davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12
CONCRETE STABLE FLOORS.


How They Add to the Fertilizlng Value
Of Manure.
Some one has said that you can't
abstract fertility through concrete
floor. 1t is true. Drainage away
from a manure pile indicates lack Of
Drainage. 1t is hard for some farmers
to understand that the liquid manure
contains all the disested portions OF
the food that are passed by the animal.
These digestible parts are soluble, am!
not only quickest in their action is
plant food, but easiest to run away if
not jailed by concrete floor. AS DR..
Young says, any place that is to hold
manure should be foored with con-
crete if possible. 1T is a wise provi-
sion Of nature" says the Rural New
Yorker. that man has this power Of
grinding up concrete, and then mold
ing it to suit his will into artihcia;
stone to cover any desired surface with
watertight covering. This wonder
full action is rs uscfulin itsway as is tho
chemical action of fire. It is one Of
the things placed in our hands with
which to prevent a loss, and there arc
few losses SO serious to the farmer rs
the loss of fertility. With concrete
floors and plaster for an absorbent, we
may add much to the value of manure,
not alone by saving the fertilizing ral
ue of the liquids, but by retaining
moisture in the pile"
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12
NEWSY FARM NOTES.

Peach trees must be cultivated to do
well.
10 get size among tree fruits. cult.
vate often and thin.
The gooseberry 1iourishes best in a
heavy, low, but not wet soil.
- Neither black nor white currants arc
grown extensively for the market.
Authorities are generally agreed IN
recommending early seeding of clover.
IN Siam the leaves of the banana
plant are used to make wrappers for
cigarettes.
1t is very hard to get = new tree to
grow thriitily when surrounded ny
those in bearing.
i The pullet that begins to lay earliest
in life is, the. one to lay the largest nun.
Der of eggs through life.
s When cows shave been long in milk,
,churning is difficult, because the milk
has become glutinous and the fat glot
ules will not cohere. Heating dissolvcs
them and increases the huidity of the
creamy. Y. World.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12
Loss in CIovor Ensilage.

One thing which causes the loss witt,
clover ensilage is that clover is a rather
heterogeneous plant, and often heats in
tie silo to Il high degree, which causes
the passing off of large amount Of
moisture, and so'produces the process
of fire-fanging, much the same as oc-
ours in pile Of horse manure; Mt least,
that has been my experience in ensilo-
ing it. If sufficient water be used upon
it, the heat is reduced and the cnsilagc
is preserved. 1t will be necessary for
the person filling the silo to watch pref
ty carefully, and if the temperature
rises above 1876 degrees, to keep water
well poured on the surface. l do not
think that any injurious results will
arise from the application of water.
We have added water very freely to our
corn cnsilage here, and have received no
results other than beneficial ones.-In-
diana Experiment Station.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12
FARM AND GARDEN.
PEAT As A MANURE.

Scientific sido OF an Important Agricul.
tursl Question.
The economic Importance OF the
increased use of moss litter, from the
point of view of manure, is incalcuable.
Prof. F]eisher points out that, com
pairing peat and straw manure by chen,-
ical analysis, it is found that thef former.
while slightly poorer in potash, lime,
and phosphoric acid, is very consider
ably richer in nitrogen. But the diff
ference is still more in favor of the peat
manure in respect to the easily soluable
ritrates. for the reason that these orig
mate solely in the animal excrement, i'll
which they are present in the form
Of a volatile body, which is noticeable
in the stall by it's pungcnt smell. He
says: o."
'In the power of fixing thissubstance,
which so Injuries the health Of beasts,
and SO materially heightens the good
operation of the manure, is to be dis
covered one of the most valuable prop
critics of moss litter
From his figures it appears that in
u stall Of ten head of cattle, through the
use of moss litter, about 140 kilograms
Of easily soluble nitrates yearly, worth
at least $35, would be preserved in the
manure, which III employing straw, are
lost.
According to the comparative studies
Of Lavalard on the subject of manures
from animals fed in the same manner,
the richness In nitrogen is O.6S for peat
manure and only O.5l for straw manure.
Feat litter is also said to be the best
possible material for use in fowl houses,
on account of it's deodor;zing qualities
and Its power Of banishing insects.
Rielawski mentions that it is used in tn:
great military pigeon houses in Paris,
which contain more than 500 pigeons.
It. is stated that the best bedding,
both as regards the beasts and as re-
CARDS the manure, is q layer Of straw
over a good thick bed OF moss litter.
In this way, the animals have the most
comfortable bed and the stall looks
nice and fresh; the urine and the am
monia which the straw cannot absorb
are absorbed by the peat below; the
manure has the advantage Of the Gle
ments in which each substance is
richest, nnd nothing is lost either in
the stable or outside.-Farm, Field and
Fireside.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12
How to Prepa re Tobacco Dip.

