davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
nn,yE:gsz6.Ij.5i7OIcK
= 80 sgeea
VALUE OF A LAMB.
Worth When Measured by What Is Called
the. block Test

Worth When Measured by What Is Called
the Block Test.
Professor Curtiss OF the Iowa expert
ment station has published in The
Breeders Gazette an account of how the
different breeds Of lambs pan out when
their carcasses are cut up by the butch
ers. He takes the style of cutting used
by two of the leading slaughter firms of
the country. He says:
In the slaughter test the Merinos av-
eraged 81. s per cent of dressed mutton;
Dorsets, 90. 6; Suffollzs, So 6; crossbreds,
53.7; range, $50; Southdowns, 30. 4;
Cotswolds, 549; Lincolns, 55.7; Ok
fords 2; Shropshires, 1913; Leices-
ters, 57.8, and yearling Shropshires,
62.3.
The block test was made by cutting as
indicated in the accompanying diagram
This particular drawing is one furnish
ed by one firm that have had prepared
for illustration in class work, but the
other firm use practically the same
method except that the parts marked
breast, shank shoulder and
neck generally go as one piece called
chuck, - and this cut was rated uni
formly at cents a pound in each lot of
the station sheep. When the "neck"
piece is sold separate it usually brings
about cent per pound. All of these
prices are wholesale.
The prices put on the other cuts of
the station sheep varied somewhat in
the different breeds, owing to quality
and size. The Southdown and Shrop-
shire lambs We're rated highest, the
prices being as given in the illustration.
1t will be seen that there is marked
variation in the value Of the different
parts of a carcass of mutton according
to the Chicago wholesale market. There
is also more or less variation of the
prices of the principal cuts, one to an
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
Winter Pruning.

In reply to the query, els it injurious
to apple trees to prune in January and
february" Country Gentleman replies:
The theory of pruning fruit trees, or,
in fact, any trees, is based on the princi-
pie that trimming when in growing
condition tends to increase growth;
hence, generally, pruning had best be
done after the leaves have fallen and
before the commencement of growth in
the spring. Suckers may be removed at
any season; the sooner after they start
the better, as their growth tends to a
waste of sap that should go to the fruit
producing branches of the tree. When
large branches are necessarily to be re-
moved, pruning as late as March or
April should be preferred, so that the
growth about to commence at that time
will cause the cut to heal over sooner,
but otherwise general pruning may
properly be done at the convenience of
the owner at any time after the leaves
fall and before the buds begin to open
in the spring. This gives time to consult
the convenience of parties and permits
the performance Of large quantity of
such work, preferring the latter part Of
the dormant season, when but little is
to be done.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
Mulching Chrxsanthemums.

A contributor to Gardening writes:
There is a point about growing chrys-
anthemums which have not seen mem
toned elsewhere-that is, you must
keep the foliage clean by mulching
around the plants and close up to the
stems to prevent the mud made by rain
being splashed on the underside of the
leaves, this. of course, for plants in the
open ground. This may be trite to most
of your readers, but / have been three
years in getting my plants to retain
their lower leaves, and, being careful in
this respect, they are now nice looking
specimens right TO the pot Sometimes
some little trifiing matter like this that
goes without saying just discourages
amateurs like myself who have neither
time nor opportunity TO ask others for
information
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
eag11 - AND
essily. a3S 5an@
x yTS'os B~ssES
TRANSFORMING TREES.
Hard Wooded Trees Require Severe Prun-
ing as a General Rule.

Hard Wooded Trees Require Severe Prun-
ing as General Rule.
While it is often the case that trees
that die after transplanting do SO be-
cause the earth has not been packed in
tightly about the roots, yet great
many fail from exhaustion from lack Of
pruning. AS Meehan in his illustrated
monthly explains, tree in full vigor
has enough roots to supply it with all
the sap it needs, but as soon as it is
transplanted it is unable to draw mois-
tuEe from the earth until new roots are
made, and the tree again becomes es-
tablished. All this time the branches
and leaves are drawing on what sap
there Is in the tree, and when this be-
comes exhausted, if new roots have not
yet grown, the tree dies This explains
why trees die after they have pushed
into leaf, and, in fact, sometimes into
growth.
All trees need more or less pruning
when transplanted. Just how much de-
ponds great deal on the tree to be
pruned. The authority quoted says: A
maple, poplar. birch or elm will do
with very little pruning, while an oak,
beech, chestnut, walnut or ash requires
severe cutting. The roots that tree has
must also be taken into consideration.
If it is well furnished with roots and
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
HoMEslcK HlPPoPoTAMUs.

