davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-12-06
Farmers Reading Courses.

The United States Department of
Agriculture has in press and will soon
issue Bulletin No. 72, Office of Ex-
pertinent Stations, entitled, Farmers
Reading Courses
The bulletin was prepared by Prof.
L. II. Bailey, M. S., professor of .lorti-
culture in Cornell University, and
gives the history of the organization
of farmers reading courses, which
have become an important factor
among the agencies for diffusine
knowledge and promoting enthusiasm.
among farmers.
10 show the character and scope of
reading course outlined by President
Mills Of%the Agricultural College of
Ontario, in 1892, the Course of read
ing for second-class certificates" as
printed in the report of the college for
that year, is given. A few persons
took up the reading and passed cred
liable examinations upon questions
which were submitted to them: but
the prizes went mostly to ex-students
Of the college and the number became
so small after time that the whole
enterprise was dropped.
The bulletin then reviews all the
farmers reading courses in North
America, beginning with that estab-
lished in July, 1892, in connection with
the Pennsylvania State College, which
is stated to be the most famous single
venture of it's kind.
In 1898 the name of the enternriss
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-12-06
Georgia.
Soil Parasites.

Many of our farmers have observed
in the past few years that crops
which they formerly cultivated with
success could no longer be grown.
They tille1 and fertilized the fields
With their usual care but the plants
withered aud died from no apparent
cause. A careful investigation Of the
evil by the department Of agriculture
has shown that the soil in many re-
gions of the United States, devoted to
the cultivation Of special crops. is III.
fected with several most deadly varie-
ties Of parasitic fungi. The expert
ments and researches Of the depart
ment have been exhaustively describ
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-12-06
For the Florida Agriculturist.
Asparagus Culture.

II VI Tie ASr1CulCur1SC.
Asparagus Culture.
The attention of Southern truckers
as we'll as every farmer who has a
kitchen garden, and every resident Of
city or town who loves home grown
Vegetables, is invited to this subject
Asparagus readily adjusts itself to
surrounding circumstances that it may
be grown. over wide stretch of soils
and climates. Particularly does it re-
.joice in the Sunny South.
notwithstanding readily from
seeds or from transplanted roots,
there is very little expense needed in
getting started. To grow it from seeds
all that is needed is to prepare the soil
good and deep by thoroughly plowing
or spading. Manure we'll with almost
any kind Of rotting vegetable matter
or lot manure Then lay off rows
feet, bed slightly, and make the fur
row for the seed few inches below
the top of The bed Sow the seed
thinly and cover lightly. Perhaps it
would be better to drop the seed
in hills twelve inches aprt AS
the young plants grow, grad
ually work is the soil around
them. Thus you will get the
roots well down in the earth. Do not
permit too heavy growth of tops the
first two years. Some advise cutting
the tops in August. We do no think
that this is needed, or best
Another Plan.-Many find it more
convenient to SOW the sec,l Ghickly in
rows about 2 feet apart, sowing near
er the top of the soil. The second or
third year take up the roots and trans
plant them in wider rows. This
should be done in early fall soon after
the tops have died down. In this case
we would advise very deep prepara-
ton and high manuring. In addition
to that above recommended, we would
advise very tree use of potash From
500 to 1000 lbs of kainit, or 300 to GOO
lbs. of muriate of potash, should be
spread in the open burrows and STIR
red in before placing the roots. This
done, place the punches of roots II TO
Is inches apart, deep down in the
furrow. Cover about inches deep
with loose Soil.
Still Another Plan.-With very
many it will perhaps be more conven-
lent to vary a little from either of the
above. They will wish to get a crop
the first season. From either of the
seed plans you must wait two or three
years before you get paying returns.
So, if you are in a hurry, you may pro-
ceed thus: Buy or 5-year old roots.
Take them up with a good deal of soil
adhering. November is the best time.
Open deep burrows by running a turn
er both ways. Scatter kainit or mu-
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-12-06

