davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-09-27

and more available than either of
these. All of these are both fertiliz-
ers and insectides. Keep the bed
moist, but not wet by spraying it with
water daily after the heat of the day.
After the plants are well up the
ground between the rows should be
raked as frequently as may be neces-
sarp to keep it in loose condition, an
inch or so in depth. Pull out what
weeds and grass appear among the
plants. If they show lack of vigOr use
liquid fertilizer; this may be prepar
ed by dissolving fresh manure or by
soaking some old sacks which had
contained nitrate of soda. If they are
inclined to make too long shanks, less
en- the supply of water and put the
earth to them by raking in the paths
or by throwing in fresh supply from
the alleys.
Insects-These should be anticipat-
ed as much as possible by destroying
them before the ground is plOwed. 1t
is good plan to cut and dry the trash
in good sized swaths or windows;
then drive the grasshoppers and beet
les with switches of brush and plenty
of noise, into space inclosed with the
trash, and fire it on all sides simulta
neously. If they infest the seed-beds
sling handfuls of sand with force
among them. Tobacco dust is great
dependence.
Varieties.-Large Early, Fottler's
Improved Brunswick, Hastings's Sure
Crop, Henderson's Early Summer,
Small Early, All-Head EARLY, Jersey
Wakefield, Early Winningstadt. Late
varieties: Hastings's Centennial Flat
Dutch, Florida Drumhead. The Gen.
tennial Flat Dutch is especially recon-
mended for it's power to resist frost.
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-09-27

The Greatest Evidence Of the dan
gers of cholera mOrbUs, diarrhoea and
dysentery is the liner ase in the death
rate during the summer months. You
cannot be too careful, and particular
attention should be paid to the diet. A
supply of Pain-Killer should always
be at hand for it can be relied on at
all times as safe, sure and speedy. A
teaspOOnful will cure any ordinary
case. Avoid substitutes, there is but
one Killer, Perry Davis. Price
25c. and soc. 6.
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-09-27
THE ONION CROP.

In this State all onions grown sue
only the seed is used. To plant top
onions is only a waste of time; they
will form excessively large clumps Of
roots, which will cling to the ground
so tenaciously as to allow the tops to
be torn off before they will yield; yet
the bulbs will be scarcely larger than
the necks. Another point of difference
is that in Florida it is not worth while
to experiment with anything else be-
sides the Bermuda variety, either red
or white, preferably the white. The
seed of this very valuable but very Pc
culiar onion must be grown in one par
ticular part of the world, that is Ten
eriffe, and nowhere else. The utmost
pains should be taken to secure gen
uine Bermuda seed; Italian and Cali
fOrnia seed is sometimes put upon the
unsOphisticated purchaser for Bermu-
da seed, but it is a fraud; they will
not by any means render an equiva-
lent.
Another point of the greatest import
ance in raising onions in Florida is to
have the bulbs grown wholly above the
surface. This is just as necessary to
secure bookkeeping and well-favor
ed bulb as it is with the Irish potato
to grow it wholly under ground. If
any part of the bulb is covered with
earth or even too much crowded up
against it on the under side, that will
be a tender spot, and if rot attacks the
bulb during the rainy season it will
be on that one tender place.
The regular classified crop of Ten
eriffe seed is monopolized in Florida
by one firm, and can be obtained only
from them, and not before October l..
Genuine Bermuda seed can be pur-
chased from other dealers in Septem-
Der, but it will be mixed, red and
white together, though this will be no
serious objection if only family gar
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-09-27
FALL GARDEN NOTES.
THE CABBAGE CROP.

