davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
Future Demand for Hor...

Prof. Nelson of the United States
Department of Agriculture, in discuss
ing the probable effects of new in
ventions upon the future demand for
horses, thus sums up the prospects,:
From 1887 to 1894, period marked by
great activity in street and railway
building and also the increased man
ufacture and use Of bicycles, the num-
Der OF horses increased from 12,496,744
to 16,0S1. 139. This shows that, al
though the use of the horse decreased
in particular directions, yet there
must have been a healthy growth in
their use In other directions. During
this period the selling value of horses
gradually declined from $72 to $48 per
head. But this decrease was certainly
not due to the number of horses
thrown on the market as result of
displacement by electricity in propul-
sion OF street cars and the general in
production of the bicycle. because we
find that the values of other live stock,
mules, mich cows and other cattle de-
creased from 80 to 40 per cent during
the same time.
During the prevalence OF the great
commercial depression from 1893 to
1897 the number Of horses in the coun-
try fell to 14,364,567. At the same time
the value per head suffered further
decrease, the same being the case with
sheep, swine and cattle, other than
mich cows. The cattle interest was
the first to recover, being followed a
year later by the other stock inter-
ests. 1t is likely that there will be a
continued demand for the right kind
of horses. A great deal has been writ
ten about the probable displacement
OF the horse by the automobile, but it
hardly seems probable that it will pro-
duce any more serious effect than have
the electric street cars and bicycles.
Each has its sphere of usefulness, and
each will continue to have.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
The cbr;sfmnr D;r,.r

Christmas days and Christmas din-
ners are essentially of the home. sAs
sad as a Christmas dinner away from
nome" is comparison whose
strength has stood the test of endless
repetition. The birth of Christ Great
ed the first Christmas home. 1t was
only a stable, to be sure, but there
was Joseph and Mary and the new
born babe. There are thousands upon
thousands of those "elder ones" in the
old farmhouses and in the home
steads which stand back from the viii
lage street who now with hand-shaded
eyes are looking along the road to the
four corners or down the ree-guarded
walk to the swinging gate for the
Homecoming of the boys and girls.
Grown men and women, with children
Juggling at their skirts, they may be,
but they are boys and girls now and
forever to the old couple who await
their coming.
Corporations, as it has been said.
may have no souls, but something
seems to touch them along about
Christmas, even though it necessitates
a subsequent month of privation. The
Keeping OF the railroad rates at the
normal figure would not turn back
one in ten, though the ticket took the
pocket money to the last dime. There
are few railroad arrangements, how
ever, that are not now sending broad
cast notices under whose business-like
statements of mileage rates and round
trip ticket prices the man whose heart
is at farmhouse miles away reads
this: "You may go home and take
Christmas dinner with the old folks
and have enough money left to take
them remembrance BESIDES"
Christmas dinner is to be eaten at
home; this has come to be regarded
as duty, and it is one of those duties
in the fulfillment of which no man OF
woman nor boy nor girl finds anything
but pleasure. The holiday week Is
time which is given over by the mod
ems to round Of merrymaking. II
was the custom Of their ancestors in
Old England and in the continental
into some little disuse where the lea
ven of Puritanism made it's power felt.
But the Puritan relaxed and with the
recognition of his day of Thanksgiv.
ing by the Cavalier of the South the
Puritan absorbed not little Of the
gay spirit Of Christmastide, which WA
the season of seasons for his southern
fellow countrymen. There are now
dancing and gayety at Christmas from
East Cape in Puritan New England tc
the southernmost point Of California
But nowhere in all that vast country
which comes between these neither.
most points Of this land can there b.
found a place where the sacredness Of
Christmas dinner to the home circle
Is not maintained, nor where the tia
of home life is not strong enough to
lead to the homestead the feet of ali
wanderers that they may pass tn.
threshold in time for mothers Christ
mas dinner.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
Experiments In Cattle Feeding.


