davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Western news., 1901-05-08

mel have enemies. and are all free to
invoke the unseen powers for either
good or evil, the sick man has only to
make his choice among the number Of
his ill-wishers and charge his heirs to
avenge him.
Every skilled craft tends to speciali-
zatlon. A few successes in causing ILL
ness by spells gave man reputation
as an expert. The unsuccessful found
him ready to remove their enemies for.
consideration, he took to the business
as profession, handing his secret
down to his son, and his sons son, un-
til the trade became hereditary. A
family that once acquired it took good
care not to lose it by bungling, as the
wise women sometimes did, for the
art of killing by witchcraft had this de-
cided advantage over the art of heal
ing, that il the spell failed there were
other ways-a dose of something in the
kava cup or a club stroke on a dark
night. Thus among some of the Mel
anesians tribes it is not too much to
say that the population is divided be-
tween the companies Of those that
caused disease and those that healed
If -
The Western news., 1901-05-08
a~~o,,ocI

Fruit Tree sprayer.
The illustration shows an improved
spraying apparatus for discharging
liquids ON the foliage Of fruit trees. the
machine being designed especially for
large orchards. where time Is more
valuable. With the apparatus provided
u is possible to drive a team between
the rows at fairly rapid pace. and
as two streams are provided the adja-
cent sides Of two rows of trees may be
sprayed at the same time. There is
also storage tank for the accumula-
tion Of pressure, In order that II tree
Is discovered to be unusually infes- ed
with insects the wagon may be stopped
long enough to treat them to an extra
large dose of the destroyer. The pipes
are arranged In such a manner that a
number Of barrels of the liquid may be
carried at once, emptying themselves
automatically in rotation, without the
opening or closing of any valves when
the sprayer 10 once in motion. Thus a
large quantity of the liquid may be
carried and discharged with the least
attention to detail. allowing the oper-
ator to devote his entire thought to
The Western news., 1901-05-08

uated high above the level of the sea,
! near the coasts, which are flooded by
large rivers in extraordinary freshets,
location and great depth are quickly
drained, receive the name of tierras de
vega, and are those used for the culti-
vatioD of sugar cane everywhere.
These lands in general are alluvial
lands, and are very rich in fertilizing
elements.
Cultivation of sugar Cane.
Sugar cane may be produced in Porto
Rico, where the soil is sandy and loose,
at $24.59 american money! per acre
Cutting the cane will cost $2,40 an acre
more. To manufacture a 1,2OO-pound
hogshead Of sugar from the cane costs
81. Besides these there are various
other items Of expense, such as terminal
charges; transportation, and shrinkase.
This latter is an important item, rang
ing from per cent on steam vessels to
10 or Il per cent on sailing craft. In
1897 Porto Rico produced 126S27, ,472
pounds of sugar, for which the planters
received $3.7S2,465, or fraction less
than cents pound.
AS in Cuba, the tendency is toward
large plantations, with central mills for
grinding Comparatively few of the
sugar estates are provided with steam
vacuum machinery for making sugar,
and nearly one-hair of the grinding
machines are worked by oxen. The
hurricane of Aug. 8, 1899, damaged the
sugar mills considerably, and the tinan-
cial straits of the planters have made
it impossible to restore the plants.
Larger plantations or colonies. i'm
proved methods of cultivation, and CEN
trail mills with improved machinery will
in time no doubt add enormously to the
output of sugar.
Several varieties of the tobacco plant
are cultivated in the country-that
called Guacharo, which is believed to be
native of Venezuela, the Virginia
blanca, the CoraZon de Vaca, the Gu
banO. and others. AS yet the selection
of the variety best suited for the pur-
poses of the manufacturer has not been
made. He prefers leaf with color,
elasticity, large intercostal spaces, and
small ribs, which are the best for the
manufacture of the different kinds of
cigars which the consumer demands
essential qualities which oblige the
maker to seek the locality productive of
good tobacco, indeed the only selection
that is now made.
Olassed with agricultural industries is
stock raising, which is an important
and remunerative industry. In 1897 the
island had 67.751 horses, valued at $2.-
O0O. 900; 4,467 mules. worth about $134.-
600, and 3O3,612 cattle, valued at Sd
100000. The swine and sheep statistics
were Insignificant There are 6O,068
The Western news., 1901-05-08
HEATHEN HAVE POPULAR CULT
Christian Science Practiced by Inhab-
jtants of South Sea Islands.