It Longed For the Language of Its Baby
hood Home.
During Bayard Taylor's visit to the
geological gardens in London he noticed
hippopotamus which lay in its tank
apparently oblivious of its surroundings.
Entering into conversation with the
keeper one morning. he was told that
the creature refused to eat and was
gradually starving itself to death. II
fancy it's homesick, added the keeper
''He's fine specimen, and it seems a
pity we should lose him, but he's moped
ever since the keeper who had charge of
him on board the steamer left. He pays
no attention to anything 1 say.
Learning that the creature came from
a part of Africa he had once visited,
Mr.. Taylor, on an impulse, leaned for
ward and addressed it in the dialect
used by the hunters and keepers of that
region. The animal lifted its head, and
the small eyes opened. Mr.. Taylor re-
peated his remark, when what does Mr.
Hippo do but paddle slowly over to
where he stood. Crossing to the other
side of the tank, the experiment was re-
peated with the same result, the poor
thing showing unmistakable signs of
joy, even consenting to receive food
from the hand Of his new friend.
Mr.. Taylor paid several visits to the
gardens, being always noticed by his
African friend. Finally, before leaving
the city, he taught the keeper few
sentences he had been i'll the habit of
addressing to the hippopotamus and
went his away.
Two years later he was in London,
and, curious to know tho result, again
paid his respects to his amphibious
friend To his surprise the creature rec
ognized his voice at once, and expressed
his joy by padding from side to side Of
his tank after his visitor.
Bayard Taylor says that it convinced
him that even a hippopotanus may
have affections, and tenacious ones at
that, as well as good memory. Watch
man
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
A LAD WITHOUT GUILE.
How Grant Impressed His Comrades as
Was% Point Codaf

How Grant Impressed His Comrades as
West Point Cadet.
"He was lad without guile,' testi-
fies General Longstreet. I never heard
him utter profane OF vulgar word. He
was a boy of good native ability, al
though by no means hard student. So
perfect was his sense of honor that, in
the numerous cabals which were often
formed, his name was never mentioned,
for he never did anything which could
be subject for criticism or reproach. He
soon became the most daring horseman
in the academy" He had a way of
solving problems out Of rule by the APP
plication of good, hard sense, and Rufus
Ingalls, ends by saying: "When our
school days We're over, if the average
opinion of the members Of the class had
been taken, every one would have said:
There is Sam Grant He is a splendid
fellow, good, honest man, against
whom nothing can be said and from
whom everything may be expected. ;"
One Of the keenest observers in his
class, for a year his roommate, perceived
more in him than his instructors. He
had the most scrupulous regard for
truth. He never held his word light
He never said an untruthful word even
in jest.
"He was reflective mind and at
times very reticent and somber. Some
thing seemed working deep down in his
thoughts--things he knew as little about
as we. There would be days, even
weeks, at time when he would be 81
lent and somber-not morose. He was
cheerful man, and yet he had these
moments when he seemed to feel some
premonition of great future-wonder
ing what he was to do and what he was
to become. He was moved by very sin
cere motive to join the Dialectic society,
which was the only literary society we
had. I did not belong, but Grant joined
while we were roommates with the
aim to improve III his manner of ex-
pressing himself Mcclure s.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
Keeping Apples.