Speaking of tobacco dip, u writer
says it will require for 100 sheep 100 gal
Ions of water, and to make that strong
enough to kill ticks and the scab it will
require the addition of all the fluid that
can be extracted from Is pou ads OF to-
bacco. The tobacco should be thor
oughly stepped and boiled SO as to get
NIL the strength cut of it. TO this mix
ture 10 pounds of sulphur should be
added. The sulphur should be mixed
separately in pail of hot water, and
efter being thoroughly stirred should
be added to the dip. If tobacco stems
are used, at least three times the weight
mentioned should be STEPPED. =,
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12

smoke is generated in the usual way,
and then carried through flue to the
smokehouse, where the meat is hang
ing. The damper at D regulates the
admission OF smoke, which passes out
at C.. The meat should be smoked with
green wood--hickory, elm OF sugar
maple chips or sawtlust should be used
Pine should never be employed, as it
affects the flavor of the meat. Corn
cobs are excellent for smoking, as they
impart sweet and pleasant flavor.
The temperature of the smokehouse
should never rise above 50 degrees.
The smoking should be done little
each day until the meat Is suitably
Colored.-N. Y. World.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12

pcctedly attack tho oven, and then,
crazed by the taste Of blood, gobble up
their owners. Meadows, however, SO
well knew the cowardly nature of these
hurtes, and had SO much confidence in
his own resources, that he attached ne
Importance whatever to this contir-
gcncy. He did not rely much on his
AK and rifle as means of defense, but
pinned his faith to the flint, steel and
punk, with which he could az my time
kindle a protecting fire in q few mill
utes; and he also knew OF another sure
plan of keeping wolves at q safe dis
lance. He never once considered that
the hungry creatures might attack tn
daylight, at a moment when he would
not have those flew minutes" to put
either of these plans into operation.
During the first day of his parents
absence, Julian, trained to fearlessness,
had no nisgivings> as to their safety;
but when night came, he, somehow,
could not sleep. Every time he fell
into doze, frightful visions obtruded
themselves upon his restless mind, and
so impressed him that, when morning
came, he shut cattle, sheep and pigs III
the outbuildings with a supply of food
and water, and started of on the sled
track, taking his rifle, hunting-knife
and all the ammunition in the house
along with him. He quickly found that
the travellers progress must necessari-
ly have been very slow, for he saw that
in many places they had been obliged
to chop their way through fallen tree
trunks. Indeed, he had not gone ten
miles from home when he came upon
the still smoldering fire by the side OF
which they had passed the first night,
and he then felt sure Of overtaking
them before they camped down for the
next.
The wayfarers seemed to have got OF,
faster tho second day; for, although
walking at his best speed, Julian had
not caught sight of them up to four
o'clock in the afternoon.
Shortly after that hour, however,
when the shades Of evening were al
ready beginning to fall, he came to the
edge of On immense dry cedar swamp,
through which the tortuous trail led,
and now he saw occasional footprints of
wolves in the soft snow This was no
more than ne expected, forhe knewthat
on the approach of cold weather vast
numbers of these creatures seek the
comparative warmth Of ell accessible
evergreen swamps.
It here becomes necessary to state a
fact not known to every one, namely,
that it is impossible to trap the gray
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12

