davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04
CLOVER FOR THE ORCHARD.

We are seeding down a twenty-four
acre orchard of apple trees to red clo-
yer this spring. The trees now fully
occupy the soil, and further cropping
with cultivated crops is out of the
question. The clover will be sown
without any nurse crop and will be
gone over with the mower when weeds
and clover are large enough to cut in
July. The second growth will be al
lowed to remain on the ground for
winter protection. If the blue grass
creeps in, as it is bound to do, the or
chard will be redisked in two years
and the clover seeding repeated. After
a careful study of how best to care for
an orchard in the north country we
have come to the conclusion that the
above is the best way. We have one
fear, however, and that, that the peck
ct gophers may invade the orchard for
the clover, which they are apt to do,
and then prove destructive to the roots
of the trees. This will have to be
watched.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04
ALFALFA IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

A friend writing from central Illinois
wishes to know if he can Rake alfalfa
a success in that section. While in
souri, river alfalfa seems perfectly at
home and does well, the growing of it
in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Hi
nOis is almost wholly in the expert
mental stage at present. Here and
there in the states named some meas
ure of success has been attained, but
taken as a whole, for reasons not clear
ly understood as yet, there seems to be
a lack of adaptation between the plant
and the soil, and many failures result.
The plant seems most at home where
aridity, irrigation and sunshine are
combined. There is more experimental
ton in progress in the states named be-
ing conducted with alfalfa than with
any other thing, and within year or
two we look to see it definitely settled
whether it can be made an available
forage crop or not. One or two things
are already settled-one, that it will
not grow on all kinds of soil; another,
that it will take from two to three
years to get good stand. 1t is not a
rotation crop and the land must be per-
manently dedicated to its use if it can
be grown. 1t is not as good pasture
grass as clover, timothy or blue grass,
for it must never be fed close, but as a
hog pasture all through the corn belt
it would prove simply invaluable,
cheapening the cost of pork production
and insuring thriftier, healthier hogs.
Our friend must do as others are do
ing-take a rich and well drained field,
SOW twenty pounds of seed on well
fitted soil in May without nurse crop,
clip with mower three times the first
year and let clippings fall on the
ground. If it comes on all right the
next spring he can probably grow al
falfa; if it comes out yellow and
patchy and sickly he probably can't
There is no way but to try it and see.
Before sowing the seed send to the de-
partment of agriculture and get a
package of the bacteria essential to its
growth, which will be sent free of
charge, with full directions how to
use it.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04
ORNAMENT THE HOMESTEAD.

The intelligent and judicious orna-
mentatiOn of any homestead, whether
in town or country, by the planting Of
trees, shrubs and vines gives to such
place distinctive added value in dol
lars and cents aside from the pleasure
derived by the owner and the public in
an aesthetic and artistic sense which
such work affords. A grove of Scotch
pines or other conifers, of 200 trees,
betting the farm homestead on the
north and west in the prairie sections
will add at least $500 to the value Of
the farm when it is sold. A well cared
for family orchard and small fruit gar
den will do the same thing and will in
variably be quoted as one of the valu-
able accessories of the place if it should
be advertised for sale. DeciduOus
trees, properly planted on dividing
lines or grouped on the knobs too rough
for cultivation, always give the farm
an added value, while, on the other
hand, the ramshackle, neglected, bare
homestead always is deteriOrated in
value on that account. 1t pays to do a
good many nice things, and this is one
Of them.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04
BAD RESULTS OF RENTING SYSTEM.

BAD RESULTS UT RENlINU SASlEMs
The most discourag cling feature of the
agricultural development of the coun-
try is the unmistakable tendency to-
ward the renting of the land and the
steady decrease in the number of land
owners who work their own farms.
There can be little real Improvement of
agricultural conditions where the
farms are occupied and worked by
transient renters operating on short
time leases. Such system strikes at
the very foundation of successful and
improved agriculture no stock, no
clover, no rotation of crops; just con-
tinued round Of land SHINING and soil
robbing and the placing of the brand
of degeneration so plainly visible on
nearly all rented farms. 1t seems
strange that landowners will permit
such a wasteful and ruinous policy
when not only themselves, but the ten
ant as well and the farm itself, would
each be benefited by the longer lease,
which should always include the stock
keeping proposition and the reasonable
rotation of the crops. We know of
thousands of acres of what was few
years ago the most fertile land in the
world which has for years been worked
by a new tenant each year and which
this year will return only scant and
Improbable crops at the best, not one
half of what it is capable of producing
when properly treated.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04
THE HoLsTEIN FOR BEEF.