Christian Science Practiced by Inhab.
jtants of South Sea Is1ands.
Those who believe in Christian Sci
ence" are recommended to study the
beliefs of the South Sea islanders.
Even In those archipelagoes Of "far-off
isles Of Eden, lying in dark purple
spheres Of sea-" the fundamental prin-
ciples Of the scientists" seem to bo
known, according to the Medical Rec
ord, for among the South Sea-Islanders
no man falls sick or dies from natural
causes. They would argue, IL called
upon to analyze their belief, that health
is the natural condition, and that every
departure from 1t must be caused by
supernatural agency, and since disease
is an evil, you must look for it's agents
among those who wish you evil.
Thus far they are at one with many
good people in Europe, who take COM
fort In the thought that every vista
ton Of sickness is a divine judgment
for their sins, but savages push their
logic further. Their gods do no mis-
chief for mischief's sake, and since all
The Western news., 1901-05-08

landed holdings. or "estates,~ IN P0Ft0
Rico. comprising about 900, 600 acreA
Among the great drawbacks to agricul-
ture are the lack of highways and rail-
roads, and the inferior agricultural inn
plements In use. General Davis, tho
military Governor, is trying to remedy
the lack of highways, and has expenl-
ed over 81 100000 in the repair and con-
struction Of roads. Even roads in the
immediate vicinity of the cities are In
poor condition, and during the rainy
season nearly all of them are almost Inn
passable for vehicles. The total length
of all railroads is about 159 miles, all
tracks being narrow-gauge, and the
rolling stock. roadbeds, ETC., very in
feriOr
Coffee is the main product Of the
island, and Al per cent of the cultivated
land is given over to the crop. Sugar
cane. occupies Is per cent and bananas
IA per cent of the land.
The Western news., 1901-05-08

In bulletin 80. The greatest amount of
water was found in the butter when
the churning temperature was low (52
degrees) and the wash water warm
40 degrees). The least amount Of
water was found where the tempera-
ture was II degrees at churning and
the wash water was 40 degrees. the
granules In both cases being the size
of bird shot. The principle shown by
these experiments have proved effec-
tive in practice. as shown by the re-
suits Of anallzing butter made by the
college creamery for the English mar
ket. when It was desired to make but
ter rather free from water.
Getting Ready for Poteto Planting.
Go at the early potato field hammer
and tongs." Put on the disk. spring
tooth. acme. smoothing harrow and
plank drag or anything else that you
have that will chop 1t up and help to
make 1t as fine as an ash heap. Then
do 1t again. Set the disk to cut deep
and fairly plow 1t up crossing the piece
once or twice. allowing the disk to lap
one-half. Do not stop at pulverizing
the surface for this or any other crop.
but cut and mellow and make your soil
fine right down to the bottom of the
furrow II possible. which will give the
millions Of tiny. hair-like rootlets that
will later penetrate to this depth every
opportunity to reach and feed on all of
the available plant food contained in
every small particle Of the soil. When
satisfied that your soil cannot be better
prepared, you are then~ready to make
the first application Of fertilizers. In
which you can afford to be very liberal,
since any surplus left from the rank
feeding potato plant will be available
for the following or second crop. so
that no part Of it will be lost.-Ohio
Farmer.
The Western news., 1901-05-08