ii
very large proportion of nitrogen. At
ter evapOrating the water, drumhead
cabbage gives Of nitrogen, 1889 parts
in hundred; Savoy, 2O.763; red, 49,
PIP; turnip-rooted, 1862. We also
find this plant remarkably rich in
phosphorus and sulphur; hence, it's un-
pleasant Odor in decay, like that of ami
NAL matter. 1t also abOunds in soda
and potash. Hence, common salt, to
yield soda and chlorine, wood ashes or
the salts of potassium for potash, bone
for phosphoric acid, and gypsum to
add sulphur and lime, together with
soil we'll filled with animal manures,
especially liquids or rich organic
substance, such as cOttonseed meal or
dried blood, come in play in making
fine cabbages. Frequent stirring of the
sell will also abstract from the atmO-
sphere liberal supplies of ammonia for
the same purpose.
The Seed Bed.-It entails consider
able more labor to SOW the seed in
beds and transplant into the field than
it does to SOW the seed in the field in
the first place. But the greater facil-
'ty with which plants can be protect
ell in bed against cold and insects, as
well as the more rapid growth which
can be induced more than compensate
for this. Planting the seed directly in
the field is not accounted good farm
ing.
For the seed bed ground should br
selected which is naturally light, and
not OF a stiff texture. To be on The
safe side, it should be dry, rather than
subject to even possible surplus of
moisture. The former difficulty can
be overcome by irrigation, while the
latter cannot be remedied. A piece of
ground 2Ox4O feet will accommo late
5000 to 10000 plants. The ground
should be turned over with the spade,
when the white or yellow sand that
has been brought to the surface should
he thoroughly enriched by making
generous application of any manure
which is free from trash, coarse parti-
cles or Jumps, and which will not
burn the young seedlings. This is
deeply forked into the bed and raked
until free from trash and level. Lay
off the bed in such fashion that it will
not Er necessary to tread upon it from
the tine of making until the time Of
removing the plants.
Sowing Seed.-The bed is prepared
for tie reception of the seed by sink-
ing an inch-board three or four inches
wide, so as to leave it's impression u
Lalf-inch in depth, with intervals h..
tw cen the rows of eight inches. This
will give a firm but not hard, and
broad bottom for the seed, which will
scatter as it is dropped, giving them
room in the rows and permitting them
to be worked as may be required.
Cover by raking lightly over the
whole bed until quite level. Instead
of firming and packing the ground by
tramping it, as recommended by Peter
Henderson for Northern soils, the led
should be sprinkled until sufficiently
compact. Endeavor to sow the seed
not too thickly, and should they be
crowded on being up a week, the rake
n0o IN Sir a
Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
THE PRICE OF PEPPER.
It Helped to Change the History of
the Old World.

It Helped to Change the History of
the Old World.
In the sixteenth century all the pep
per consumed in England was bought
by the English merchants from the
Dutch, who brought it from India.
Owing to racial jealousy, the Dutch
traders in 1899 raised the cost from 8
shillings to 6 shillings per pound. This
petty display Of i'll feeling caused con-
siderable annoyance to the English mer
chants and aroused in them that feeling
Of independence which has always been
SO characteristic of our race.
They determined to import their pep
per direct from India in their own
ships, and for this purpose formed a
company, called the Governor and
Company of Merchants Of London Trad
ing to the East Indies, and which in
latter days became eventually known
as the East India company.
Their first voyages embroiled them
in almost innumerable quarrels with
the Dutch and Portuguese, and for a
time the venture proved a financial fail
ure. 1t was not until 1916 that the
company became successful and obtained
lucrative treaties, owing to their de-
cisively defeating the Portuguese.
From this time on their possessions
gradually increased, slowly at first, and
then very rapidly, until. by the wise
and beneficial management of such men
as Give, Warren Hastings and Corn
wallis, they exercised sovereignty over
the greater portion of India.
In this manner it happened that an
increase in the price of pepper momen-
tously affected the history of mankind.
London Standard,
Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
Cruel CaptainI

1t would not occur to many people
that voyage in one Of the swan boats
which sail the little pond In the public
garden Of New England city could be
attended with horrors, but that idea
was firmly fixed in the mind Of a small
maiden Of years.
"Would you like ride in one Of the
swan boats, Marjorie?" asked the little
maids aunt as they crossed the bridge
over the pond one day.
"No, indeed" said Marjorie, with
sudden shrinking. ST couldn't bear to
see them throw the babies in.
"The man says that's what he does, !"
she asserted with rising excitement as
her aunt looked much perplexed. "Hea1
himl He's saying 1t now."
Her aunt listened, and Of truth the
mans statement, viewed from Mar
jorie's standpoint, was far from rsas-,
surfing.
Take ride In the swan boats" :" be
called loudly from the landing. "Grown
folks, 10 cents; children, g., and then,
with deceptive smile, he added, "Ba-
bies thrown in. ."-Youth's Oompanion.
Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
WHAT A WORK is MANI


