davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
Effect of DetasseIinp Corn.

At various times 1t has been thought that the removal of the taSsel of the corn plant would result in a larger yield. This was based on the admitted fact that a large amount of energy is used in the development of the flower and the production of pollen. A num- Der of tests were made to determine the facts in the case. Of course it was nee essary to allow enough pollen to be produced to fertilize the silks. Tn most of the tests, therefore, the tasseLs were removed from every alternate row pulled out as soon as they appeared.-or three rows were detasseled and one left untouched.
 At the Cornell station detasseled corn produced a slightly greater yield during the first two years, but the third year there was practically no benefit. Tn Nebraska, detasseling resulted in de- creased yields. Here the tassels were cut off instead of being pulled out, as was the case In New York. In Mary land the yield was decreased by the practice. In Kansas the detaSseled fields produced slightly the most corn. In Illinois tests were made during two years. In both cases it was evident that no greater yield was produced by rows that had been detaSSeled.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
Vermiu on Chickens.

Warm weather Is again bringing on chicken vermin in abundance, and if you want to keep two unprofitabla 2 fiocks in your coop, just do nothing tO eXterminate the nuisance. Buy some refined salts, such as are used for meii- cinal purposes, and dilute them in a large quantity of water This freely spray about the chicken houses and it will prove its value. The only objection to this material is its costa pint bot tie costs 75 cents, but in the end cer- tainly is cheaper than the tocnnnters. Carbolic acid is also good. remember an instance when through neglect a house became thoroughly infected with mites or lice. They remained after fumigating, to my astOnishment; then kerosene emulsion, known to be good, also failed; carbolic acid was tried, and the insects departed bag and baggage. Naturally carbolic acid Is our remedy now after this test. Take bottle of carbolic acid. a pail of water and good spraying pump. and success is cer- tain. A single trial will convince skep- tical people of its effectiveness. These spraying campaigns should be practical ly pursued every few weeks. and if you are not rewarded, it will not be the fault of carbolic acid spraying. -Coun- try Gentleman.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
The Army Rifle in Hunting.

Something for sportsmen to con- slider seriously, If they intend to get one of the new 3O-caliber army rifles, Is the great penetration of the bullets One of the bullets would kill a man through a finch spruce tree, or COW a mile and more away. No ordinary tree can be depended on to stop one of these bullets, and 1t might easily travel half a mile through dense woods and hit a man far out of sight with deadly effect. "Field and Stream" says that the next Legislature of our great game States should pass a law prohibiting the use of jacketed bull let, because of the danger to human beings. Another argument 1t offers in favor of such a law will have great influence on the men who do not wish to wound without killing the game
 This class of bullets is useless for large game unless soft-pointed, Tit says, "as 1t rarely kills instantly, but allows tlie game to die from internal hemOr- rhage, and in terrible agony out of reach" When such a rifle Is used for big game a bullet that mushrooms should be employed. The mushroom ing bullet will kill anything, as 1t goes clear through an elk, moose or deer and the force of the impact would knock a running grizzly down-New York Sun
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
A Terrific Sea-Fipht.

The Prince of Monaco has recently announced his intention to send his yacht on an expedition of discovery among the haunts of the sperm whale
 This leads MT. Frank T. Bullen to re- late in Nature some of his experiences with whales, and he tells a story of a fight of sea-monsters in the Strait of Malacca which reads like a romance. The fight occurred in a smooth sea on a moonlight night and MT. Bullen watched it from the deck of a ship with the aid of night-glass. His at tention was first attracted by a con- motion in the water, which he SUD- posed might be caused by a volcanic disturbance of the sea-bed. Examin- ation with the glass showed a very large sperm-whale engaged in deadly conflict with monster squid, or devil fish, whose tentacles encircled the whales body. "The livid whiteness of those writhing arms which enlaced the cachalot (whale) like a nest of mighty serpents stood out in bold re- lief against the black, boulder-like
 head of the agressor." The aggressor was the whale, squids being favorite prey of sperm-whales Presently the
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
Cheap Sheds for Emergencies.