The Oklahoma Experiment Station
is continuing, its feeding experiments
with hogs and steers. Last winter a
bunch Of twenty steers were feds using
corn and Kafir meals and alfalfa hay
and Kafr slower in such manner that
the relative value Of each for the pro-
duction CT beef could be determined.
The same work will be duplicated this
winter in order that as many trials as
possible may be made before definite
conclusions are drawn. Last years
results were reported in the annual re-
port of the station. They pointed out
the great value of alfalfa when fed in
connection with either corn or Kafir
meal, and also showed that it is pos
sible to fatten steers on Kafir meal
and Kafir slower, though not SO eco
nomically as when corn meal and al,
| falfa are used.
The feeding experiments with hogs
will be chiefly along the line Of deter
mining what amount of cottonseed
meal may be fed with safety to hogs.
Last winters results were very en-
couraging, number of hogs being fat
tened with cottonseed meal with the
loss of but one hog. and that due to
| Intentional feeding of meal after the
danger point had been, reached. The
feeding Of scowpea and alfalfa hay to
| hogs will also be continued, previous
trails having indicated the great econ
omy of this practice.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
5Leaf-Footed Plant sBur.

A communication from the Oklahoma
experiment station says: Several
specimens Of the so-called Northern
Leaf-footed Plant-bug'' have been re-
ceiyed at the experiment station at
Saltwater from various parts OF Okla.
homa accompanied by the report
that the bug was injuring the fruit
Of peaches and plums. They are re-
ported as. 'puncturing the fruits and
sucking out the juice. The bug is quite
closely related to the common squash
bugs from which they are. readily tod
by their rather more slender form and
particularly by the peculiar leaflike sx-
pansions Of the hind legs. The bug
has been known as an enemy OF the
cucumber. cantelope and other GU
c,irbits. but thisis the first recorded In
stance Of their injur:ng pAss~'A.-- -.
plumo.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20

case the pile of beets Is about four feet
wide and the pile of dirt over them is
six inches in thickness. Above the
first layer of earth is a layer Of six
inches of straw, and before cold
weather comes on two inches more Of
dirt are put on. The hole shown at
v is ventilating hole one foot in
diameter. This kind OF pit is re-
ported to do very we'll in Nebraska.
Whether it will be found equally
serviceable in some other parts of tho
country can only be told by expert
ence.
In our second illustration is shown
the method as followed in some parts
Of Wisconsin. Notice is taken Of the
fact that greater cold and more adj
verse conditions must be faced. The
cut shows cress-section only, as the
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20

inal segments of male; d. samp of female;
q. twice natural size; DC. d. slightly mora
enlarged (originaD..
bug. The destructiveness of this bug
is not believed to be great. 1t is a
large-sized insect, and for this reason
is charged with much of the injury
that is done by other insects. This
squash bug, particularly the adult, is
unusually resistant to insecticides. A
wash strong enough to kill the ma
ture insect will at the same time de-
stroy the vines This renders it neces-
sary to employ hand and cultural
methods. There are many methods Of
controlling this insect. Among them
are: Protection Of young plants with
covering; repellants, such as land
plaster and gypsum saturated with
kerosene or turpentine; planting an
excess of seed to distribute attack;
stimulating the growth of the plants
by manure or other fertilizers, and,
lastly, clean cultural practice. II the
precaution be observed of gathering
the vines as soon as the crop is har-
vested and burning them, many bugs
in the different stages will be de-
stroyed and the crop of insects be re-
duced for the following year.
OF other methods in general use
against this species are hand picking
early in the season and the trapping
of the bugs by means of boards, pieces
of bark or similar material, placed
about on the ground in the garden.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
Forest try In Indiana