In times of drought does the vegetation
suffer as occurs on the southern coast
Of the island, nor during the rainy sea-
son are the rains so heavy as on the
north coast. Owing to these favorable
climatic conditions and to the fact that
| the coffee groves are situated in valleys
sheltered from the strong winds, and
the soil, of which we will presently
speak in detail is due the enviable rep
utation of the coffee of the country.
Altitude Affects Office Growth.
"In the central range of Porto Rico
is the Sierra Luquilla, which has an
elevation Of 1,oOU meters above the
level of the sea, and it Is observed that
above the middle height of this noun
tain coffee groves do not exist Wheth-
er owing to the climate or to the soil,
which may be unsuitable, where grow
only some shrubs in thickets and some
worthless herbs, it is true that after 500
meters have been passed the coffee is
not seen, and all attempts to grow it
at that altitude have been without re-
suits.
Coffee growers modify the climate
by employing shade-that is, they plant,
their coffee groves beneath the shade
Of a grove of thick trees, as for exam
pie, the hucares, guaba, jobo, guiana,
mango, ETC.. and under the banana
trees when the coffee groves are young.
'"The coffee grows on hills of low
elevation, associated with many other
trees, which afford shade, modify the
temperature, and protect the coffee
from hurricanes and torrential rains.
The composition of these coffee soils is
variable, but in all of them sand pre-
dominates, and on the surface there is
an abundant covering, the product of
the decayed vegetation Of the forest.
The land which produces the renowned
coffee of Porto Rico, as to its physical
appearance, seems to be very fine
clay, and when it rains becomes as
slippery as soap. aud transit at such
times is dangerous. 1t has red color
when moist, and when squeezed
through the fingers resembles in its
color and smoothness the oxide of iron
paint. but when dry it becomes very
hard.
''There are small plantations where
the cultivation is both intelligent and
intense, which produce thirty Quin-
tails 5000 pounds) and more per
hectare 1.-TWO and one-half acres), but
this Is exceptional, for there are lands
In the same region which scarcely pro-
duce one quintal QOO pounds). As an
average crop. taken from the different
classes of land, and taking into account
also the variations that occur from year
to. year, a production of from ten to
fourteen quinals per hectare may be
counted on as the result Of fairly intel
ligent cultivation"
The coffee tree is completely devel-
The Western news., 1901-05-08
PORTO RICAN WEALTH
INDUCEMENTS IN AGRICULTURE
AND CATTLE RAISING.
Government Reports Facts EncouraR-
ing to lnvestors-Cn of Sugar
Cane and Tobacco Insures Handsome
PrOfits-Railways and Roads Needed.

People in search of reliable informa-
ton about Porto Rico will find a lot Of
valuable statistics in the official report
OF the census of the island, issued by
the United States War Department.
The census was taken under the direc-
tion Of Lieutenant Colonel j. P. Sanger,
who has s-made his report document
OF unusual interest.
While agriculture is now the prin-
cipal source of wealth to Porto Rico,
says Colonel Sanger, the early settlers
were for many years engaged in cattle
raising, and this Is still an important
industry, the rich and luxuriant pas
lures and many streams providing all
that Is necessary for this purpose. 1t
may be said that all fruits and vegeta-
bles adapted to tropical climate will
yield abundantly in Porto Rico, and
this Is especially true of the coffee tree,
the sugar cane, and the tobacco plant,
tie three staples of most Importance in
the order named, and grown widely
over the island.
In Porto Rico the select and re-
nowned coffee Is produced between
200 and 800 meters above the sea level.
At this elevation are found the towns
Of Yauco, Lares, Maricao, Utuado,
Cayey. etc.. which form the produc-
tive region Of the renowned coffee Of
Porto Rico. This region. which in
cludes something more than the south
west quadrant Of the island, is charac-
terized by climate of perpetual
spring. The constant breeze refreshes
the atmosphere and the frequent rains
equalize the seasons so that not even
The Western news., 1901-05-08
Co,or of Draft Horses.

Don't worry about the color If you
are buying a draft horse. Don't pick
an inferior one because he is your col
or. Get good horse. and his color will
suit the market. or course If you have
set of breeders who insist on. black
or gray or chestnut they must be
pleased. but can they not be better suit
ed with good horse than a good col
Ored one? Gray is the favorite color
among the buyers of draft horses in
market. 1t is not, however, the favor
lite among breeders. At least it does
not seem to be. when importers are
forced to bring over more blacks than
grays to please their customers.
The Western news., 1901-05-08
VIRGINIA Of MANY YEARS Aso.

Courtesy and Discipline in That State
in the EARLY bays.
In an old biography Of Chief Justice
Marshall there is an anecdote which
gives q significant hint OF the discip-
line to which young people were sub
ject In that earlier day.
Several of the great jurisit's nieces
were In the habit Of visiting him, and
as they were young and attractive the
house became rendezvous for the
leading young men of the city during
the afternoons. Judge Marshalls black
majordomo, old Uncle Joseph. held a
tight rein upon these visitors. Every
day at o'clock he would appear at
the door of the drawing-room in spot
less livery, and, with profound bow,
would announce:
Ladies, his honor the Chief Justice
has retired to his room to prepare for
dinner.
Gentlemen, dinner will be served al
half-past 4 O'clock. It Is now 4. His
honor will be pleased If you will re-
main. and covers have been laid for
you at the table. If you cannot re
main, will you permit the young ladies
to retire to prepare for the meal?"
The gentlemen usually took their
leave, and the ladies retired In an Ill.
humor; but any remonstrance with
Joseph was only answered by: "1t is
the rule of the house. Young folks
must be kept within bounds"
In Virginia houses of the better class,
notwithstanding their almost bound
less hospitality, the calls OF young men
in that day were strictly held within
limit. No one was received as visitor
to girl unless his antecedents and
character were well known to her par
ents.
II his visit was prolonged until after
10 o'clock, the invitation to family
prayers was given. If he seemed like
~ to become an habitue of the house,
and so to engage the thoughts, and
perhaps in time the affection, Of the
young girl who was its chief treasure,
her father quietly asked the purport OF
his visits, and, If he had none other
than his amusement, courteously re-
Quested him to discontinue his calls
Youths Companion.
The Western news., 1901-05-08

