the two varieties named were the
varieties cultivated almost exclusively by
the very extensive strawberry growers
about Mobile, Ala, for shipment to North
ern markets. OF course the nurserymaE
writing US happens not to have the Wilson's
Albany strawberry for sale. He tells of
many ''better varieties" which he could
supply, no doubt, and since his letter was
intended for appearance in "Our Core
spondence'' column, with his name and adj
dress in full, it was not at all hard to see
what he was driving after. He expected to
get free lad, ~ but times are too hard to
admit of that sort Of thing just now, hence
this kind Of article covers all that we can
possibly do for him at present.
We are not alone in our good opinion of
the old Wilson's Albany. by any: means.
One of the most progressive agricultural
papers of the age is the Massachusetts,
Plowman, Boston, Mass. In the issue of
that excellent publication for September 10,
1891, is the following:
The Wilson berry can be shipped GOO
miles and then go on the table in fine condi-
ton. Other berries may temporarily root
it out. but those who like a good favored
berry will go back to it after trying the
f1abby and insipid sorts.
Now, what about the old fogyisml Can
you charge it against the editor Of the Mas
sachusetts Plowman that he is on the old
fogy liSt2
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
GARDENING AND POULTRY.

Mrs. ]. Gillard, an excellent poultry au-
thority often quoted in these columns,
writes to the Practical Farmer that a
great many poultry raisers send eggs out
among farmers every spring to be set I'm
der hens, paying a certain amount dozen
for all that hatch, when three days old, and
where the eggs prove fertile it is profit
able enterprise for both parties; but often
eggs sent ont by poultrymen and fanciers
will not be fertile, especially where fowls
are kept in confinement any length of time,
as must be the case where more than one
breed is kept by the fancier. As several
hundred eggs are sent in to her every
spring to be Matched for different parties,
she has been looking into the matter to see
why eggs from poultrymen would not
hatch, and from others nearly all the eggs
would prove fertile. In nearly every in
stance she found it to be a lack of green
food; therefore she has arrived at
the conclusion that every man or
woman who expects to make profit out of
eggs for Matching should combine the
poultry business with gardening, especially
ii their fowls cannot have free range of a
farm at least part of the time. Last
spring, while she was shipping eggs, she
was compelled to keep the Silver Spangled
Hamburgs in confinement, and all eggs sent
out gave the best of satisfaction, but she
never neglected this one article of their diet
all the time they were inclosed. The first
green stuff was the lettuce, and next the
turnip and beet tops. Such early vegetables
must always be thinned, and her way would
be to collect large armful and tie them to-
gether in bundle and crowd the roots
tightly in pail, so they will be stationary,
for their green food must be fixed this way
or they cannot eat it; if thrown loose on the
ground they will eat but little of it and will
trample it under foot. All outside leaves
from early cabbage, when dressed for mar
ket, are treated the same way for them, and
later, when the lettuce forms into
large heads they would sdevour
bushel of them in an incredibly short time,
and the grain fed was less than half that
it would be if they could not:.hsve access to
green food of some kind; and they laid very
hard-shelled eggs, and the yolk was of
dark orange color; that is lacking when
green food is withheld, and it will break
and intermingle with the white by the
turning of the eggs by the, hen in few
days.
Every one who raises poultry for profit
should keep them yarded during May, June
and July, and if gardening is combined
with it, it will not only prove continued
source of profit, but much pleasure can be
derived from the business.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
THE GAZETTE: FIT WORTH, TEXAS SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER a.

to keep their secret from outsiders when
they have discovered some paying crop,
fearing that if their neighbOrs engage
in growing the same crops the markets will
be glutted. This country is too wide, con-
tinues our contemporary, and contains too
many inhabitants to be swamped so easily.
On the contrary, it is generally the wisest
policy for grower to encourage others to
settle about him in the same pursuit, there
by improving his shipping facilities by
securing carload rates, etc. But if the
grower finds the whole state is preparing
to plant cabbage or potatoes or tomatoes or
any other of the great vegetable staples, that
crop will generally be good one for him
to let alone that year. These vegetable
waves that roll over the country about
every year are very apt to bring shipwreck
to number of people.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
QUE DISCOURAGERS.