riate of potash literally in the fur
rows. Place the roots carefully as
close as they will admit. Put in rot
ting manure freely, cover to inch
es and top-dress with kainit, a ton per
acre. Early in spring put on stable
manure or other barnyard scrapings,
2 to inches deep.
Culture. must be kept
clean to do it's best. 1t will pay we'll
for clean and constant shallow work
The roots should never be broken.
They are the storehouse Of the food,
which gives such prodigous yields
through the spring months. Anything
that Injuries ,he roots will diminish
the yield.
Asparagus requires and pays for an
nual heavy manuring and top-dressing
with potash. Besides furnishing the
potash, kainir will keep down the
growth Of grass and weeds.
Asparagus as oFod-This is not
simply a luxury True it is a luxury.
For making delicious soup, and for
boiling and favoring with butter,
vinegar and pepper, no early spring
Vegetable can rival it. 1t is the earliest
and the best. The Asparagin which it
contains is very valuable nerve
tonic. 1t tones up the system against
the relaxation of spring. 1t gives ap-
petite to the feeble, aids digestion, pro-
notes sleep--good refreshing and in
vigorating sleep. Thus it is a necessi-
ty as we'll as luxury.
The old-time idea that you must dig
a pit, line it with brick, fill it with
manure, and burn it off annually,
caused most of us to think it was too
costly for ordinary people. All this is
now exploded. 1t can be easily culti-
vated. 1t should be in every garden.
The same space will not pay better in
any other vegetable. AS a paying mar
ket crop it has no superior. The green
tops are better, rendered and healthier
than the white.
James B. Hunnicutt.
Georgia.
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-12-06
Whole No. 1348 Deand Fla Wednesday, December 6, lS99

ed by DR.. Erwin Smith in a paper
which he read before the Botanical
Section Of the American Association
for the advancement Of Science, and
wEicl. we publish in full in the cur
rent issue .: the Scientific American
Supplement.
DR.. Smiths Investigations show that
soil fungi have ravaged the fields of
tue watermelon region, the cotton sec
ton, the cabbage district of New York
State, and the tomato lands Of FlOri-
da. 10 such an extent has the melon
fungus infected the soil Of our South
eru States that watermelon growing
has been sometimes rendered impossi-
BILE, and in Gel tain parts Of South Caro-
lima, Virginia and Mississippi the in
,lustry has been almost given up. In
one Of the finest cotton-producing dis
tricts III the world (the "Sea Island
belt, extending from South Carolina
to Georgia) many growers have been
co npelled to abandon their devastated
fields. The cabbage growers of New
York aod the tomato farmers of FlorI-
da tlave suffered similarly.
That the evil is primarily due to soil
parasites or fungi is fully proved by
DR. Smiths experiments. Merely by
burying the fungus in the earth the
characteristic signs Of contamination
are obtained in the plant. Microscopic
pxaG1nations show that the parasite
completely fills the water-ducts of the
stem. The leaves wither; and, if the
weather be dry, the plant never recov-
ers. Even ii the weather be moist,
the plants soon droop under the heat
of the sun. A plant may be contam1-
mated at any stage Of it's development
from the seeding just shooting from
the ground, with no leaves except
cotyledous, to the full grown vine with
ripening fruit and dense foliage. From
external Indications alone the disease
can not be diagnosed. Only by micro
scopic examination Of cross-sections Of
the plant stem is 1t possible to ascer-
tain the true cause Of the whiting Of
the foliage, FOR the white, cotton-like
stuffing which fills the passages Is an
unmistakable sign Of soil-fungus in
fection. AS the plant dies the fungus
comes to the surface, and in fruiting
changes it's form entirely. In his at
tempts to cross-inoculate varieties OF
fungi DR.. Smith has been unsuccess>
full. Morphologically the parasites are
apparently similar; physiologically
they seem altogether different from
one another.
The farmer naturally asks: What is
the remedy for this soil-infection? Un-
fortunately NO answer can be given.
The malady is of such recent discovery
and so little is known of the fungi,
that. for the time being, only precau-
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27
APPROPRIATION is TOO SMALL.
It Will Be Possible to Paint Only
One of the Bridges.

City Engineer Phillips, in company
with Engineer Webster, of the Edge
moor Bridge works, made an examina-
ton of the iron bridges yesterday, to
estimate the extent of overhauling that
will be necessary and after a careful
computation the city engineer is satis-
fed that the $1,000 appropriated for the
work will not permit of more than one
bridge being painted.
First of ALL the bridges must he
frightened up and adjusted and then
ceilings must be put in over the loco
motive tracks. After this has been
done, it is figured there will scarcely
be enough Of the appropriation remain
ing to paint one of the bridges. The
Roaring Brook bridge, which is in most
need of paint, will be the favored one
City Engineer Phillips will likely ask
for an increased appropriation in order
to paint all the bridges. If they are
allowed to become rusted it will require
more to put them in condition to be
painted than to actually paint them.
as every bit of the rust will have to
be sCrapcd off the iron before the paint
can be applied. He earnestly urged a
$1,000 appropriation for this work in
his annual report.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27
NO. 33, ,5O4 WINS PIANO.
Lucky Number Held by Clara Clarke
of Webster Avenue.