The division of forestry of the de-
partment of agriculture has during the
last summer examined the sites of a
number of plantations in Indiana. in
response to the applications for tree
planting plans which have been re-
celved from that state. Although four
nfths OF Indiana was originally we'll
tlmbered, as much of the state is now
practically treeless, with the exception
of narrow strips along the rivers. In
some places the available timber has
all been cut off. even down to the
streams. Farmers have therefore had
to undertake tree planting in order to
keep themselves supplied with fence
posts and wood for various uses on
the farm. The conditions in these now
treeless portions of Indiana are, how
ever, very favorable to the establish
ment of plantations, especially in the
regions where the originally marshy
lowlands have been drained off. Be-
sides this, the recent law which prac-
tically exempts tree plantations from
taxation will decidedly reduce their
cost. The planting plans, which will
be based on the surveys made this
summer, will consist of recommends
lions, regarding desirable species.
preparation Of the soil, and methods
OF establishing and managing the plan
tation with reference to the needs Of
each case. The work has been under
the charge of the assistant superin-
tendent of tree planting for the divi-
sion. The planting plans will prob
ably be completed before next spring.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST 10
AGRlCULTURISTS.
Some Up-to-Date Hints About Cultlva-
ton of the Soil and Yields Thereof
Horticulture. yitioulturs and Floricul-
ture.
sonne Up,
Irrigation in Humid statee.


The rapid extension Of irrigation In
the west and the attention which it
has attracted has caused the irriga-
ton already practiced in the humid
portions Of the United States to be
overlooked. The facts already gath
cred by the irrigation investigations
of the office Of experiment station OF
the q. S. Department OF Agriculture
show that there is a considerable area
in tie eastern part of the country now
being artifcially watered. For mar
ket gardening and growing Of high
priced products, irrigation has proven
highly successful. Few people are
aware that the rice planters of Louis
lana irrigate over 100000 acres. The
canals to water the rice fields along
the South Atlantic coast were in use
more than century before Brigham
Young's followers cut the first bitches
from City Creek in Utah. The area
OF land covered by reserves, or reser-
voirs as western irrigators would call
them, is greater than the acreage COW
cred by such reservoirs in any arid
oSolS, duu Iu0 VOLUME OIL stored water
is equally as large. Recently there
has been tendency to extend this use
of water to other crops, notably on
truck farms. If this shall prove profit
able the physical conditions are favor
able for the irrigation of large por-
ton of land along both the South At
lantic and Gulf coasts. Canals to
water these level bottom lands along
the coast rivers can be dug for far
less outlay than has to be expended
on many of the canals in the arid
west, where rocky canons and precip-
ttous slopes must be traversed to reach
the plains yet awaiting reclamation.
Recent experiments in Louisiana show
that the irrigation Of forage crops is
exceedingly profitable; hence it does
aot seem to be unreasonable to antici-
pate that we may have in this Sec
ton of the south irrigation works riv-
aling in magnitude those of Piedmont
and Lombardy.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
Pits for storage 81 Roots.

The time Of the year Is here when
the farmer must prepare to store his
roots for winter use. While, Of course,
cold-storage house is the desirabls
thing, yet to many farmers this is not
possible. for the reason that most
farms are SO far from cold-storage
plant that it would not pay to haul
the roots there. Besides the farmer
frequently wants to store roots that
he intends to use himself in feeding
stock or for household consumption
later on. In the storage OF sugar beets
for factory use various ways have
been tried. In our first illustration
we give method used in Nebraska
for the purpose mentioned. In this
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20

ing. And then next day Alice would
come home from down town and her
mother would ask her If she had re-
membered the match boxes, and blank
is too feeble word to describe the
expression Of her face on those several
occasions.
For two weeks they said things I'M
der their breaths in the inky dark
ness, or burned gas recklessly. Then
one morning Marion departed for her
semi-weekly music lesson down town
and said the same old thing-"pm go
ing to get some match boxes today
and her mother smiled patiently and
replied: "If you should happen to re-
member it, dear, you might get the
whole number-eight"
That noon Alice came home from
the north side. where she had been
staying for few days, and laid par
eel triumphantly in her mothers lap.
II didn't even have them sent out"
she said, gleefully. 81 was so deter
mined to have them here tonight I
was just getting on car and hap
pened to think of them by seeing a
man light his cigar, so I got off. There
are eight of them"
Mrs. Hopkins was properly glad and
they laughed together over Marion's
| declaration that morning, and of how
| for the last time they would call that
blank expression into play before they
showed her that some one in the fam
lily had at last remembered. BY and
| by Marion came.
Give got Them" she called. 1.-THE
| whole eight"
Sixteen match boxes" said Mrs.
Hopkins, with resignation. Choose
the prettiest, girls, and we'll put the
| rest away for another such emer-
gency."
That evening Mr.. Hopkins came in
with his face wreathed in smiles.
THE young fry are SO hot-headed
these days." he remarked, as he COM
placently laid knobby bundle in his
wife's lap. "I'm sorry for Tom"
What about Tom?" asked Mrs.
Hopkins. as she felt suspiciously of the
package.
I'VE had started home together
/ ~ . &. =
said Toms father. the keenest enjoy
ment in his voice, "and were up to
Van Buren,, when Tom jumped up and
made for the platform. called to him
and he yelled back Match boxes!' and
shot out the door. l tried to get to
him to tell him that I'd got the batch
but he was gone. What's the matter:
l Didn't oct opoI10h 9sb -
Alice exertedi herself feverishly tc
get the twenty-four receptacles ar.
ranged on table before Toms arrival
and when Tom came he didn't for 8
minute understand his reception. Then
his eye fell on the tableful Of distorted
shapes and he slowly added his quota
to the general contribution, while his
father gave an impromptu lecture OF
haste VS.. waste. The Hopkins famil,
have concluded to give match boxes
for Christmas presents this year.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
caro- Colonx Frnits