The following appears in Farm and
Ranch of the 18th inst:
I notice in last issue of your journal that
you say you are informed by Mr.. J. j. Dol
lard of Chicota, Lamar county, that the
crop of that county this year will average q
bale of cotton and fifty bushels of corn per
acre. This will certainly be news TO every
other man in the county. / would like very
Iauch TO give $1,000 to some one who will
guarantee three-fourths of this amount to
Inc Oh my farms. We have a very fair
corn crop. but no fifty bushels per acre.
No county has ever averaged fifty bushels
per acre. do not suppose. Lamar has not.
The cotton crop will not average one-half
bale per acre. The boil worm has been
.atting in effective work for long time
IN many places on our rich black lands and
river bottoms, where the cotton is late, 1t
will take from eight to twelve acres to
make bale, and there are thousands Of
such ACRES in Lamar. AL such reports as
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27

for farmers to make specialties of certain
crops, as their leading crops, and to push
those crops for all there is in them. For
instance, let one man be corn and pork
farmer, another a cotton farmer, another a
farmer of some other specially, and SO on.
This thing Of urging man to go into all
the crops at the same time is q little like
trying to make jack-of-all-trades out Of
him--the fellow who is said to be really
best for one to have too many irons in the
fire at the same time.
The Agricultural Journal of Montgomery,
Ala, says we are compelled to plant those
crops that will afford employment for the
labor during the entire year, and for this
reason cotton has been the principal crop,
and one that could always be sold at the
market price. Cotton should be the prin-
cipai crop of the lower South, and we
should so order and conduct our farming
arrangements as to make its production
profitable. The proposition made just be-
fore planting time for reduction of acre
age in cotton does not meet the issue, and
will never be adopted. 1t is haphazard adj
vice and is not considered by intelligent
farmers, and ought not to be; nor do those
who give it take their own medicine. A
farmer who does not try to practice what
he breaches is very poor adviser.
That is the whole thing in nutshell, as
we say. The farmer should plant most of
that crop which his understanding and lead
ing circumstances enables him to get the
most money out of. If cotton is that crop,
let it be cotton; if something else is that
crop, let it be something else. But in any
case the crop should be pushed to its very
best. Much scattering may kill the most
small birds but it will not be apt to bag the
large birds
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
KNIGHTS OF HONOR.

Can you tell me whether or not there is a
lodge of the Knights of Honor in this part
of the state2 / heard that there was 4
lodge in Childress, and under date of June
IL addressed the Reporter but received no
response. Under date Of July 8 l wrote to
William P. Cole Of Dallas, having heard
that he was grand secretary of the order,
but up to September Is have not heard
from him. have but recently moved to
this state, and desire to connect myself
with all its interests.
Clifford, Tex. o. F. RUSSELL.
Will some member of the order kindly
write the brother, giving him the informa-
tion he 6eSireS2
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
OR LEADING CROP.

In many Of the so-called agricultural
papers Of the South there is kept up con-
slant TRADE against cotton culture. They
say We are growing too much cotton, and
that we should cut down our acreage to
that crop and devote our lands to greater
diversity Of crops, so that should one crop
not command COED price another might
We are rather in favsr Of greater diversity
than commonly prevails, but our notion of
diversity does not exactly agree with the
notions usually advanced. We cannot
think it would be best for every Southern
farmer to raise h-.lf-a-dozen crops at the
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
VERY PRETTY SHRUB.