There is often considerable loss on the farm from lack of suitable build ings for storing implements, farm prod ucts and for sheltering live stock. Where a deficiency exists in the way of buildings numerous makeShifts are frequently resorted to. The rOOmy calf stable is filled with hay at harvest time and the calves must take the weather until this is fed out ill early winter The tool room Is used to store the pO- tato crop temporarily as 1t comes from the field, while the implements are left out ill the sun and rain for few weeks, and then likely not housed promptly when the room is vacated. The hogs which are intended for the November market are fattened in an open lot, and when circumstances postpone their sale till the holiday season they are com pellcd to take all the storms that may come up to that date, because there is no convenient shelter provided. To meet such emergencies as these and for other uses, few cheap sheds and buildings should be provided. They may be of rough, cheap boards, which in many places will require no cash outlay except for sawing.-National Stockman.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
Wagon Tires,

The wide tire law of Connecticut went into effect with the beginning of the month, and there is likely to be trouble over it, for wagon makers are going on building vehicles with as mar row tires as ever, and a good many people seem not to have heard of this new law. There should, of course, be a certain degree of latitude in the matter of replacing wheels which, in the case of some of the poorer farmers, repre- sents a considerable outlay, but it should at least be distinctly unders tood that anyone who buys a new wagon which does not conform to the statute does so at his own risk.
 It is an eminently wise and reasona- ble law-the only wonder is that people have to be forced by legal measures in- to doing what is obviously to their own interest. No other single element, ex- cept ignorant rOadmaking, adds so much to the heavy burden of support ing the highways as the use of narrow tires, which cut up the roads instead of ironing them smoothly down. Look al the beautiful glossy path which the bicyclists make for themselves at the edge of the road before the puddles are fairly dried up, and then at the bottom less abysses plowed by the loaded wag- ons and you have the whole thing in nutshell. The horses hoofs, of course, chop up the road somewhat, but 1t Is mere surface irritation compared with the deep and fatal wounds made by the narrow-tired wheels when once rut is started.
 Build a reasonably good road and equip the vehicles with tires with some thing the same proportion to weight as the tires of a bicycle, with the tread of the rear wheels different from those of the front wheels, so as not to follow in the same path, and the surface will not be rutted at all. The wheels serve as rollers, and instead of cutting up the roads they make them better.
 Fine philosophy we have, to be sure. We tax ourselves poor to keep steam rollers at work on our highways and then carefully select wagons which will undo the work of the roller as quickly as possible.-New England Farmer.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
camnhor Recominc scarcer.

Most of the worlds supply of cam phor comes from Japan and Formosa. Of late years the demand has begun to exceed the supply, and the question has arisen how the latter can be main tained. One of the reasons why cam phOr is becoming scarcer and dearer Is said to be that It is extensively used in the manufacture of celluloid. At present camphOr is mainly produced from the so-called camphor- tree, which attains a gigantic size in Japan, one specimen recently measured being 115 feet tall, and having trunk over 1411aa feet in diameter. The tree is common in China, but as yet the production of camphor in that country is very Him. ited. The camphor-tree is a member of the laurel family, and is related in genus to the cinnamon-tree. It is said that camphor can be produced from other species of trees. In, Borneo a very aromatic camphor is obtained from the natural deposits of gum on the trunks of a species of tree indi- genous to that island and Sumatra
 Borneo camphor is rare and very cost
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
Edison's New Light.

One of the results of MT. Edison's ex- periments with the invisible X-rays discovered by Professor Roentgen is the production of a new kind of lamp. Like the ordinary incandescent cleo tric lamp 1t consists of a glass bulb exhausted of air. This bulb is coated on the inside with a substance which fuoresces brilliantly at the touch of the X-rays. By means of wires seal ed in the ends of the bulb, and furnish ed with proper terminals inside, an electric current is sent through, and X-rays are thus produced within a flu crescent shell. When the current flows the lamp shines with mild, pleasing light, and without perceptible heat.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
HorseIess Carriages.