brought with him only the few bullets
that happened to be in his pouch at
starting, as he did not expect to fire
shot on the journey, except to bring
down, when necessary, a passing deer
or turkey. ~. ~
Therefore, after the happy mother
had sobbed out her Joy on the boys
neck, the first question asked by his
father was:
slave you plenty of powder and
lead, Julian?" :.
1--WE got nearly 200 balls, I guess,
and lots of powder to drive them," re-
piled the youth. "Vhy, father, we can
kill every one of those ugly brutes." 0
This did not prove practicable, how
ever; for, after the two marksmen had
knocked over ten or twelve, the eighty
OF so that were left seemed to realize
the situation, and scurried Off into the
gloomy recesses of The swamp. i.
It was nearly dark now, but in less
than ten minutes after the last wolf
had disappeared, Julian, telling a dry
cedar, had a glorious fire burning, b.
which his mother prepared supper,
while the still trembling oxen were
treated to feed of corn. II
Being absolutely safe now, the re.
united family enjoyed a hearty meal,
after which father ard son set to wor;
and skinned the dead wolves-21 III
all. a profitable evenings business,
for, although at that early day thers
was no state bounty OIL wolf scalps,
the pelts, at this season in prime con,li-
ton, were eagerly bought by the mer.
chant miller at 81 each. %5
Julian went back to the farm on The
morning after the fracas, and his
parents proceeded to their destination.
whence, in due time, they safely re-
turned with their grist and a generous
supply of "store goods" |%
This little story, doubtless true in
every particular, was lately told Tue
by Julian Meadows himself, who, now
grand-looking patriarch of 50, still
lives on the old farm, years ago in
creased to a full section of GAO acres,
and ut present bounded on it's west
side by the Michigan Central railroad.
Here, surrounded by whole colony
Of descendants. the old gentleman Is
enjoying that calmly serene happiness
which usually comes to one who has
spent a long and virtuous life in honess
" ork. 8
Among other old-ti1ne relics, tho
aged man showed me the two ancient
T. Il
carried by himself and his father on
that evcntful day in the wolf-infeste4
cedar swamp.--N. Y. Ledger. MS
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12

heavy runners; otherwise the fright
ened cattle would have stampedeG. 3iH
which case they, as we'll us thew owurs,
must have fallen an easy prey % ths
common foe. =,
Meanwhile, at a hint from her hus'
band, Mrs. Meadows snatched up q
long BEDFORD, brought along t. provide
for accidents, rncoiled it end laid tho
slender rope in as wids circle es it
would make, around the whole party.
Though these precautions had cccu'
pied scarcely a minute, they were bare
ly completed, when, trooping in-from
all sides, n great pack of wolves ragged
around the flimsy barrier, which, how,
ever, no pangs of hunger would have
induced one of them to cross.
Then, after the beleaguered couple
had again climbed ON top of the lead.
Meadows shot down one of the brltes
after another until his scant supply OF
ammunition was exhausted. vainly
hoping to scare the others away.
For huff an hour before Julian ap
peared, besicgers and besiesed had
quietly watched each other. The lat
ter sat with their backs to the boy, and
the former were SO preoccupicd that
they did not see him until he was with
in 20 yards of the rope ring. But then.
tumb!ing over one another in theiz
eagerness, and horribly growing, the
whole pack made at him; while his
mother, turning her head at the rush.
ffantically screamed: ''Oh. John! My
son, my son!"
Not for an instant did the youth fal'
ter; on the contrary, he redoubled his
speed and was within ten yards of the
sled, when the foremost wolf, mon
strously large one, close up low,
dropped dead with a bullet through
it's brain. Then, clubbing his heavy
rifle, the young hero beat down two
more of the rayening brutes, and the
pack, nlo1uentarily cowed. halted tor.
perhaps, two seconds.
Twas long enough, however, for now
the father sprang from his seat, ak in
hand and literally hewed his way to
the boys side, and before either hnd
received scratch both were safely in
side the charmed circle. ~
The old-fashioned. small-bore rifles
generally used at that time by back
woodsmen seldom carried less than GO
round bullets to the pound, so that a
hunter might, without being hampercd
by the weight, bear on his person
enough ammunition to last, under Or
binary circumstances, for several
weeks. But John Meadows, having no
fear whatever Of wild beasts, had
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12