I send you some twigs taken by me from
q shrub growing beside the railroad near
Houston, where our train stopped some
days ago on the way up from Galveston.
The twigs are full of small berries, as you
will see. 1t looks somewhat like haw, but
the leaves are smaller than any that l ever
saw on haw tree, and their thickness leads
me to suspect that it is an evergreen. | am
new in Texas, and on this account may be
interesting myself in one of your most COM
mon growths. But certainly, as it grew
near the railroad track, it was an extremely
pretty little shrub. Can you tell me,
through THE GAZETTE, what shrub it isl
Mrs. NJ. G.
Fort Worth, Texas.
1t is the yaupon, a species of holly, COM
mon enough in some portions of the South.
but not common in Northern Texas. Its
botanical name is Hex casslne. Is an ever
green, and grows to the height of from
fifteen to twenty feet under favorable con-
ditions. Fruit about the size of small gar
den peas, and when fully ripe, is of a bright
scarlet color. Hangs on throughout the
winter and in such profusion as to almost
hide the small leaves and impart to the en-
tire shrub scarlet color. Berries not ed
ible.
Than the yaupon we know Of no finer lit
tie evergreen for ornamental purposes. 1t
transplants well, and bears trimming down
into any shape desired. On this last ac-
count it makes an extremely fine ornamen
tai hedge. Many of the coast cities cas-: Of
the Mississippi river employ it extensively
for this purpose, considering it entirely
superior to privet Has no thorns, out its
fine. stiff and crooked branches cause it to
so interlock in growth as to make fence
equal to English hawthorne for turning
stock.
The early Indians made from the leaves
of this shrub their celebrated ''black
drink" which they largely used as bever-
age, especially before engaging IN any i'm
portant transaction. According to Elliott
the Greeks Invariably employed it at the
opening of their councils, sending often a
long distance for the yaupon leaves. They
considered it one Of their most important
agents in preparing them for clear-sighted-
ness and long endurance.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
CUR CORRESPONDENTS.

This department is devoted to answering
such questions as may be asked by our sub
scribers, which may be OF general information
Inquiries of personal character that require am
swer by mail should always have stamp in
address in addition to any such signature as
Subscriber, or "A. G. D." not for publication,
if against the will Of the writer but to admit of
direct communication should such thing be
deemed necessary. Address as directed at head
of this page
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
TO CATCH RATS.

A correspondent writes US that Trinity's
letter in The GAZETTE Of last week detail
ing his experience with the agent Of a pat
ent rat trap made him laugh all over.
t'Trinity is regular brick he says. Ac-
companying an these remarks is inclosed a
clipping from Farm, Field and Stockman
which, at his request, we print for what it
Is worth:
FIRST, hunt up all the old herseshoes on
the farm; 4 there arc not enough Of them.
70 to the junk shop and buy about dfty OF
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27

the poorest horseshoes you can pick out.
Place them at the rat holes and ruuways,
so that the rats cannot avoid going over
them. After they have laid around two or
three days get dozen or two OF good steel
shoes, and whenever you catch rat move
the trap to another place. The rats will
soon become disguised and leave. A week
or so will clean them all out, and then you
can hang up your traps till they come again.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
MORE ON DRAFT HORSES.

It is asserted by the California Breeder,
That while scrub horses are raised TO
large extent by farmers, no farmer breeds
d scrub of his own. choice. In most cases
Tie scrub breeding results from lack of con-
1ideuce in self to make the right start i'll
modern improvements. 1t calls for some
business tact for an old-style farmer tosee
gain TO himself in patronizing the best and
rn-raled improved breeds; but il he could
only see ahead clearly, ne ought TO be con-
1iuced that there is no risk, especially in
tine good draft breeds. tirst-claSs draft
horse are ever in demand; they are as sale
uble usually as fat stock. And with tact,
the skill TO handle and dispose Of driving
teams, and the peculiar fitness for training,
uae may achieve more than ordinary benefit
In breeding coach horses. More capital,
however. is required; but. if able to make
a speciality OF buying and mating fancy car
liage teams for city use, one can do better
III this line Of breeding. fe, remember,
that in this case half and often three-fourths
Of the selling price is for exercised
skill. from start TO finish, in prepar
ing the team for market. To DO this re-
uuires months of careful handling, backed
by pears of judicious treatment, thus max
ing the perfect family horse almost human
IL his acquaintance with mankind, and the
affairs and ways of the world. Unto many
wealthy men family horse is worth at
least one-fourth Ibis weight in silver"
certain profit always follows the right
Start in breeding the service of choice sire
upon US good dams as one can afford. The
majority of farmers will find surer gain in
growing draft horses, as this requires less
special knowled ge and fitness for the work.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27

the nut stores have always terminated very
well for us-we know of no other chsnca
for procuring seed-nuts at present. Your
other questions, not printed above, will bs
referred 20 our political editor.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
HOW TO MAKE MEAD.