The recent horseless carriage race from New York City to the Ardsley Country Club on the Hudson is re- garded by those interested as having proved that such self-driven vehicles are we'll adapted for use in cities There was a French carriage entered in the contest, but the prize was car ried off by an American carriage The Scientific American says that the man. her in which the horseless carriages lodged back and forth In front of and around cable-cars and wagons "dem- onstrated beyond argument that the horseless carriage is much more cap able of control than the ordinary horse and carriage"
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
THE FATAL SHEARS.
What They Did in a Way of "Gettin
 Event.

What They Did in a Way of "Gettine
 Even."
 There was hard look in John War wick's eyes, but 1t was also look of triumph. He bent over his desk and worked steadily for an hour without saying word to any of his associates.
 Finally, one of the boys asked him what had happened.
 "Oh, it's only a little domestic fare up," he said, "but I guess 1t will turn out all right"
 Upon being pressed to relate the na- ture of the trouble, Warwick said:
 My wife got pair of bloomers last week, intending to go out today for a 50-mile ride. Now, I have always declared that ] would not permit my wife to be seen in public with rig of that kind upon her person, and pro- ceeded early this morning to show that I was a man of my word. I got hold of those bloomers and locked them in my trunk. Here," he concluded, defi- antly skipping his hip pocket, lis the key"
 Every man in the office congratulated Warwick upon the stand he had taken. His employer, a crusty old fellow who seldom spoke to the young men in the service, came around and told him, in an undertone, that his salary would be raised at once, as 1t was evident that he was a person of sterling worth.
 When the days work was ended John Warwick went home with light heart. The announcement of his prosperity, relations with his wife, and visions of future happiness fitted before him.
 But, alas, the door was locked, and the place seemed to be deserted. He sat down upon the porch and waited for an hour, but the woman he loved did not return. Then he thought he would put on his old overalls and dig around in his little garden. He felt that he needed exercise.
 The key to the kitchen door was under the mat, and he was soon rum- maging the clothes closet in search of his overalls. They could not be found. At last he entered his wife's sewing room, and there, upon the floor, lay the southern extremities of the suit that had in days gone by served him so we'll and faithfully. They had been cut off at the knees.
 John Warwick buried his face in his hands and wept in wild despair.- Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19

whale raised itself half out of water and we plainly saw the awful-looking head of the gigantic mollusk. At our distance, something under a mile, 1t appeared about the size of one of our largest oil-casks, which held 336 gal Ions. Like the rest of the squid visible it was of a peculiar dead white, and in 1t gleamed two eyes of inky black ness about a foot in diameter. To de scribe, the wonderful contortions of those two monsters is far beyond my powers All around the combatants were either smaller whales or immense sharks who were evidently assisting in the destruction of the squid, and get ting a full share of the feast. Mir. Bull len says the encircling tentacles grad ually slipped off the whales body, and the fight ended in an evident triumph for the whale.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
Farm Notes,