The Human Body the Most Wonder
full Thing In the World.
Human beings are of all sizes, but the
tall man is less common than the short.
Only one in every 208 exceeds the
height of six feet. For every foot Of
stature man should weigh from 26 to
% pounds, proportion that is not the
lot Of all in these hurrying, sourrying
days. An average sized man weighs 140
pounds; q woman 1876 pounds. Curious.
ly enough, the mean weight and height
Of lunatics are below those Of sane peo-
pie. Another unexpected thing in this
respect is that negro's skeleton weighs
more than that Of an Englishman.
The vitalizing power is the blood,
drop Of which takes but 20 seconds to
go the round Of the body There passes
through the heart once every three min.
utes an amount Of this precious fluid
equal to all that is contained in the
body. The mileage of the blood oircula-
tion reveals some astonishing and un-
dreamed of truths It is estimated that,
assuming the average speed of the heart
to be SO beats a minute, the blood
travels 207 yards in so seconds. In 9TH
er words, miles an hour. 1913 a day,
or 6, 800 per year.
If a man Of "a could have one single
blood oorpusole floating in his blood all
his life, it would have traversed in that
period no less than $3.50, 80S miles
The average weight Of the brain Of an
adult male is pounds ounces.
Of female Q pounds ounces. The
woman's brain begins to decline in
weight after the age Of 30, the mans
not till ten years later. According to
high authorities the nerves, with their
branches and minute ramiications con-
Meeting with the brain, exceed 10. 000.-
600 in number
The palms Of the hands and soles Of
the feet are composed of cushions of fat,
in order that sudden jolts and violent
blows may be successfully resisted and
no injury done to the muscles and bones
underneath. The muscles-of which
the tongue monopolizes 11-and bones
Of the human structure in combination
are capable Of more than 1900 different
motions.
The teaching Of experience indicates
that accidents are far more likely to oc-
cur to the right leg and arm than to
the left. Further evidence of this fact
is supplied by the makers Of artificial
limbs. They dispose Of many more ap-
pendages to the right side of the body
than to the other. Statistics show that
in 81 cases ont of 100 the left leg is
stronger than the right.
If man could move his legs proper
tionally as fast as an ant, he would
travel not far from 800 miles an hour
London Mail.
Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
THE ALBATRoss.

A Bird of Majestic Aerial Velocity
and Unsuitable Appetite.
Out of the blue void the albatross
comes unhasting on motionless pinions,
yet at such speed that one moment a
speck hardly discernible, turn but your
eyes away, and ere you can again look
round he is gliding majestically over
head. Nothing in nature conveys to the
mind so wonderful an idea of effortless
velocity as does his calm appearance
from vacancy. Like most of the true
pelagic birds, he is devourer of offal,
the successful pursuit of fish being inn
possible to his majestic evolutions. His
appetite is enormous, but his powers Of
abstinence are equally great, and often
for days he goes without other nourish-
ment than drink of the bitter sea. At
the Gargantuan banquet provided by q
carcass Of dead whale he will gorge
himself until incapable of rising from
the sea, yet still his angry scream may
be heard as il protesting against his in
ability to find room for more provision
against hungry days soon to follow.
Despite his incompatible grace Of
flight when gliding through midair
with his mighty wings outspread, when
ashore or on deck he is clumsy and i'll
at ease. Even seated upon the sea, his
proportions appear somewhat ungainly,
while his huge hooked beak seems too
heavy to be upheld. On land he can
ha~5Tx1 haIaxao, b;,,eaIR mUA &ha hrood
silky webs of his feet soon become lacer-
ated. Thus his visits to the lone and
generally inaccessible rocks which are
his breeding places are as brief as may
be, since even conjugal delights are
dearly purchased with hunger and pain
full restraint. A true child Of the air,
land is hateful to him, and only on the
wing does he appear to be really. at
home and easeful.-London Spectator.
Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
A Shining Marx.

A lady, grievously tormented with q
corn on her toe, was advised by one Of
her friends to anoint it with phosphorus,
which in weak moment she did, but
forgot to tell her husband before retir-
ing at night 1t had just turned IL
when the husband awoke, and was star
tied to see something sparkling at the
foot of the bed:
He had never heard of FREELY in the
locality, nor did be ever remember see
ing such a terrible looking object as
the toe presented Reaching carefully
ont of bed till be found one of his slip
pers he raised it high in the air and
brought it down with great force upon
the mysterious light
A shrek and an avalanche of bed
clothes, and all was over When at last
he released himself from the bedclothes,
he discovered his wife groaning in a
corner of the bedroom, but she had not
got that phosphorated corn. London
Answers.
Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
Music and Eating.

