davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13
Hasic Stag on Clay Land.

Experiments conducted in the west OF
England by the Bath and West society
nave brought some useful results in
manuring with basic Stag on clay land
TO light, after three years experience,
says Farmer and St~cckbreeder (Eng.).
These are briefly ~ On certain soils,
the full effects Of basic Stag are not
apparent until a considerable period
has elapsed; but (2) the development
OF these effects may be, and probably
IS, fastened or retarded by the condi-
ton Of the season following the appli-
cation Of the manure; and (3) that it
may perhaps be assumed that the bene-
fetal effects Of the Stag are not only
maintained over a very considerable
period, but that there is also a marked
tendency to increase observable in
these efforts from year to year, such AS
would seem to point to a gradual i'm
proyement in the general condition Of
growth, and probably also to The pro-
duction OF d condition OF food-arail-
ability IL the soil, which Is specially
favorable to the growth OF legumlnous
plants. The stimulus given to c!oyers
SO far as has been observed, has not
been carried out at the expense Of tho
ordinary grasses.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13
Soil for Apple Orchards.

The soil for an apple orchard should
be selected with a great deal Of care.
1t used to be the idea that any soil
was good enough for the apple orchard.
and we find in many cases apple or
chards set out on soils entirely insult
ed for them. Some people have the
idea that the poorer the soil the better
it will be for the apple orchard. This
opinion evidently arose from the ex-
p%erience Of people in setting out Or
chards on very rich land and finding
them unsuited for them. They quite
naturally inferred that If the rich
land was not good the poor land must
be good. But rich land is not suitable,
for the reason that it occasions a too
great growth Of wood and not enough
of fruit buds. AS we say, ut all grows
to foliage!"
Land should be rich enough to in
sure a good growth Of wood, but not
too rich to permit fruit buds to de-
velop in large numbers. Generally a
meadow will be found unsuitable, for
the reason that the saltwater stands
so near the surface that the roots are
soaked during a large part of the year.
The water does not have to lie near the
surface to do this, for, as is we'll known,
the roots Of apple trees penetrate very
deeply into the ground, sometimes sew
en- or more feet. The hill location is
generally best for the apple orchard, for
the reason that there is no underlying
sheet of water. The drainage is nat
ural and rapid, and the roots are al
ways able to do their work without in
reference. A medium clay soil is gen.
orally good, for the reason that in it
the fertility is held till taken up by the
roots. A sandy soil gets rapidly poor,
and when fertilized teaches so badly
that much Of tho manure Is lost,
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13
Pasturlng Meadows.

In the management Of meadows there
are too many who seem to think that
they can eat their cake and still have
1t and a great deal Of pasturing is done
that should never be permitted, says
Iowa Homestead. Many think that as
DON as the hay crop is removed it
Is good economy to turn on the cattle
and thus make a continued use of the
field on the theory that nothing should
be allowed to 60 to waste. Many 9th
ers pasture the meadow in the fall to
consume the growth Of grass after re-
covery from the cutting. Economy is
q good thing. and, other things being
equal, he will prosper best who per-
mits the least waste. But there is such
a thing as making a saving at too great
expense, and much of the %pasturing Of
meadows is OF this class, for 1t
is done at the expense Of the
future hay crop. A newly cut meadow
for instance, Is not a stubble field from
which a penny saved is necessarily
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13