oped and producing after seven years
II the. conditions under which the
growth has been perfected have been
favorable. Otherwise it will need ten
years. and the product will never COM
pete with that Of good, sound tree.
The cost of one cuerda (about one acre.
of good coffee up to the date of pro-
duction will average $3.50, United
States currency.
When the tree is four years old it will
not produce sufficient to cover ex-
penses. and if the soil is not Of the best
quality the conditions will be the same
after five or six years. In such dis
tricts Of this department (Mayaguoz)
as Las Marias and Maricoa, the pro-
duce of one cuerda (acre) will range
from 200 to 1000 pounds. A fair aver
age will give for every cuerda 400
pounds. The typographical conditions
of the coffee-growing districts are such,
and the hills SO steep, that the only
agricultural implement that can be
used with effect Is the common
machete, or chopping knife. 1t Is used
for cleaning the ground and for MAX
ing the holes.
The total cost Of hundredweight Of
coffee ready for market, including ex-
penses for cultivation, is from $40 to
$12. Porto Rican money, equal to So to
$40 United States currency. (This is
about what Rio coffee sells for on the
wharf at New York; The produce is
shipped in bags, containing each from
IS to 100 Kilograms.
The quality of the Porto Rican coffee
Is excellent, and the principal markets
have been Cuba and Spain, but very
little having been imported into the
United States. where it is not well
known. Under favorable conditions
the coffee crop of Porto Rico is easily
worth from 100000 to $1O,OOO.OOO.
Being protected by the good climate,
the Porto Rican sugar cane industry
is an important one. Coast lands,
cleared, which receive rains or irriga-
ton and retain humidity some time
without becoming swamped, are good
for the sugar plant; these lands not sit
The Western news., 1901-05-08

A man judges woman's heart by
her face; woman judges mans face
by his heart.
Love is like the grip Everybody in
the world has either just had it, or is
waiting to get it.
A thin woman can pad, but fat wo-
man can only wear tight clothes and
look uncomfortable. M
II lizard were secret, by the time
three women had passed it along it
would be an alligator.
A man can always get on with the
women if he can make his voice trem-
BILE whenever he wants to.
A woman that talks politics is about
as attractive as a man who knows the
names of all the different stitches.
The microbes had a mothers meet
ing the other day and voted that the
short walking skirt was immoral.
Most men take comfort in the thought
the world will never know how mean
they really were until after they are
dead.
You can never judge a woman by
what the other women say about her,
as well as you can by what she says
about other women.
A woman's idea of being nice to an
other woman Is to kiss her and say:
'Oh, how lovely that new hat isv' when
she knows she has had it year.
The Western news., 1901-05-08

Nothing could more surely and clear
ly indicate that the prevailing prosper
ity of the country is founded on Il
sound basis than the figures showing
the large increase In the value of
American farm products in recent
years. According to statement just
issued by the Department of Agricul-
received $1S5.296.172 more for their
products in 1900 than they did in 1899.
The greatest advances We're observed
in corn and hay. the advance in the
price of the latter giving the farmers
over $33. 100000 more in 1900 for a
crop of 50.OO0.000 tons than was receiv-
ed in 1899 for crop Of $1,000. 756 tons.
The Western news., 1901-05-08
MISS MILLER.

than year ago she asked her father
to let her help in taking care of his day
book. He consented, and the little girl
took hold with all the skill of an old
bookkeeper. Her handwriting was
neat, and she rarely made a mistake in
copying the records. She was soon
promoted to the charge of the ledger,
in the care Of which she displayed
equal ability. Since that time she has
been regularly employed in her faith
er's Office. In addition to her accom-
plishments as bookkeeper she also
has shown much talent as an artist,
and has written children's stories
which have met with the approval of
competent judges.
The Western news., 1901-05-08
Farm Cattle.