The drawing for the Emerson upright
piano at Clarke Bros stores yesterday
afternoon was conducted in the dry
goods department by Robert Crotzer
and Jacob Fitzpatrick. \ large crowd
was present and a little girl named AL
bertha Hanley, of AL North Ninth
street, was selected to draw the coup
ons from the wheel.
After seven tickets had been drawn
and replaced in the wheel, the little
girl drew forth No. 33,50i, which won
the instrument. 1t was held by Miss
Clara Clarke, of 521 Webster avenue.
Miss Clarke is the daughter of Mr..
and Mrs William c. Clarke, and the
family are very deserving people They
held twenty-one coupons on the in
strument, and have been customers of
Clarke Bros. for the past six years.
Mr.. Clarke is a gardner and there are
three children in the family They are
in no wise connected with the Clarke
Bros, although the name is spelled
the same.
The next drawing for the third piano
will be conducted at the store on May
"a next.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27

underground in the principal business
streets I'm the central portion of the
city. or on the following streets: ON
North Main street, from Union to Pub
lie Square; on South Main street, from
Public Square to South street. on East
Market street, from Public Square to
Baltimore street; on West Market
street, from Public Square to River
street; on Washington street, from
Market street to Northampton, and
around Public Square and probably on
Franklin street, from West Market
street to South street.
I'm the trench leading from the telc-
phone exchange I'm the postoflice build
ing there are thirty-six ducts and in
each duct there is a cable which con-
tains 100 pairs Of wires, or sufficient to
supply fifty patrons. The capacity Of
the ducts is 200 pairs. The ducts are
made of salt glazed vitriied brick. are
three inches in diameter and eighteen
inches long. There are four rows of
them in the main lead and each row
contains nine ducts.
These ducts are laid in cement NOR
tar, with three inches of cement con-
crete around the four sides, AS the
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27
THOSE LANCASTER CIGARS.
Five More Lots Discovered in Col
lector Penman's District.

Altogether, 22.462 of the NJ. Jacobs
d Co. counterfeit stamped cigars have
been Confscated i'm this district. Col
loctor Penman yesterday received word
of $500 more being found at Shamokin;
3, 200 AT Wilkes Barre; 5000 at Easton;
$50 at Williamsport and 1900 at Lock
haven. Deputy w. S. Montgomery, of
the WilliamspOrt district also reported
having found a jobber who recently
disposed of 10000 of the Jacobs cigars.
He is on the track of them and eX-
poets To seize them in the course of a
day or two.
The two lots of 9,400 and $50 respect
lively ConfisCatod at Carbondale We're
yesterday received at the revenue Of
fee in this city, and an examination
showed that every box contained a
counterfeit stamp. Collector Penman
says that at IL casual glance they
would deceive even expert revenue men
but when centrally examined or close
ly compared with genuine stamps their
spurious nature is very evident The
defects in printing are not easily dis
covered but the difference in the color
of the counterfeit and genuine paper is
quite noticeable
Nndt VIII De done with the COnflS-
Gated cigars, Collector Penman does
not as yet know. Under the law they
would be sold at auction as the prop
erty Of the government just like other
cOnfisCated property, but in this case,
where the loss unqueStiOnaby falls
upon innocent persons, it would not be
surprising the collector believes if the
government made an exception, and all
lowed the dealers from whom the Gig
are were taken to redeem them by pay
ing the cost Of stamping them.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27
Under this reversal the building was
CALL FROM wILLIAMsPoRT.
Extended to Rev. Foster U. Gift, of
This CITY.