Regulations were adopted last Feb
ruary by the government OF Cape Col
ony, Africa, forbidding the importa-
ton of all trees. plants. fruits, tubers,
roots, bulbs, ETC., until the same had
been examined by the proper officials
to determine the absence of noxious
insects and plant diseases; and the i'm
portation OF any stone fruit tree o.
fruit graft cutting, scion, root, seed OF
produce thereof from the United States
or Canada: but the authorities are
considering the advisability Of relax.
Ing the prohibition Of such importa-
,tions from parts OF the United States
free from the diseases Of peach yellows
or peach rosettes.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
mas dinner

Nobody's like old Santa Claus
With his red and jolly face:
There's not another around the globe
Can travel SO swift pace.
His twinkling eyes, and his merry
laugh,
His chuckle of bubbling CLEO
Nobody else is so dear by half
To Dad and Mother and Me.
He doesn't forget the baby sweet
AS she rocks in her cradle white;
He has time to wait for the Tagging
feet
OF his old, by candle-light.
He has gifts and gifts for the young
and gay.
Who encircle the Christmas Tree;
And he has the love to his latest day
OF Dad and Mother and Me.
The frost is chill in the nipping blast,
Smooth is the Icy mere;
The short feet days go hurrying past
To the last of the waning year.
And never was nose Of the summers
prime
So royalty fair to see
AS the rose that blooms in the winter'A
rime Gs1 5t
For Dad and Mother and Me.
Golfers Weekly.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
HER HEART WAS TOUCHED.
A South Dakota Mother and Her LittlA
Girl Express Their Gratltuds In
an Open Letter.

Girl Express Their Gratitude In
an Open Letter.
FOLSOM, Custer Co., South Dakota,
Dec. 15.-(Special.)- Mrs. H. D. Hyde
has given for publication a letter ex-
pressing her unbounded gratitude to
Dodd's Kidney Pills for the double
cure of herself and little daughter.
Mrs. Hyde has been troubled with
pains in her heart for over three years
and for long time her little girl sur
fered from weak kidneys The grateful
lady does not seem able to find words
strong enough to express her gratitude
She has written the following:
cannot say too much in praise Of
Dodd's Kidney Pills. They are the
greatest kidney and heart medicine
ever used. had been troubled for over
three years with severe pain in my,
heart, which entirely disappeared after
had taken a, few doses of Dodd's
Kidney Pills. / also gave them to my.
little girl, whose kidneys had been
weak, and she commenced to improve
from the very first dose. Dodd's Kid
ney Pills are certainly q wonderful
medicine. would be pleased to have
this, my statement, published, as feel
it my duty to let others know just
what the Pills will do for them.
MRS H. D. HYDE.
Dodd's Kidney Pills always cure.
60c box. All dealers.
How grateful one feels for q kind
ly, sympathetic word.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20

Corf Care 10 TIE WindA
Holly berries red and bright.
Wealth Of candles fiick'ring light
Christmas In the airl
Childish faces all aglow,
Outside sleigh bells In the SNOW
Banished is dull care.
Older wiseheads for the time
Join in sport and song and rhyme
Happy Chrismastidel
Mem'ry brings back golden youth.
Eyes then seeing only youth,
Ever at its side.
Joy tonight is crowned the queen
OF the festive Christmas scene.
May her rule be long!
None can claim a rebel heart
With her folpwers forms part
Theirs a gladstone song!
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
And this is the thing about
A Lox,er.s Wisb.