A contributor to The Rural New
Yorker writes:
My experience in keeping apples is
that they will keep quite as we'll in a
cool cellar or storage room if the
barrels are not headed, provided they
are not disturbed. If, however, the
doors or windows are left open at times,
causing sudden changes in the atmos-
phere, then the barrels should be headed
up tight, so that the apples will not feel
the change. The evener and lower the
temperature can be kept the better it
is for the apples, always keeping it
above the freezing point, however. If
apples are to be kept in a warm atmos-
phere or shipped during warm weather,
I should prefer to slit the barrels to
prevent heating, in the same way that
peaches, pears and vegetables are ship
ned
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
FOR THE BEST
TOP AND BRAKE
GIVE US A CALL.
ESTABLISHING AN APIARY.
Spring Is the Best Time-Practica1 Hints
to Beginners.

Spring Is the Best Time-Practica1 Hints
to Beginners.
Spring is the best time to establish an
apiary, especially for a person unao-
quainted with the practical care of bees.
Colonies in good condition secured then
are more easily kept in order by the
novice than if purchased in the fall.
Mistakes in management may possibly
be remedied before the season closes,
and by the time it is necessary to pre-
pare for the winter the learner will
have gained certain amount of practi-
cal knowledge of the nature and re-
quirements of the bees If the start be
made late in the season, mistakes, If
they occur. may result fatally before
the proper remedy can be applied. This
advice is given in bulletin from the
department. of agriculture, authority
also for the following:
The beginner had better obtain his
start by purchasing one or two colonies
of pure Italian or Carniolan bees in ac-
curately made frame hives and in first
class condition. These he should get
from some bee master of repute near
his own place if possible, in order to
avoid expressage and possible damage
through long confinement or numerous
transfers. The cost per colony may be
$6 to So; yet bees at this price will
generally be found much cheaper in the
end, for, though common bees in box
hives may frequently be obtained at
half the price or less, the cost, when
finally transferred into frame hives, fit
ted up with straight combs, and the
common queens replaced by Italians or
Carniolans, will not be less.
The possession of colony already in
prime working order gives the novice
standard with which to compare all
others, and often enables him to avoid
costly experiments. Another plan, also
commendable, is to agree with some
neighboring beekeeper to deliver as
many first swarms on the day they issue
as are wanted. These will give the right
start if placed as soon as received in
hives with foundation starters and the
frames properly spaced--one and three
eighths inches from center to center, it
being understood that the swarms are
early and prime ones, with vigorous
queens Only those issuing from colo
MES that have swarmed the year before
or from such as were themselves second
swarms of the previous year should be
accepted. Swarms from these will have
queens not over one year old.
1t is better to have queens of the cur
rent years raising, but these can only
be obtained by taking the second or
third swarms from given hive, which
come later and are smaller, or by sub
stituting young queens for those that
come with the swarms.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18


most of these contrivances have been so
bulky or bunglesome that they have
made no progress in popular favor.
What seems to be a real step in the evo-
luton of the grating machine is marked
by the announcement of NJ Pradines'
machine in the Revue Horticole This
new machine is light, convenient and
manageable. Itweighs about IA ounces,
or only little more than pair of COM
mon pruning shears. 1t is about the
size of Wiss No. primer, has quite a
family resem blance to grape shears in
general and is almost as easy of manip-
ulation.
At the Vermont station trial of this
tool has been made in an experimental
way. E. A. Waugh, writing from the
station to Rural New Yorker, says: Our
results thus far would not encourage as
to hope for its success in extensive oper
ations. The first oblique cut, as it is
made in the whip graft, the splice graft
and in some other methods, is easily,
quickly and accurately made with this
machine. If evenness and accuracy were
a special consideration, and one had
some hard wooded stock to handle, the
Pardines CRATER would probably be
quite useful. For cutting the tongue,
however, in the ordinary whip graft, it
is not success as at present construct
ed. But it seems to me that some modi-
fication might enable it to do this part
of the work also. The tool was original
ly designed for grating grapevines in
the vineyard, and here, upon stocks in
place, it will doubtless cut the tongue
to ones entire satisfaction. In such
places a tongue is peculiarly hard to
make with knife. On the whole,
would say that for this country it is a
pointed suggestion rather than prae-
tical success. 1t is made only in France.
In the second cut is shown a grating
knife in common use and especially en-
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
LAVENDER LEAVES.