considerably. Views OF such men as
Pollard and Rankin it is well to heed.
A business view OF the case would
be to stick TO the ducks. When prices
reach the lowest point theiy are bound
to come back to the level, ven II they
fail to climb to the highest point. As
a rule the time to go into . certain
thing, or to enlarge 1t is at the t:ae
OF lowest prices. Men largely run 70
extremes. and IL one year their produce
brings very little aEove the o. 70
furnish it, they throw it aside and try
something there is more money IN. we
sha continue to raise all b carry
ducks possible, Notwithstanding the
price. The poultry dressing estabIisn-
ment near here went take ducks as q
gilt this fail. We sold ducks his
year in June for 10 cents per pound
i've weight. by shipping them some
100 miles. The drift was about one
sixth Of a pound per duck. the expenses
sl.2S, and the cost OF feed per pound
was 3 2-5 cents; so, not counting labor.
there was a nice profit on them. Two
weeks after this one could have re-
celVed but five cents per pound. one
must get up In the morning to catch
the good prices.
Ducks with us hatch we'll and do
nothing after Matching but grow and
grow. Lass. year and this year we
lost but two per hundred, SO. aside from
labor, there would be money In 1t
for us to sell at S cents. I would
rather raise six ducks than one turkey,
and four ducks than one chicken. from
the standpoint Of labor and bother.
The worry part Of it is even more
largely in favor Of ducks. The eggs
always hatch we'll for us. too, and the
ducks lay wcll.-E. G.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13
HARVESTS OF BEAUTIFUL HAIR
Gathered from the Locks OF European
Peasants.

Gathered from tho Locks OF European
Peasants.
women with scanty locks ought to
like to know that there are hair har-
vests, just as there are wheat harvests!
The idea does not sound very nice, but
thai it is useful We must all agree. The
hair harvest is q much surer r than
the grain one. 1t does not depend on
the weather. TO leave that side of the
subject, most OF the hair women wear
comes from Switzerland, Germany and
France There is q human hair market
IN the lower Pyrauees held every Fri
Gay. Scores ct hair buyers walk up
and down the village streets, their
shears dangling from their belts, and
examine the tresses which the peasant
girls let doTn icr their inspection. II
a bargain IS struck the hair is cut and
the money paid on the spot. These
girls bave fine hair. Strangely enough,
peasants often have much better locks
n highly educated Civili-
cation does not seem to care for heavy
hair. That which is cut off by the
dealer himself is the best. Dealers can
easily tell whether the locks offered
them have been cut or combed out.
They do this by rubbing the hair
through their fingers. II the hair has
been cut from the head and has not
been misplaced 1t remains in the Or
iginal position. If it has been pulled
or combed out and put together, re-
gardless Of the direction in which it
grew, one portion will slip to the
right and another to the left. 1t does
this because the jagged edges catch
upon each other and pull in opposite
directions.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
ACRlCULTURlSTS.
Some vr-to-Dsts Hints About Gull
t'vation OF the Eoii sud Yields
Observation-Disclosures, vltloulturo aud
Horticulture.
Novel Method of Planting Straw

A Novel Method OF Planting Straw
berries.
From Farmers Revisw:-The cult
Vation OF a spring-set bed of strawber-s
rles Is most costly during the first
month and a half after setting in the
field. Attention must be given them
at a time when. the grower is most
busy with other farm work. The best
way OF reducing this work that has
come under the writer's notice and
has been found by him satisfactory is
practiced in some of the fields Of West
ern New York. The young plants are
dug IN carly spring, the roots shorten
ed to about four inches, and the dead
leaves trimmed off. In shortening, the
plant is held In tho left hand, the
thumb and foretinser embracing it at
the collar. All roots that hang be-
low the little finger are cut off with q
pair OF shears. The trimmed plants
are then set in rows a foot apart. They
are shaded, If they need it, until they
AXE hold and are mulched with we'll
decayed, short stable Il During
the month or six weeks that the plants
remain in the bed they are sprayed fire.
Quently for diseases and insects n
watered if they become dry. Before
they are removed the ground is thor
oughly d%renched. so that they may be
packed close together upon trays and
taken to the field. The splendid root
system they develop in the bed pre-
vents the danger Of a check when set.
During this time the field is being
thoroughly prepared. After narrowing
1t the weeder is run over it once each
week or ten days, to kill the weeds, ex-
pose grubs to the crows and keep the
surface loose and open. The plants
have thus a mellow ped, we'll warmed.
in which to start. They are not check
ed, as is often the case with April-set
plants for which the ground has been
plowed, perhaps necessarily, before 1t
was in fit condition. After the plants
are set the treatment is the same as
for ordinary plantations. Besides the
advantages mentioned this system is
admirable in that the plants may be
sprayed much more thoroughly in
much less time and with much less
fungicide than when set in the open
field. Further, unless the field be dis
ease infected, plants grown and treat
ed in this way will, after being set,
seldom need a spraying during the
first year. The setting Of these plants
in the field comes at a time when the
greatest rush Of spring work Is over
and may be taken more easily. When
plants come from tho nursery in poor
condition they can be treated to best
advantage by this method and losses
in the field thus prevented. Lastly,
plants so grown are fully as good as
pot-grown plants, and for this reason
should be valued by persons that never
think of setting out a bed until the
fruit begins to appear in the markets.
Surely enough to commend the method
to the grower!-M. G. Kains.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13

