Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-02

E.
We pass to the credit of the English
sparrow the fact that during the few
days after its young are Matched it Is
almost exclusively insectiyorous in its
diet, and it is the only time during
which 1t is.
Drought In the east, foods in the
west and strikes everywhere are three
agencies working to limit the sum Of
prosperity for the year 1903. Man can
not prevent the first two and is fool
enough to permit the third.
We are prompted to just remark that
tie young man will find carving tur-
key for the first time and counting his
best girl very likely to result in the
same thing-he will have both of them
in his lap before he gets through.
If clover is put into the barn in
green or uncured condition it will sure
ly heat. Then if the air gets at it it
will burn and spoil. If you can keep
the air from 1T you will have to all in
tents and purposes clover ensilage.
Fifty years ago steamboats, used to
traverse the minor rivers Of the west
which were tributary to the Missis-
sippi, and many Of the present resi-
dents of that territory have never been
able until this year to realize how such
a thing were possible. Now they know.
If the Lord had given the eastern
states the rich and fertile soils of the
prairie west and had given the west
the mountains, hills and stone heaps
of the east there would never have
been much scrapping with the aborigi-
mes to dispossess them of their land in
the west.
We are asked whether the cement
ing of cellar wall and floor will keep
the water out. 1t will not, There is
something curious about the fact that,
while cistern sunk in the earth and
cemented will hold water perfectly, it
will not, If empty, prevent the water
from coming in from the outside.
Hay sold in the field at 81 per ton is
as well sold as it would be from the
haymow next winter at Sc. Potatoes
sold in the field at 80 cents are as well
sold as they would be at so cents the
following spring. The labor of har-
vesting and storing the shrinkage and
the interest, more than eat up the diff
ference,
We are asked whether it is better to
remove the clippings from the lawn or
let them remain on the ground as they
fall. That depends. If the lawn is very
thrifty and plenty of water is availa-
BILE we would remove them, otherwise
not. We think it is good policy to set
the mower knives up after the middle
of June and not shave the lawn too
closely during the hot and often dry
season.
1t is probably true that as the condi
ton of farmers becomes improved
financially they become more careful
in buying. Under the old credit sys
tenn, when big account was run Al
the store to be settled once veal
when the wheat was sold, much was
bought and charged which now when
cash is paid for goods is not purchased
A man will always care better for his
cash than his credit
If every family in America was as
busy from daylight until dark as the
pair Of wrens which have nest in a
box over our kitchen door there would
be something doing in this country
and no mistake. These birds raise
Rooseveltian families, anywhere from
eight to twelve at time, and it is a
literal case of hustling for gruhs from
the time the young birds are Matched
until they can take care of themselves.
we uOuCeu mau Trying 10 pTepdFe
a two acre patch Of land for corn
| crop recently down in the valley OF
the Potomac river in Virginia. The
land was located on a steep side hill
and we do not believe that his team
could haul the pillow fifteen feet any.
| where on the patch without striking
either big stump or big rock. II
really must be that this man stayed
there and tried to farm because he
did not know any better. We just
wanted to get off the train and tel
him what he might do il he would.
The hide Of the hog, which has here
tofore always been sold on him. is tt
come off hereafter like the hide of I,
steer, as it has been discovered thai
| it will take the place of rubber in the
manufacture of bicycle tires. We
| would like to know what we are to dt
for toothsome craclilings and daint.
bits of burned rinds which peep up il
the surface of the great American
dish of pork and beans. To such bas,
use would the utilitarian spirit of thu