1t Is not true that the cattle business
to be profitable must he conducted on
the broad ranges of the western plains,
says Texas Farm and Ranch. That Is
one profitable system of cattle raising
but there is another which yields fully
as great profits for the capital invested.
Raising cattle on the farm has in all
countries and all ages been found prof
liable. and more so now than ever. By
raising cattle on the farm the farmer
has good market for all the feed he
can raise. saves labor and expense Of
transportation and avoids much loss
from waste and the hocus pocus Of
commerce. And one of the main fea-
lures Of stock farming is that 1t can be
made to continually improve the fertil-
ity and value of the farm.
The Western news., 1901-05-08
Mixing Fertilizers Mt Home.


There is one advantage in mixing
fertilizers at home. that If one has a
definite idea of the elements most
needed in his soil. or by those crops he
intends to grow, he can use them in
such proportions as he wishes. without
buying such as are not needed. He can
also usually buy the raw material ut
such prices as may save him the usual
commission paid to the agents. and the
cost of bagging. and put into his pocket
also the price charged for the mixing
A part of the two first items is more
imaginary than real. however. as the
dealer wants profits on the material.
as he would have on the manufactured
goods. But If the farmer decides to
do this we advise him against the buy
ing of raw phosphate rock or bone, and
mixing it with sulphuric acid. The
carboys of acid are unpleasant things
to hahdle. as the acid burns clothing or
flesh wherever 1t touches them, and
railroads charge high rates of freight
on them. because Of the danger Of
breaking in transportation. 1t is better
to buy the acid phosphate fourteen to
sixteen per cent strong.-American Gull
tivator.
The Western news., 1901-05-08
ScahhY Potatoes.

Some one expresses an opinion that
the scab on potatoes Is worse where
the ground is packed solid or is allow
ed to crust over. II this Is true 1T
is true it should be less abundant where
a strawy manure Is used than where
commercial fertilizers are used, which
Is not often the case. A soil made loose
and porous by having green rye or a
heavy grass sward plowed under just
before the seed is planted will grow
potatoes free from scab almost invaria-
rbly, but we think that the decaying
vegetation kills the fungus that causes
the scab.-Exchange.
The Western news., 1901-05-08
NEW BOSS O. BANTAF1S.

Harry Harris. the little Chicagoan
who outpointed and outgeneraled Ped
lar Palmer at the National Sporting
Club, In London, the other night, has
twice been defeated, and hardly comes
up to the requirements of a champion
The Western news., 1901-05-08
Sponge Fishing in New Fashion

The art of sponge fishing is likely to
be revolutionized by the Introduction of
submarine electric arc lamps. At pres
ent the fishing apparatus is limited to
a long pole for spearing and a water
glass. If the lamps prove successful
greater depths may be reached and
larger and finer sponges secured.
The Western news., 1901-05-08

the same time she
showed astonish-
ing ability in the
direction of hand
ling figures. By
the time she was
5 she could count
and was able to do
simple problems
In subtraction and
addition MDro
The Western news., 1901-05-08
when to Plant SUGAR Beet..

The Michigan station decides that it
is safe and wise to plant beets as early
in the spring as we do any farm crop;
that prolonging the date of planting
gives longer period for thinning and
in ordinary years should lengthen the
season Of ripening and harvesting. and
finally that the date of planting seems
to have but little influence on the per-
centage Of sugar. DR.. Wiley says.
"Beets should be planted as early in
the spring as possible"
The Western news., 1901-05-08
HARRY HARRIS.

compared with others who have held
the title. He hasn't got the punch, al
though as clever as boxer as ever drew
ON the stuffed mitts. Steve Flanagan,
now dead, and Clarence Forbes were
the American boxers who took Harris
measure before he dreamed Of crossing
the big pond to conquer the old fistic
world.
The Western news., 1901-05-08
Fish that Can't swim.

There are several varieties of fish
that cannot swim. In every instance
they are deep-sea dwellers. and crawl
about the rocks, using their tails and
ans - legA
The Western news., 1901-05-08

the condition of the trees. The pump
Is operated by gearing it directly to
the hub of one of the wheels. The pat
ent has been granted to Ferdinand l..
Capps. Of Atlanta. Ga.
The Western news., 1901-05-08
Profit. in Sheep,

Many experienced and successful
sheep owners declare that the wool
alone will pay for the Keep of the sheep
and that money derived from the sale
Of lambs and mutton should be clear
gain. Upon such basis there would
seem to be little doubt that the profit
from them must be greater than from
any other class Of stock.