the use OF metal. She is very like the
yachts OF her class in model and gen.
eral appearance, having a single mast
and covered cabin, but here the like
ness ceases. Her material Is entirely
OF selected and finely finished mahog-
any, the numerous pieces Of which ara
held together without the use OF nails
or screws, all CT the fastenings being
OF hard wood plugs, driven snugly
home and then thoroughly wedged. The
craft is tWenty-seven and a half feet
long, with a six and a half foot beam,
and draws four feet Of water. About
two years ago she was built at Abo,
where many beats of her class are CON
structed.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13

MIR. Troupe, but he failed to write the
same, as Mr.. Vanderbilt personally APP
Piled for the policy at the Office Of the
company, and this policy stands today
as the highest policy carried by one
mar In a single company. Among 9TH
OF large policies secured by Mr.. Troupe
are the following: Mrs. B. N. Duke,
Durham, N. c., $250,Oo0; r. S. Craw-
ford, Hagerstown, Md, $500, 900; I. S..
Vaughn, Richmond, Va, s250,ooo; Gen.
John Gill, Baltimore. Md, $500, 900; ex-
Postmaster J. M. Gary, $10O, 900; B. n.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13
DAIRY AND POULTRY.
INTERESTING CHAPTERS FOR
OUR RURAL READERS.
How Succeesfui Farmers Opernts This
Department Of the Farm "A Few
Hints a. to the Care OF Live Stock
and Poultry.
Notes on SilaEe,


In an address to California dairymen,
as reported in the Pacific Rural Press,
ID. u. Eshleman said:
In filling the silo, the corn Is cut In
three-quarter-inch pieces, and a coop
OF galvanized iron placed at the top
end OF the elevator drops the Gu: mass
evenly into the silo. A small stream
OF water kept running IN the fodder,
as 1t is carried up the elevator, greatly
assists in making solid the packing OF
the weil-tramped mass. II too much
water is used. the silage becomes dark
colored, and the cows do not like the
flavor as we'll. If too dry. it neither
heats we'll nor becomes compact, and
dry white mold will be found in patches
all through the silage. When the corn
settles rapidly, the silage is sure to be
sweet, for the air Is excluded quickly,
therefore silos are made deep, rather
than broad and shallow. The great
silage crop is corn, for while the value
OF plt-preserved grass was we'll known,
1t has been the cheapness Of corn that
has given the building Of silos the great
impetus 1t has received during the past
few years. The Yankee way Of grow
ing corn was carried back to the Faith
erland by a German who had farmed in
the western corn belt, and now many
crops Of Indian corn tlaunt their beau
many.
Methods OF Slloing.-We silo the first
crop of alfalfa, for the purpose OF de-
stroylng the fox tail seeds md pre-
venting the COWS from bloating on this
early succulent food, for 1t is dangerous
rs pasture. In q weeks time, the fields
that We're IL are tit pasture for the
COWS. Following the first alfalfa, comes
the oats and pea crop. In August and
September this silage Is fed: If the siIo
Is not emptied in time the corn Is put
IN on top. There is often silagc two
years CID in the bottom OF the silos, and
1t Is as good as ever; however. we try
to feed it out every year if possible, as
the si!o walls should be allowed to dry
and the inside lining be protected by
a coat Of GOA tar to prevent the acid
developed in the silage from acting d.
rectly on the wood. Sometimes there
is too much corn for the capacity of the
silos; it is then cut and loosely stacked
near by, and, as oon as enough silage
has been fed out to make enough room
for 1t, this corn is cut, made very wet,
and run in on top. 1t makes second
rate silage, but is a little superior to
dry fodder for milk production. Early
amber sorghum requires extra care, as
1t must be made wetter and tramped
closer than Indian corn. 1t is also bet
ter to feed it during cool weather, as
In summer time the top ferments rap
idly, and several inches will often spoil
between the hours of feeding. Egyp-
tan corn stalks do not become tender
in the silo without they are almost rot
ten and worthless for the COWS.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13
Ducks.