dined the other day at a restaurant
where the dinner is served to the ac-
compartment of an orchestra We had
"King Cotton" with the oysters and
rag time with the soup. Then the or
chestra slid into that always beautiful
intermezzo Of "Cavalleria Rusticana. I"
They played it much more slowly than
! remember ever to have heard it be-
fore. The head waiter fidgeted and
gnawed his lip There was misery In
his eye. At last he disappeared in the
direction of the musicians, and mo-
ment later the intermezzo began to gal
lop along, presto, prestissimo, and at
the end Of it the orchestra struck up a
two step. The head waiter came back
relieved.
1--WE can't have slow music here,
madam, he said to me when I asked
him aboutit "We'd never get through,
and I wants to get off early. People eats
too slow when they plays slow music. !"
And when / looked around saw that
knives, forks and spoons were moving
to the tempo Of the twostep. Everybody
was hurrying. The head waiter knew
what he was about. - Washington Post.
Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
THE SCHOOL PLAYGROUND.
Its Abolition Is a Grievous Wrong to
the Children.

Its Abolition Is Grievous Wrong to
the Children.
This is an evil which has crept in
with the tendency to centralize the
schools When in any place the schools
begin to overflow, movement to put
up larger building takes place, accom-
panied by an effort to create high
school department, not go much the
need of the community as the ambitious
dream of some principal who would be
superintendent or some sort Of central
sun to group of satellites.
This dream is too easily realized, be-
cause it fiatters the people. Then there
rises preposterous structure Of stone
and brick. A house of many gables, out
of keeping with everything, either pub
lie or private, in the place; temple Of
vanity. Now is rung the kneH of the
school playground, for the new ''high
school,, !" although it will house all the
children from to Is, must needs be
surrounded by a fine lawn, studded
with shrubbery and threaded by blue
stone roads. The janitor has to employ
an assistant to keep the grounds in or
der
A shut in, penitentiarylike place has
been evolved by the architect and school
committee, gratifying to their pride
and a deep wrong to the children.
There are many wrongs about it. The
one insisted upon here is the abolishing
of the RECESS that time honored iov of
the American schoolboy and schoolgirl.
Isabella g. Oakley in Popular Science
Monthly.
Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
CALIFORNIA.
Extraordinary Tour via Pennsylvania
Railroad.


Extraordinary Tour via Pennsylvania
Railroad.
America is great Country. In variety
and grandeur of natural scenery it is un-
rivaled. To traverse it. to behold its diver
sites and its wonders, is liberal education,
revelation to the immured metropolitan
citizen. The Personally Conducted Tour
to California under the direction of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which
caves on February O., afford a most ex-
cellent opportunity 10 view the vast variety
and boundless beauty of this marvellous
and. Tie party will travel over the entire
route in the model Pullman train of smok-
ing. dining, sleeping, and observation cars
exhibited at theWcrld's Fair. Chicago, and
subsequently at Atlanta, Nashville, and
Omaha. This train will be placed in service
for the first time on this occasion, and will
be in charge of a Tourist Agent and Chape-
ron, who will look after all details of the
trip, as well as the individual welfare of
the party. Stops will be made at Mann
moth Cave, New Orleans during Mardi Gras
Carnival, Ell Paso, Los Angles, San Diego,
Redlands, Riverside, Pasadena, Santa Bar
bara, Monterey, Del Monte, Santa Grnz,
Mount Hamilton. Menlo Park, San Fran
cisco, Salt Lake City, Glenwood Springs,
Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Mani
tou and Garden of the Gods, Denver and
Chicago. Nineteen days will be spent in
California. Round-trip rate, including all
necessary expenses during entire trip, $500
from all points on the Pennsylvania Rail-
road System east of Pittsburg. For timer
ary and full information apply to ticket
agents; Tourist Agent, 1196 Broadway,
New York; or address Geo. w. Boyd, AS
sistant General Passenger Agent, Broad
Street Station, Philadelphia.
Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
LIVING IN THE COUNTRY.
The Growing Fondness For Rural
Life a Good sigR.