wolf. This wary animal Is so suspicious
| of anything that looks like a snare.
that by simply laying around it q
| strand of wire, rope or Irvine hunter
! may safely leave the carcass of deer
or other game on the ground all night,
though scores of wolves may be in the
| vicinity. In places where a convenient
tree could not be found to suspend it
from, I have often so left the body of q
| deer and found it untouched i'll the
mornig. Yet, in contradiction to
this excessive caution, these same
| wolves might storm a fenced Enclosure.
| or, if in great numbers, attack we'll
armed men. In one case they know tho
danger; in the other the mystery of the
things scares them.
But, as Julian went on, the omiEo
tracks became more frequent, and he
now broke into long. Looping run, fer
vently praying that while in this dun-
gerous locality the travellers might not
be taken uEawares by q suddenly gatE-
cred pack.
After going a mile or SO farther, he
turned sharp bend in the trail, and
then, to his horror, saw. not so yards
ahead, his parents, the sled and oxen,
all motionless, but surrounded by
nearly hundred crouchlng wolves,
while here and there in their crowded
ranks lay a dead one.
John Meadows and his wife ga: on
top of the wheat bags in the sled, to
which,, having been previously re
leased from the yoke, the oxen were
tied, head on, by their trace cham.
Although completely hemming the
party in, none of the wolves, for sornc
reason not yet apparent to Julian, adj
vanced beyond n certain line, but,
ranged in a circle, remained sayagcly
gazing Mt their hcpcd-or prey.
It seems that about an hour before
the boys arrival, six or eight of the
creatures had suddenly appeared in
front of tho team, and, not Garing tn at
tack without reinforcements, hat;
souatted down on the trail and sent
forth that weird rallying cry which,
passing ON from one lurkingwo to an
other, speedily brought a whole pack
to their assistance. -M
At first sight of the vanguard, Mead
ows knew what was about to happen.
and, having no time to exhume fue, or
chop down a dry tree for fire, which,
with only flint and punk, must rake
some minutes to k:ndle, he instantly
drew thu pin from the end of the chain
leading from the yoke to sled. let the
pole drop from the big ring, brought
the oxen around, passed tie chain be.
tween their heads and fastened it tothe
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12
ABOUT EARLY LAMBS.
This Article Tells You How to XIII. Dress
and Shin Them. b. NY, "a.

This Article Tells You How to KIN. Dress
and Ship Them. d.. /
Raising early lambs ia proving y
profitable industry to those who UNI
derstand the industry from start to
finish. Unfortunately, judging from
the appearance Of many of the lambs
shipped, many people fail. to UNDER
stand that the mode Of dressing has Il
very important effect upon the PRICE o u
tanned. To obtain 81 satisfactory profit
it is essential that the carly lambs pre-"
sent neat and inviting appearance
when exposed for sale. This is almost
Is important as care and skill in tat
tening the lambs.
Early in the season lambs should not
weigh more than Is pounds, and as the
season advances buyers want heavier.
They should be grown as quickly us
possible to reach the required weight,
and should be fat and plump. Late sum-
nler and fall lambs will not sell for
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12