Whole cloves scattered around the edge of the carpet is excellent for moths and bugs.
 Gather a paper of leaves from the scented geranium and spread in the guest chamber if lasting sweetness is desired.
 There are about 5000 bees in a pound. A gallon of honey weighs from eleven to twelve pounds, according to it's density.
 Too much praise cannot be given chopped onions, both as medicine and a tonic for poultry. They invigorate, break up colds, aid digestion, and re- lieve soft or swelled crop.
 Lemon juice and sugar will cure a cough and hoarseness. It will relieve feverishness and thirst. Lemonade as q drink in spring and summer will pre- vent or cure that tired feeling" Hot lemonade taken soon enough will break up cold.
 An authority states that few grains of salt added to the coffee before pour ing on the boiling water improves the flavor. Then set the pot on the back of the range and let it stand for if teen minutes before serving. Boiling destroys the aroma.
 Lemons are as near being a panacea for all ills as anything can be. Chronic sick headaches and biliousness will disappear if their victim will drink as soon as rising, before dressing even, a glass of warm water with the juice of half a lemon and no sugar.
 Dehorned cattle sell better than horned cattle for all purposes. They are preferred by feeders, shippers, Slaughterers or exporters. They look better, feed better, sell better and kill better. The man who feeds horned cat tie is handicapped from 10 to D cents per 100 weight in most cases.
 Cement floors are likely to become popular for barn flooring, on account Of their durability, cleanliness and the fla cilities they offer for saving the liquid manures. Moreover, they are to be valued for their rat-proof qualities Any one about to build a new barn would do well to consider this question in all it's phases.
 Of the root crops the carrot is pre- ] ferred by all classes of stock, and it is also easily grown compared with the 1 large yields possible. The cultivation of carrots, beets, parsnips, turnips and potatoes serves to clear the land of weeds because close and careful work | is required, the land being consequent | ly better fitted for the growth of some crop difficult to keep clear of weeds | the next year.
 In portions of Europe, it is said, gar deners not only take especial care of | the toads of the garden, but frequent | ly buy to keep the stock good. Under l ground shelters are made for the toads | by covering small hole with a board | or shingle. A writer believes that a garden we'll stocked with toadS would be greatly protected from many of the insects that are now so destructive to many kinds of vegetation. |
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
The Pigs Digestion.

The pig has a wonderful digestive capacity. Steers consume eleven and a half pounds of dry food to every LOG pounds of live weight, the sheep ten pounds, but the pig consumes twenty seven pounds, and converts it into meat Cattle make a gain of one pound fOI every eleven pounds of dry food con- sumed, sheep pound for every nine, and the pig pound for every four and a half pounds. This gain is accounted for by his immense digestive capacity.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
Take Care of the Implements.

An ever-fruitful subject for discus sion in the agricultural press and at granges and institutes is the care of farm machinery. It is a subject that may seem threadbare, but as long as harvesters and mowers, threshers and grain drills are allowed to stand eX- posed to the weather so long Is discus sion and scolding on the subject profit able. A prominent manufacturer ot farm implements said not long since that the life of the average machine used on the farm could be prolonged one-third or more by proper care. This means that of the vast amount of money spent in the United States for agricultural implements One-third is ab- solutely wasted-thrOwn away-tO say nothing of the time lost and annoyance occasioned by tinkering with machin- cry worn out before its time. Here is one of the leaks that the wise farmer does not allow to go unchecked.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
Wind and Walking.

The Falkland Islands, and other re- gions in the South Temperate Zone, are remarkable for the high and viO- lent winds that blow across them. A recent visitor to the Falklands has noted the fact that the inhabitants of those islands, in consequence of being habitually compelled to brace them selves against the wind in walking, have acquired 8 peculiar gait, so re- markable that a native Falklander can be readily distinguished by his manner of walking. On account of their gait they are called "kelpers."
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
Cattle Plague in Africa.

A terrible pestilence Is raging in Af- rica, not only among domestic cattle, but among certain species of wild cat tie; and 1t attacks also the buffalo, giraffe, wart-hog, eiand and several other species of antelope. Captain Lugard. writing from Gaberones, in Bechuanaland, says that near villages, hundreds, even thousands of carcasses lie about. Between Gaberones and Blu luwayo there are reported to be four thousand wagons stranded because their oxen are dead.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
Perpetua1 Motion?

Perpetual motion has been the dream of the inventor almost ever since the first invention of any kind was per fected. Pliny says that .n his time there were machines which the inven- tors claimed would work, without stop ping, for an indefinite length of time, and in the patent office of every gov ernment of the world there are hun dreds of devices for securing this end. One authority states that in the patent office at Washington there are over 1000 such apliances, for each of which the inventor hoped, success. The per- petual motion machines, however, have never succeeded, and never will until men succeed in overcoming friction, the inertia of matter and gravitation and also In finding material that will never wear out.
 Nothing tires a man more than to be c-ro oII fl0 &i,,,0
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
Adyertise YOur Butfer.