The Growing Fondness For Rural
Life Good sisR.
In The Ladies' Home Journal Edward
Box, with much satisfaction, notes the
strong tendency to country living and
believes that sit is one of the best signs
Of the times. Nothing in the world can
keep man or woman SO young and
fresh as to be able to be in touch each
day with the perpetual freshness and
youth of nature. Suburban life means
more out Of door living, and that Is
what we Americans all need. We want
more exercise, and suburban living
makes that easier. We want our inter-
est in things kept fresh, and that nature
does for us as nothing else can.
"The more our busy men see Of ma
ture's restful ways the more restful
will they become. The closer we keep
our children to the soil the healthier
will they be physically and the stronger
will they develop mentally. The more
our girls breathe in the pure air which
God intended for all, but which man in
the cities pollutes, the better women we
shall have, the fewer worried mothers
we shall see. The more our young men
see of out of door sports the more clear
ly will they realize the greatness Of
splendid physical health.
"The more the tired housewife sees Of
flowers and plants and trees the closer
will become her interest in all things
natural and simple, and, as she sees the
simplicity with which nature works un-
consciously, will the lesson be forced up
on her and enter into her own methods
We all agree that there is no teacher
like nature herself. Let US all, then, get
as close to her as possible. Whatever
she teaches is Wholesome to the mind
and uplifting to the soul and strength
ening to the body. In the very act of
studying her wonderful ways there is
health"
Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
THE sAssAFRAs PLANT.
From 1t May Be Brewed q Pleasant
Tea and a Good MuciIage.

From 1t May Be Brewed . Pleasant
Tea and a Good MuciIage.
A correspondent of the Charleston
News and Courier says of the sassafras
plant: "The whole plant is valuable
for its medicinal properties. The root
makes an excellent tea, spicy and ira
grant, and has Alternative virtues quite as
good as the sarsaparilla. The stalks
have an inner pith that, although tedi-
Gus to extract much of it, when scraped
out and put into cold water and agitated
for few moments with spoon forms
most thick and tenacious mucilage,
retaining delicate flavor Of the smell
of the sassafras and is a bland and
soothing drink in feyers, when the
mouth is dry and great thirst exists. It
is frequently retained gratefully when
plain water is elected.
It is astonishing how mucilaginous a
small quantity of this pith makes
tumbler of water, which becomes thick,
as gum arabic water. A mere teaspoon
full Of the pith taken out Of the small
green branches of the bush will make
three or four tumbIerfuls of thick mu-
cilage.
For inf1amed eyes this muoilaginous
water is very soothing and curative and
has long been used for all forms Of in.
fammation Of delicate tissues, but is SO
simple that it is ignored by the profess
sion.
The oil Of sassafras, which is made
from the root as well as ether parts Of
the plant, makes splendid 1iniment
for pains and aches in combination with
turpentine in proportion Of one-third of
the former to two-thirds Of the latter.
Other stimulating tinctures, such as
spirits of ammonia, are sometimes add
ed, but the chief ingredient of the light
ming liniments hawked about by timer
ant quacks are composed principally of
sassafras oil, which is really pungent
and effective.
Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
A DRAMATIC CLIMAX.
The ERect of One woman's PathetI
Eyes ON q Jury.

The Eject of One Woman'g Pathetic
Eyes ON a Jury.
That juries are affected by handsome
and languishing eyes is proved by re-
markable experience of the greatest ad-
vocate at the New York bar, the late
James T. Brady. He was counsel for a
young woman in a case involving an
attempt to break will.
His client sat by. his side. She was q
very beautiful young woman whose
eyes seemed always to rivet the atten-
tion Of those upon whom her glance
fell There was a pathetic expression
which affected every one She sat
watching the jury during the course OF
the trial, and at last there was some
complaint that she was attempting by
means of her gIances to excite the gym
pathy of the jury.
Then Mr.. Brady arose and in one Of
the most touching and beautiful Of all
the addresses he ever made in court he
spoke of the blessings which every one
who had an appreciation of beautiful
things and could see them enjoyed, and
dwelt for some moments upon the happy
lot Of the jury who could see the bud
ding Of the t1owers-it was then spring
time-and the charms of nature; then,
suddenly turning to his client, he said,
THAT blessing is denied my client, for,
though she has eyes which seem to look
upon you, gentlemen, there is no vision
in them, for her sight has been taken
from her. !"
She had been, in fact, the victim of
total paralysis of the optic nerve, which
had not impaired the beauty of her
eyes, but had given to them that sim
gular pathetic expression which she was
thus falsely charged with employing
that she might secure the sympathies
of the jury.-Philadelphia Press.