the spring article. The earlier lambs
can he sold in the large city markets
the higher the price. In killing. cut
the throat, making rs large an insertion
as possible, but be certain that the
large artery is severed. The lamb
should then he hung up by the heels
in order to bleed thoroughly and avoid
soiling the wool about the neck Or head.
In dressing carly lambs, cut them open
only from the tail to the breast bone,
but as the weather becomes warm, 1t
is best to GU: down to the head. Re
move the entraiIs. leaving in the haslct.
The head, feet and skin should all be
left on. Skin the hind legs and draw
the caui over them and well down over
the kidneys, securing it with skewers.
Slit the caul sufficiently to let the kid
neys through, and put in, what are
known as back-sets OF spreaders. These
are pieces of wood about IA inches long
for an ordinary sized carcass and point
ed at both ends. Bescareful that the
backsets are not too long, or; there il
danger of breaking the ribs and i'll
juring the appearance Of the lamb.
In putting tAenH in, 'fasten one end in
the flank. and, the:otl,er in tho breast
'close up to: the: .1isst rib, and place the
other stick in an opposite direction, so
that the sticks cross in the back just be-
hind the: kfditeys SO Us to open The car:
cass in such a Wq4yssas to: present a good
appearances, making it it.; Is, #, tia ssa POS,
sible. :SS go, SIX
Let:the carcass hang: until perfectly
cool, and before taking down see that
I'll the bloody liquid has been removed
from the chest. Replace the skin on
the hind legs; cover the exposed por.
tons Of the flesh with cleanwhite mus
lin and sew the whole carcass up neat
ly in burlap or bagging. The accom-
panying illustration from the Cornell
station shows the appearance it should
present. Mark the package plainly
with the names of the shipper and
the firm to whom it is sent, and ship by
express. Notify the consignee by mail.
IN. Y. World.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12
FARM MEAT SMOKER.
A Device for Cooling Smoke Before 1t
Reaches tho Meat.

A Device Tor Cooling Smoke Before It
Reaches tho Meat.
Every farmer who cures hams and
bacon requires smokehouse. There
is no need for an elaborate building.
1t may be as simple us possible, and
should not be aiE-tigbt, as the. meat
requires ven. ;lation as we'll as smoke
for the drying that is essential to good
keeping and cating q,ralities:s' But thu
n13sts important sppint...in smoking $is
that the smoke be. cooled; before coming
in, contact with, the meat The accom-
p;3}ying cut shows how this may be
satisfactorily accomplished The
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12
"a BACKWOODS STORY.

NE Of the earliest
white settlers in
northern Michi-
gan was q man
namedJohn Mead
ows, who, with
HE vito and H.
ycar-oid son Jul
ian,rsigrated from
southern Obi o,
and p-eempted a
wild land in what
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12

Though experience is the best teach
er in poultry raising. yet many useful
hints may be learned from the sue
cesses and failures Of your neighbors.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12
THr brakeman's ''all aboardl' are long
Win be Of little worth, - +.
When from tho air.ship rings the song,
''Como, all get of the earth =
s pr ! l'gg'
Me diCine

Your blood in Spring is almost certain to
be full of impurities-the accumulation
of the winter months. Bad ventilation
of sleeping rooms, impure mir in dwell
ings, factories and shops, over-eating,
heavy, improper foods, failure OF the
kidneys and liver properly to do extra
work thus thrust upon them, are tho
prime causes Of this condition. It Is OF
the utmost Importance that you
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12
Purify
Your Blood

Now, as when warmer weather comes and
the tonic effect of cold bracing air IS
gone, your weak, thin, impure blood
will not furnish necessary strength.
That tired feeling, loss Of appetite, will
open tho way for serious disease, ruined
health, or breaking out of humors and
impurities. To make pure, rich, red
blood Hoods Sarsaparilla stands I'M
eqlallcd. Thousands testify to its
merits. Millions take it as their
Spring Medicine. Get Hoods, because