IVA
From Farmers Reyiew:-Therc
were several letters in a recent num-
Der of Farm Poultry stating their
views Of tho low price Of ducks, and
whether tie low price would be a
permanent one AS a general thing,
they each had the anne idea as to the
cause, and that was less consumption.
Some thought it was partly caused by
the war scare, causing fewer persons
to 60 to the seaside summer resorts
for the summer, as is customary.
Others held that cold storage of ducls,
was what did the mischief. OF course
there were large numbers Of Western
ducks shipped into the Eastern cities
to help glut the market, and some of
these ducks sold for less than cost of
producing them. They all seemed to
think that another yea would no be
60 bad, and that in a few years the
prices would get to be quite profitable
again, as there would be many duck
men" either go entirely out OF the
business, OF else curtail the production
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13

~ American who ever had the privi-
iege or interviewing the Prince of
wales on the subject of insurance. This
successful solicitor began his career in
the insurance field twenty years ago
and has since then written policies
which aggregate the grand sum Of s21,-
$4,000. Twenty years ago Mr.. Troupe
started out as an insurance solicitor
in Chicago.
Prior to three years ago it was i'm
possible to procure more than $500, 600
Insurance in any one company, but the
company represented by Mr.. Troupe
took the initiative in granting larger
risks, and the first man insured under
the new rule was Col. Julian Carr OF
Durham, N. G. Mr.. Troupe succeeded
in writing a policy for this gentleman
to the amount Of $500, 900 and another
for his wife and brother amounting to
$lcO. 900 each. The famous Vanderbilt
100000 policy was also solicited by
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13
Spaying OF Cows In Switzerland.

The spaying Of cows, says British
Dairy Farmer. is an operation that is
being resorted to with increasing fire.
Quency in the Swiss cantons of Vaud
and Geneva, where 1t has now received
a kind Of official sanction, in that, after
each operation, the veterinarian makes
q distinctive slit In the left ear of the
COW that has been spayed, and sends
a declaration to the district inspector
Of animals. This official then registers
the cow as boeuve, and indicates the
animal as such in the certificate of
health which is issued In connection
with the sale of the animal or trans
ference to an abattoir. The operation
is not universally successful, though.
owing to the employment of antiseotic
measures, losses are very rare. With
regard to the effect of spaying upon
lactation of 1nilch kline, a diminutfon
in the yield Of milk is habitually no.
ticed in the case Of very old cows and
OF cows which are already in the de-
Ginning stages of the period Of lacta-
ton. On the other hand, COWS hat
are spayed at the time of their fourth
or fifth calf, and shortly after calving,
continue to give a profitable flow of
milk for twenty-four to twenty-seven
months. AS to the quality of the beef
afforded by these spayed COWS, 1t is
sufficient to say that butchers are al
ways on the lookout for the boeuves,
which, naturally but not too rapidly
fattened, yield meat Of excellent quail
!ty. Quick fattening, indeed, is out OF
the question, for it is obvious that a
lean COW, spayed perhaps at ten years
old, could not be expected to become
boeuf de Paques-or, as we should say.
a Christmas beef-after a few weeks
forced feeding.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13

Celestial empire. On July 4 the or
ganization was sufficiently we'll drilled
to give a public parade in honor Of the
victory over the Spanish at Santiago.
The entire thirty-seven members
turned out and the reception was such
as to do honor to an organization of
pretentious character. In mill
tary training and instruction Cant.
Jones found the boys Enthusiastically
apt. n 1t was but a short time after
the organization before they were ABLE
TO make a creditable public appear
ance.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13

anu by the governor. got leave tc
marry. They went to the MARIE. and
the lady was asked If she was a spin-
ster or a widow. widow" she said.
we'll said the officer, "but I have
not the certificate of your first hus-
bands death" Really" said the
bride. Il thought it was not needed"
why, 1t is an indispensable docu-
ment." Tho lady smiled and referred
him to the record of her conviction.
you will perceive, Sir, that I WEE SEN
fenced for life for having poisoned nv
husband"
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13