Yesterday Rev Foster u. Gift, pastor
of Grace Lutheran church, received
word that he was unanimously elected
pastor of st. Matthews Lutheran
church of Williamsport, Pa. 1t is very
complimentary as it comes unsolicited.
Before it was generally known that the
present pastor Rev. Sidney Elon Bate
man, had resigned the council of st.
Matthews, requested Rev. Mr.. Gift to
consider call which resulted IN his
going to Wiliamsport ON April l6, to
look the field over and unanimous
election followed last Sunday.
The congregation is a large one and
has splendid new brick church prop
erty and a parsonage that is one Of
the prettiest and best appointed in the
city. Rev. sydney Elon Rateman, the
retiring pastor, will be remembered by
some as a speaker at the Young Peo-
pies Society Christian Endeavor con-
Vention held here in 1896
Rev. Mr.. Gift has not yet announced
whether he will accept or not but If he
does he will not enter upon his duties
before taking few months complete
TGgt.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27

At high noon today Chief i. j..
Hickey will cease to be the head of the
fire department and George X. Suydam
viii assume the duties of the position
as acting chief. William Tapnler,
clerk in the chiefs office, also goes out
and i'm his stead will be Chauncey ii.
Derby, city editor of the Free Press.
Chief Hickey's summary removal is
due to the refusal of select council, at
it's last meeting, to go into the sixth
order of business to receive Mayor
Moir's nomination of John Walker as
permanent chief The friends of Mr..
Walkers competitors for the position
with the assistance of the Democrats
sought by this means to tie up the ap-
pointment in the hope that something
would turn up to cause the mayor to
change from Walker to one or the
other of the several other claimants.
Mayor Moir was not disposed to put
up with this kind of business and de-
cided that at all events the Democrats
would not profit from any possible tie
up. To a Tribune reporter yesterday
the mayor said:
There has been no chief of the fire
department since the first Monday in
April Mr.. Hickey since that time
has simply been acting chief. ! wish
to have a Republican in the position
and have appointed one. He will act
until such time as council confirms
my nominee"
Chief Hickey waited on the mayor
yesterday afternoon to inquire into the
rumors affoat on the street that he
was to be deposed forthwith, The
mayor informed him that they were
true and that he could expect his for
mai notification this morning.
Chief Hickey when seen after the in.
terview would have nothing to say eX
ccpt that he would offer no opposition
TO the mayors wishes, and that HI
would go back into the ranks and worl
as earnestly for the success of the de
partment as he had when he was it!
head.
Mr.. Suydam, the new acting chief
is member of the Nay Augs and ont
of the veterans of the volunteer ser
vice. He Is a printer in the job room
of the Republican. The position pays
| $1,000 year.
Editor Derby, who succeeds to tht
| position of department clerk, is a resi-
dent of Dunmore, but contemplate
moving to the city upon assuming hi
new position. The salary of clerk il
! $3.50 per annum.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27
PERSONAL.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Langstaff, of Fac
toryville, spent yesterday among friends
In this city.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Roos. of 5l3 Vine
street, are receiving ngratulationS.
Twins, and both boys.
William ID. Roche and Miss Agnes Nal
lin will be united in marriage at ST.
Peters cathedral at $50 o'clock this
morning.
Mr.. and Mrs. Louis If. Jones and Mrs.
Wright Broadbent, of Lafayette street,
will attend the wedding of Miss Wilson
at Factoryvlle tonight
Rev. +. j. Golden. of Williamsport is
In this city on a short visit prior to his
departure for Hot Springs Ark, where
he will remain two months.
George w. pelamater, who was a can
didate for governor of PennsylVunia in
1891, and VINO is now practiCing law in
Tuscon, Arizona, was in she city yester-
day on legal husiross. lie was enter
tained by ex-Lieutenant Governor L. A.
Watres, who was his running mate in
that memorable campaign,
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27
THE BURNED BUILDINGS.
Question as to Whether or Not They
Will Be Torn Down.

Whether or not the remaining pOr-
tion of the Shopland building win have
to be torn down has not as yet been
determined. The foundation walls are
still hidden by the debris, and until
they are laid bare Inspector Nelson will
not be able to satisfy himself as to
whether or not they are secure The
work of removing the debris was be-
gun yesterday.
Inspector Nelson has decided that the
PAUL. building has been damaged more
than fifty per cent, and under this de-
cision IL can not be repaired. This de-
cision, however, is not final If the
owner of the building or the insurance
company disputes the inspectors iuIs-
ment, the matter, under the law, is re-
ferred 20 board of arbitration consist
ing of one builder appointed by the in
spector one by the disputant and a
'hird 10 be selected by the first two.
The decision of this board is final.
After the former fire in this building
three years ago Inspector Nelson de-
creed that the building had been dam
aged more than fifty per cent, but his
finding was disputed and upon being
referred to arhitrators was reversed
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27