The waving corn was green and gold,
The damask roses blown,
The bees and busy spinning wheel
Kept up drowsy drone,
When Mistress Standish, folding down
Her linen, white as snow,
Bewteen it laid the lavendar,
One summer long ago.
The slender spikes of grayish green,
Still moist with morning dew,
Recalled a garden sweet with box
Beyond the oceans blue
An English garden. quaint and old,
She mover more might know
And so she dropped homesick tear
That summer long ago.
The yellow sheets grew worn and thin
And fell in many a shred.
Some went to bind soldiers wounds,
And some to shroud the dead.
And Mistress Standish rests her soul
Where graves their shadows throw
And violets blossom, planted there
In summers long ago.
But still between the royal rose
And lady lily tall
Springs up the modest lavender
Beside the cottage wall.
The spider spreads her gossalner
Across it to and fro
The ghost of linen laid to bleach
One summer long ago.
New England Magazine.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
BUrcnER's CUT OF LAMB CARCASS.

BUTCHERfS CUT OF LAMB CARCASS.
other, but a prime leg of lamb is always
a choice cut. The leg cut in good car
cass of mutton constitutes 80 per cent
by weight and sells for 40 per cent of
the entire value All of the hind part of
the carcass, it will be observed, consists
of high priced mutton, while the cheap
mutton is all found III front. In the
wholesale market much Of the mutton
is only cut through the middle, leaving
all but the last rib on the front cut.
This puts the loin and leg into one cut,
termed a SADDLE" of mutton The front
half, then, contains the crib and the
other cuts, which together constitute
the "chuck, and the whole half taken
thus is called the track Cut i'll this
manner carcass consists of saddle
and track. " Packers rate sheep that
cuts as much weight III the saddle (rear
half as in the rack front half a good
one In the station lambs the saddles
taken entire were valued at s cents a
pound and the racks at 4 cents. This
makes the rear half Of a lamb worth
twice as much as the front half These
lambs also cut on the average more than
half in saddles, making the difference
still greater. Sheep OF lambs unneces-
sarily heavy in shoulder, head and neck
are Objectionable. By way of explana-
ton [ win here say that this objection
was given as a reason for rating the
Dorsets below the others. The slaughter
and block tests to some extent substan-
tiated this objection, though it is prob
able that it was overestimated.
In addition to the foregoing COMPARE
sons, the legs, loins and ribs of two rep
resentative animals in each lot were
photographed ON the block in such posi-
ton as to give cross section views, show
ing the thickness and other character
istics of each cut. All of the internal
organs, fat and offal, were weighed and
the percentage of the whole determined.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
Manure ON Corn, Potash on clover.

Here is man with pile of manure.
He expects to raise big crop of corn.
The corn is to be fed to hogs. The pork
is to be the money crop. Now it would
not be sensible for that man to use only
half Of the manure on the corn and save
the other half to feed to the hogs. That
would be nonsense. The wise plan will
be to use it all on the corn, and thus
get as much hog food as possible. Here
is man using potash on crops in a ro-
tation which includes clover. His best
plan is to put the potash all on the clover
crop. Glover responds to potash better
than any other farm crop, and the more
clover you can grow the more of other
crops will the farm produce. Manure
on the cornl Potash all on the cloverl
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
Actual Potash.
DRIFTING ONWARD.

Drifting onward-ever drifting,
Tow'rd yon shining, shoreless sea,
Farther still from earth's green Landscapes,
Nearer to eternity.
Onward-yet we know not whittier
We are borne by times swift tide,
Needing not the dang 'rous river
Down whose darkling stream we glide.
Drifting onward-we are going
To country all unknown;
Guard, o Lord, and keep thou. ever
LeaNs us not to drift alone.
Shield us from the waters perils,
Save from dark and angry storm:
Let thine arm Of might defend us
Evermore from every harm.
Drifting onward-we will anchor
At the heavily port at last
Every care and trial ended,
All our tolls and dangers past,
Happy on that shore Elysian,
Nevermore shall storm clouds frown;
Oh, the bright, unfading vision,
Where no paling sun goes down!
Francis A. Simkins.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18

Here is what is said in Vick's Maya
zine: AS rule, cactus plants do not re-
quire large pots, very rich soil or much
water. Excessive moisture is especially
harmful i'll the dull season, when they
are dormant and are satisfied if only the
soil is not allowed to be come dust dry.
A soil of fibrous loan and sand in equal
parts will suit them. Most kinds can be
kept in somewhat low temperature
so to so degrees--during winter. In
March give them warmer place,
syringe them once day, and when
growth starts give water once day,
but still sparingly. The full sunshine
suits them.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
Fun Corncribs and lean Cattle.