In response to an inquiry as to the
cause Of the disappearance of the once
abundant Wild pigeon, the information
is here given that the wholesale butch
cry of these birds resulted in almost
exterminating the species, says Wiscon-
sin Agriculturalist. The market hum
ters followed the birds to their nesting
grounds, where countless thousands of
wild pigeons congregated to breed. and
a merciless slaughter was INDUCED IN,
year after year, until few Of the species
remain. The larger portion OF the pig
cons (old birds and young squads, In
discriminatory were killed on the
roosting grounds, and shipped to the
larger cities. A smaller percentage was
Melted Or trapped and sent alive in
crates to spOrtsmen's clubs and asso-
Citations for trap-shooting purposes.
The trap-shooting sportsmen of Ameri-
ca are therefore accessories" in the
ncfarious work OF destroying the wild
pigeons of the country, though the
greed Of the market hunter is mainly
responsible fer the deep damnation OK
their taking Off"
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13
HE IS A CHAMPION
ea'1n D. lroape a Wizard in Insurance Business Sketch
OF the Man Who Wrote the Largest Policy Ever
Recorded in the United States.

ALVIN S. TROUPE
OF Baltimore bears
the distinction Of
being the first man
to write an insur-
ance policy amount
Ing to more than
Sl00,c00 in any one
In the
world. Mr.. Troupe
is also distinguish
cd as being the on
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13

Grape Growing on Little Land.-It
is surprising how little extent of earth's
surface is needed to root a grape vine.
If it a grow upward and have open
space enough on one or two sides to
get plenty Of sunshine. the area in
which its roots can run is matter Of
comparatively little Importance. We
have seen thrifty and productive grape
vines where there was only three feet
space between a house with it's cellar
wall on II side and the street side
walk On the other. AS the sidewalk
was made of plank, the grape roots
undoubtedly extended under it.. But
even with this there was scarcely a
space seven by rs feet on the earth's
surface, ard this supported for years
two grape vines, each of which ran up
a trellis as high as the house, and bore
every year fine clusters of luscious fruit
At the top.-Ex.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13

Lcgumes in Feeding Rations.-The
storrs Experiment Station Of Connec-
ticut, basing the statement On many
trials in that state, says that the le-
gumes, such as clovers, peas, soy
beans, etc, should be more largely
grown and more largely used in max
ing up feeding rations. The larger the
proportion of these heterogeneous coarse
folders used in the ration. the less will
be the quantity of the concentrated nj
trogenous grain feeds which need to be
purchased and used. In other words,
the more these leguminous crops are
grown and used the cheaper will be the
ration fed, il the best results are de.
sired.-Ex.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13

Baker, Baltimore, $3.50, 900; F. E. Roe
selle, Washington. $3.50. 00O.
Mr.. Troupe is a quiet and unassum-
ing man and speaks of his success as
something that might be acquired by
any n with hard work and perseve-
rance. He lives in Baltimore and has a
summer residence at Poplar Grove,
Md, but spends much of his time in
travelling about the country in the In
terest Of the company he represents.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-13

Butter Plentiful in Colorado.-The
Denver Post say that never before in
the history of Colorado have the manu.
f%acturers and dealers in cleo made so
little money as they have during the
past four months. The cleo business
has been practically ruined by the
over-production Of butter, and the state
dairy commissioner. whose principal
duties are to see that the oleo laws
are enforced, finds his usefulness gone
for the time being, al a result. Prior
to March Is, oleo was being shipped
into Denver from Chicago and Kan
sas City by the carload, but nowadays
the changed conditions have caused
the article to be in little or no de-
mand at any price. Dairy Commits
sioner Cannon says that the slump in
the oleo market vas caused by the
plentiful supply Of butter all over thu
state.