cable containing its fifty pairs of wires.
The duct leads to the cellar Of the
house, where there is a terminal suf-
ficiently large to accommodate all the
wires in the cable. The wires are then
led from this terminal to supply the
customers in the immediate vicinity.
The wires are run inside the houses
and none of them can be seen from the
street.
Where the underground work leaves
off there is Il pole terminal to accom-
mOdate the wires. The wires over
ground will be placed in aerial cables.
THE contract of Is. G. Coon, who is
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27

phone itself there have been improve
ments, which not only reduce the cost
of maintenance and construction. but
also add greatly to the convenience
of the patron, something that all in
VentOrs are on the lookout for in this
lightning age. The only advancement
in the art, however, which, in the local
company's work, is visible to the gen.
eral public is the underground con-
struction wire heretofore alluded to,
and this work naturally attracts con-
siderable attention.
Although the underground circuit
plan is expensive, in the end it more
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27
FROM THREE PLACES.
Witnesses Examined in the Lang
staff-Kelley Contest.

The following witnesses were exam
ined in the Langstaff Kelly election
contest yesterday:
Scranton - James Mcmahon, John
Campbell, Charles Shipman, Frank
Shipman, Eugene Long.
Carbondale-Charles Cushine, Morris
Harding.
Old Forge-Edward Jones, George
Ilaines, Joseph Beagle, John p. Phil
lips, David Herbert, John II. Weylam,
John J. Richardson Joseph Fassel,
John Barr, Thomas Davis, George
Jones. Robert Staff, David Evans,
Harry Breeze. Robert kehr. William
M. r. Thomas, w. S. Burgess, John
Sowden, Harry Beagle, Joseph Chap
man, John o. Jones, Isaac Dove. David
j. Edwards, Benjamin j. Wylam.
Another hearing will be held today
in the arbitration room.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27
Rheuma tism Cured.

My wife has used Chamberlains s
Pain Balm for rheumatism with great
relief. and / can recommend it as a
splendid liniment for rheumatism and
other household use for which we have
found it valuable.-W. J. Cuyler, Red
Creek, y. Y.
Mr.. Cuyler is one of the leading
merchants of this village and one of
the most prominent men in this vicin-
ity.-W G. Phippin, Editor Red Creek
Herald For sale by all druggists.
Matthews Bros. wholesale and retail
agents. *s
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27
Baking Exhibit Friday and Saturday

Every lady in Scranton and vicinity
is cordially invited to attend the great
baking exhibit to be given at the
Foote Fuller company's store,
Washington avenue, on Friday and
Saturday Of this week. from 10 a. m.
to p. m.
Bread, cake. jelly rolls, cream puffs
and host of other good things are
to be baked in the celebrated home
product the Dockash Range, and given
away free.
This is to be a practical demonstra-
tion to show the fuel saving Dockash,
ana the new system of oven Venti-
lation as used in the Dockash Range
only. Do not forget the date, and come
and get some of the good things. 4.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27

than pays for itself. After the cables
are once laid there is practically no
expense in their maintenance, and
there is never any need Of repair to
them from storms, fires and other
agencies, which so much impair the
usefulness of the pole system of wir-
ing. An examination of the under
ground work now being done gives an
intelligent idea Of the manner in which
the wires are laid ana the system used
in placing them in buildings.
1T Is the intention of the Peoples
Telephone company TO lay their wires
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27
PLACING THE WIRES
OUT OF SIGHT
PLAN THAT is BEING FOLLOW
ED IN WILKES BARRE.

Same System Will Be Followed by
the Lackawanna Company in This
City If It Is Granted a Franchise
by Councils--Ingenious Way in
Which the Wires Are Kept from
View and Carried Into Houses.
MaLloles Are Constructed at In
tervals to Supply Buildings.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-27
CHIEF P. ]. HICKEY
HAS BEEN REMOVED
WILL BE SUCCEEDED TODAY BY
GEORGE r. sUYDAM.

Mayor Moir Not Disposed to Allow
the Democrats to Benefit from
Councils Action in Tying Up the
Walker Nomination-Suydam Is
to be Acting Chief Until the May
or's Choice for the Place, Perman-
emily, Is Confirmed-C. H. Derby
to Become Clerk to the Chief.