If you believe your butter Is good and should bring the highest price, print your name and address on it, and if your customers agree with you as to its quality you will soon have more orders for good butter than you can fill But if such does not happen, you may depend upon it that there is room for improvement in the quality. Customers do not always complain, pre- ferring to buy from other sources when disappointed.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
and are looking for man with capital
 

and are looking for man with capital to put up a distillery.
 A common mistake made in growing lettuce is in having the plants too close together. To reach perfection the plants should be from ten to fifteen inches apart in the rows.
 The topping" of corn, that is, cut fodder, always decreases the crop so much that the value of the fodder se- cured does not compensate for the loss.
 The Michigan experiment station has tried 400 varieties of potatoes and dis carded nearly all of them as worthless. Among the promising sorts it names the Carmen, Colossal, Early Everett and Nott's Victor.
 The annual crop of mushrooms in France is valued at S2,0O0,000. The wholesale price to dealers is from $22 to $25 per 100 Kilograms (220.46 pounds). In Paris alone there are sixty wholesale firms dealing exclusively in mushrooms.
 The transplanting of onions is strong ly recommended by the Tennessee eX- pertinent station. It is claimed that trasplanting results in larger onions and larger crops. The cost of growing onions in Tennessee is given as 50 cents a bushel.
 J. w. Hauck, of Jefferson, Oregon, says that to cure the gum disease in cherry trees he sprays with from four to six pounds of bluestOne to fifty gal Ions of water as soon as the leaves fall, and again in the spring before the buds swell. Gum spots appearing on the cherry trees are cut out and the wound washed with the solution.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19

The majority of the Matabele are said to be anxious to surrender, but are held back by their chiefs. The contemplated British attack has been postponed for three days. The chief of the natives in the Fort Charter dis trict is still hostile.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
The Vegetable Garden.

In Michigan the Parker Earle is con- sidered to be by far the most prolific strawberry.
 Several farmers near Kennewick, Washington, have planted peppermint,
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19
TOPICS FOR FARMERS
A DEPARTMENT PREPARED FOR
 OUR RURAL FRIENDS.

Advantage of Wide Tires on Wagons Effect of Detasse1ing Corn-To Ex- terminate Vermin from Chickens Cheap Sheds for Emergencies.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19

Homekeep-Ever drink any of these substitutes for coffee? Dayboard-I haven't drank anything else for seven ears-Cincinnati Enquirer.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19

Nothing tires a man more than to be grateful all the time.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19

Man wants but little here below,
 As someone said before,
 But when he gets it, don't you know,
 He wants little more. Truth.
 HelI fear the worst. She-What's happened, George? "Your father has paid back that $1O he borrowed. Life. Muggins-Is your son in business? Buggins-He'sa contractor. Muggins- What line? Buggins-Debts.-P -Phila- delphia Record.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-19

Hedges -sappy Is continually falling of his wheel. Rose-What can you
 expect from a fellow who isn't we'll balanced. Philadelphia North Ameri-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-17
4 SING SING CONVICT MANGLED.

Ills CLOTHING CATCHES IN SKATING AND HE IS
CRUSHED TO DEATH
John Cronc "A convict in Sing Sing met hor-
r,ble death while work in the prison shoe-shop
Yesterday Crone IL from Glen Cove. Long Island,
from which place he was sentenced for five years
on the charge OF assaulting his wife. While in
toxicated Crone picked up hs little wife and
hurled her through the window OF their home.
While IN the prison shop. Croncs clothing was
caught I'm the shafting which forms part OF the
machinery for running the shoe machines. He was
hurled around the revolving shaft His screams
attracted the attention OF the other prisoners and
the kccners but before the machinery could be
STONED the man was dead. His head and shoulders
were frghtfuly crushed
News OF the accident Immediately sent to
the relatives of the man. Coroner Apgar OF Peeks-
kin was called to perform the inquest. The acci-
don't caused excitement among the other convicts
hut the keepers had trouble In quoting them.