With oyerfowing corncribs every
where and corn selling in the country
as low as Il cents a bushel, says The
Stock1nan, it is difficult to account for
the large numbers of half fat cattle that
are being sent to market. Great num-
bers of 1, 100 to 200 pound steers that
have been fed go to 80 days keep COM
ing here and have to be sold at ruinously
low prices-$3. so to 81 per 100 pounds.
Then there are lots of 1, $50 to 1850
pound steers selling between 81 and
81. 80 that are too light for either the
eastern shippers or the exporters, and
consequently they are taken by dressed
beef concerns. If these 1850 to 1, $50
pound cattle were only made heavy
enough for the wants of eastern shippers
or exporters, they would easily sell for
20 to 10 cents per 100 pounds more. By
holding them back and putting on this
extra flesh the feeder would certainly
consult his own interests, as he would
add largely to his profits.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18

For the benefit of those who desire to attend
the ceremonies incident to the Inauguration of
President-elect Mckinley, the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company will sell excursion tickets to
Washington March l. ?. 8 and 4. valid to return
from March to at the following rates -
From New York. $500; Philadelphia IS 40:
Philipsburg 81 49, Trenton, S. 10, and from ali
other stations on the Pennsylvania system at re-
duce rates.
The inauguration will be a most interesting
event and will undoubtedly attract a large num-
Der OF people from every section of the Country
The magnificent facilities of the Pennsylvania
Railroad make this line the fayorita rout to the
national capital at all times, and its enormous
equipment and splendid terminal advantages at
Washington make it especially popular on such
occasions
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18

Salaries Earned by Successful Buyers.
A good buyer who year after year in
creases his business and the reputation
of his department. who leaves for tn
se,uiannual inventory clean and de-
sirable stock-one who. in fact, has the
genius of money malzing-is paid sal
airy in the big houses of from So, 600 to
SO, 900 and often a percentage on the
yearly increase of his sales. In some Of
the largest departments number of the
most capable buyers thus receive as
much as $50, 900 year and are regard
ed as cheap at that, a fact which can be
readily understood when it is remem-
bered that in single department of a
great shop selling, say, $1,000 900
worth of goods year, difference of 5
per cent in the profits, which may be
the result Of a good manager as distin-
guished from mediocre one, amounts
to $50, 600. On the other hand, in the
lower class stores buyers in many OF the
departments are paid as low as $25 a
week, with no percentage. If the large
incomes are the great exception, it is
also to be said that the opportunities are
more numerous than the men with the
ability to take advantage of them =
tsThe Department Store, = by Samuel
Hopkins Adams, in Scribner's.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-02-18
JINGLEs AND JEsTs.
Whom the blizzard Blows.

When the Blizzard Blows
Hear the surly visaged blizzard
Madly nipping,
Ripping, tipping,
Till you're scissored
10 the gizzard
And your nasal is CONCEALED.
Hear it round the forest whirling,
With scowlng,
Growing, bowling,
All the poodle's coat uncurling,
Till the bark is from him peeled.
Hear its moaning through the valley,
Wildly humping,
Dumping, jumping.
See it rally,
With sally,
While it with the snowdrift scoots.
See it like tiend Of bloodshed
Swiftly dashing,
Crashing lashing,
While it pulls the fimsy wood shed
To its bosom by the roots.
While across the land it's whining,
Madly winging,
Ringing, singing,
Drown your pining
In the shining
Brew that makes the spirit glad.
Rich cen as the fairy plumber
Der its beaming,
Steaming dreaming,
Then you'll feel the rose of summer
Burst beneath your liver pad.
--R. K. Munkittrick in New York journal.