Since you cannot, will not. de,
Give your tricksy heart,
Let me murmur in your ear
Joy you may impart-
Write to kind old Santa Claus
Plead-as ! would WOO
Beg him just to send to me
Christmas dream Of yon
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20

beets are really placed in a deep and
wide furrow that may be any number
Of feet in length. The pile here shown
is about six feet wide and three feet
high. On the top of it is 1S inches OF
earth with ventilating tile every six
feet. The tile is left open while the
roots are sweating, but can be c-osed
after the process is completed.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
q Onr Nation,. w..,th.

The material wealth and strength
of our nation is in iron, the most
useful of all metals, just as the wealth
Of human being lies in useful,
stomach. If you have overworked
yours, try Hostetter's Stomach Bit
tiers. It will relieve the clogged bow
els, improve the appetite and cure
constipation, dyspepsia and bilious
ness.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
Horticultural observ.t,ons.

At some of our agricultural colleges
there are now being held annually
courses in horticulture. Where posi-
Bile these should be taken advantage
OF by the young men that expect to
make part Of their money in farm
ing out of horticultural products. The
work generally consists of lectures
and demonstrations. The topics COW
cred include setting of trees and
shrubs, pruning, care OF orchards,
small fruit productions and the care
OF the vegetable garden. Much Of the
expense of fruit raising consists OF
losses due to ignorance, and these
losses can, to large extent, be avoid
ed by proper instruction. The cost OF
course in horticulture is small, and
the time devoted to it need not be
more than three months in the win
ter.
Every orchardist should study prun-
Ing, as it has much to do with the
success Of his orchard. One kind Of
pruning may increase the fruit and an
other Kind decrease 1t. Some men that
have never studied the matter imagine
that any kind Of pruning will increase
fruit production, and SO every few
years they have a 'spell' Of pruning.
When tree has started to bear the
pruning should be SO conducted that
the bearing habit the tree has formed
will not be changed. II the top is
very heavily pruned the tendency Of
the tree is to make wood at the ex-
pense OF the fruit. The pruning heavi-
ly of trees after they have gone sew
eral years without such attention
turns them into wood forming. Many
an orchard has been interrupted In its
bearing by this kind OF pruning. It
is better to prune little each year,
and this kind Of pruning is really a
method Of thinning the fruit.
Fruit when kept In cellars or cold
storage houses must not sbe permit
tod to experience q constant tempera-i
ture Of less than SO degrees nor more
than 40 degrees Apples will mot
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
SIC knety.

what are pauses?" the teacher
asked the first class in grammar.
Things that grows on cats and
dogs" answered the smallest girl.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
"A cbiId.s query.

In all the Santa Claus pictures.
I've seen in my little day,
He's travelling across the drifts
With reindeer before a sleigh.
And this is the thing about It,
I'd really like to know
Does he travel in wagon
When there isn't any snow?
Newspaper Clipping.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20

In the smallest cottage there Il room
enough for two lovers. Schiller.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20

Some people are willing to be good IL
paid for 1t and others are good for
nothing.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20

An escaped lunatic whiled away
his time in Racine, Wis, BY taking
the civil service examination. Incl
dentally he took the highest grade.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20

If we were not in such a hurry to
marry we might form more congen-
ial matrimonial alliances.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20

How grateful one feels for q kind.
ly, sympathetic word.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20
The Common Squash Bug.

The accompanying illustration is of
the adult form of the common squash
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-20

ing. And then next day Alice would
come home from down town and her
mother would ask her If she had re-
membered the match boxes, and blank
is too feeble word to describe the
expression Of her face on those several