Your instructions given correspondents
on the subject of making cider leads me to
think that you might be able to tell me how
to make mead, q good and wholesome drink
extensively used in some of the Northern
states. / have long tried to get recipe for
making it, without success. Can you &C.
commodate me through THE GAZETTEl
WILLIS r. SANDS.
Dallas, Tex.
Mead is liquor prepared manly from
honey. 1t is the celebrated 'hydromel'' of
the Romans. Pliny and Virgil both speak
in high praise of it. The modern method
Of making mead is as follows:
Strained honey. 100 pounds
Hot water. gallons
Stir thoroughly in an open vessel and
then let stand one hour, at the end of
which time remove any scum that may
have appeared on the surface. Put into
uood cyrnn harrel and add.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27

Stir well together by rolling the barrel,
then place away in a cool cellar, with the
bung in, to remain undisturbed for six
months. In six months it may be bottled
the same as champagne cider.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
j. p. STEELE, EDITOR


I.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27
TuEGLUrs IN rRUCKING.

The Florida Farmer and Fruit Grower
says truckers asd fruit rsisers are inclined
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-27

The stone called Texas marble, says
Professor Cummins, page 165, is nothing
more than a partly metamorphosed shaly
limestone. There are, however,
several good quarries Of marble that in
beauty will rival the best. The most nota-
bic deposit is few miles southeast of San
Saba, and only short distance from the
Fleming springs, where there is sutti-
cient w;trr to run machinery for working
the ~ The marble in this vicinity
has eolors, ranging from pure white
to sil.tr a; red or flesh color. These beds
are at tie base of the carboniferous for
nation or atop of the s1urian.
Another locality where fine marble has
been quarried is on the north side of Chero-
kee creek, six miles below the town of
Cherokee, near the farm Of MIR. Charles
Harris. -.
This subject is one of so much general
interest as showing what there is in Texas,
that we shall continue it In our work OF thiA
column for next weak
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-13
Or Interest To WoMEs.

JUST RECEIVED 100 DOZEN LADIES'
EICuELIEC RIBBED SILK VESTS. In
C-saIl BiacS Lavender. Nile. Pink and Light
B.ds-Iow necks and 10 sleeves
special Price. % each.
(Tirst iocr. 18th -. builtlin-.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-13
GUARANTEES OuR Pn1cEs.
Oun &c. GLOVES Fon 79c.

OuH &c. GLOVES Fon 79o.
Afew days since announced this reduction
in our WELL KNOWN and POPULAR &c.
GLOVE This Is an UNDRESSED SUTTON
MOUsQUETAIRE. and our patrons wei
know we have been running them for long
time at &c. pair and they are good value at
that price. but as a SPECIAL INDICTMENT
WE WILL OFFER THEM FOR
19c. pair.
WHITE CHAMOIS GLOVES. superior
quality. sc. pair.
YELLOW CHAMoIs GLOVES. extra value.
Sc. pair.
NEW ASSORTMENT 4-BUTToN sUEDEs.
Regular price. sec. SPECIAL PRICE. 69c.
pair.
4-BUTTON sGLACE GLOVES. Regular
value. Sl.2:5. SPECIAL &c. pair.
FOSTER LACED KID GLOVES. RE-
DCCED to 91c. pair.
SUTTON MOUsQUETAIRES. EXTRA
QUALITY. 81. % pair.
LADIES' DRIVING GLOVES with GAUNT-
LET. S1.2 pair.
LADIES' BLACK CASHMERE GLOVES.
enc quality. :,5c. pair.
LADIES' BLACK SILK MITTESS Cor 81,
GLE. sl.25, 81. so pair.
CHILDREN'S MITTENS, Il. Is and &c.
pair.