Some recent experiments with Hol-
stein cattle in the line of beef produc-
ton have been surprise to those who,
while cOnceding the superiority of this
breed as dairy stock, have been I'M
willing to concede that they possessed
any merit as feeders. The Holstein
steer has the frame and marked abil-
ity to assimilate his food, and while
lacking the perfect form and smooth
ness of the Shorthorn or Doddie it has
been cOnclusively proved that he can
make pound of good beef as econom-
ically as any steer on the market. With
this fact established, the Holstein will
come nearer to filling the purpose of a
dual COW on the average farm than
any other breed, for she can always
be depended upon at the pail
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04
WORST AND REST TREES

A reader in Ohio writes asking how
it would do to plant Lombardy poplars
along the fence line to serve as posts
We would not do it. This tree is al
most worthless for fuel through most
of the central west, will die when il
is about twenty years old, is one of
the very worst trees we know of to
sucker and is gross feeder and rob.
Der Of crops grown in the field adjoin-
ing. We place the Lombardy poplar
the balm of Gilead and silver poplar
as among the very poorest Of all our
native trees. Our friend should plant
white or green ash. catalpa, white elm
or, better yet. black walnut if the soil
is suitable, and then he will have trees
worth something.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04
List of Petit Jurors.
STATE OF IOWA,

STATE OF IOWA, :,
Winnesheik County. 90
In District Court, May term. 1904.
To The Sheriff of Winnesheik County,
Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to sum-
mon the following named persons:
Frank Sebastian, Bloomfield twp.
John Schultz, Bloomfield twp.
Geo. Bernhard. Bloomfield twp.
A. F.Kleve. Military twp.
J. P. Collins, Military twp.
William Britton, Military twp.
William Finnegan, Military twp.
Frank Thuente, Jr., LIST precinct,
Washington twp.
John Heine, 2nd precinct, Washing
ton twp.
James Doubek, End precinct, Wash
ington twp.
John Sheckelton. Jackson twp.
Thomas French, Frankville twp.
Jos. Ptaachek, 2nd precinct. Calmar
twp.
E. J. Wangsness, Glenwood twp.
CLAUS Ruen. Glenwood twp.
o. G. Ask. Glenwood twp.
IT. l.. Coffeen, DEBORAH twp.
Morris Michaelson, Sd ward, De-
corah.
@. +. Tramm, Sd ward, DEBORAH.
Jonas Rygg, Sd ward, DEBORAH.
Robt. Bergerson, 4th ward, DEBORAH.
Helmer Henrickson, 4th ward, De-
corah.
Ole Honsey, 4th ward, Decorah.
Chas Trzcinski, 9TH ward, DEBORAH.
@. B. Bergeson, 9TH ward, DEBORAH.
G E. Bakken, Madison twp.
w. @. Black burn, Lincoln twp.
l.. j. Hanson, Pleasant twp.
N. Womeldorf, Pleasant twp.
j. @. Fredenburg, Canoe twp.
James NARROW. Canoe twp.
G. @. NARROW, Canoe twp.
o. X. Kjorlien, Bluffton twp.
Terrence McCabe, Bluffton twp.
Steen Stinson, Orleans twp.
Henry Langland, Highland twp.
ID. E. Grindeland. Highland twp.
Walter Tillapaugh, Hesper twp.
S. A. Pierce, Burr Oak twp.
Ed. WILDER, Fremont twp.
to be and appear before the District
Court of Winnesheik County, Iowa, at
the Court House in said County. at
80 O'Clock. p M, on the 10th day OF
May, A. D.. 1904, to serve as petit
jurors, and then and there to continue
until duly discharged, and have you
then and there this writ.
In Testimony Whereof, have here
unto set my hand and affixed the seal
of said Court at DEBORAH, Iowa this,
the 18th day of April, A. d. 1904.
(Seal.)
A. L. HAAKENSON, Clerk.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

OF administrator of the estate of BERT G.
Lien, deceased.
Notice is hereby given that the subscriber
has been duly appointed administrator of the
estate OF
BERT q. LIEN,
late of Springfield Township, in the County of
WINES iek Estate of Iowa, deceased, intestate
and has taken upon himself that trust by Civ
ing bonds as the law directs. All persons hav-
ing demands upon. the estate of the said de-
ceased are required to exhibit the same; and
persons indebted to the said estate are called
upon to make payment to
G. G. LEN, Administrator.
DAN SHEA, Attorney.
Dated, DEBORAH, Iowa, April Is, 1904.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04
VALUABLE INDIAN LANDS.

We note that unimproved lands of
the Creek Nation in the Indian Terri.
tory have lately been sold in competi-
tive bidding as high as $62 per acre,
worth every cent Of it, for they are in
the garden spot of America. An alb
origine may be trusted to select the
best land to be had and to find the
easiest and shortest route over the
hills If he can't be trusted for anything
else. There are thousands of acres of
land in that nation worth 500 per
acre just to grow cotton for five years.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

The trouble which many farmers
meet with in having fences on bottom
lands and across runs and streams
swept away by freshets may be to
some extent prevented by planting a
row of willows on the line up to the
bank of the stream and using the trees
as posts. This only applies to such
streams as do not carry large masses
of floating ice in the spring.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

1t is an interesting fact in nature
that the pollen and the silk of the corn
plant are so arranged in the order OF
their development that they are never
in conjunctiOn-that is, it is made al
most impossible for the plant to fer
tilize itself, the pollen from one plant
being used to fertilize the silk of some
adjacent plant.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

One year with another 1t will be
found safer to delay the sowing of rape
on the field of small grain where this
plan is followed for at least ten days
after the small grain is sown. If sown
at the same time it is apt under favor
able weather conditions to make too
rapid a growth and swamp the grain.
We saw twenty acre field of oats last
year entirely spoiled in this manner.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04
NOTICE In PROBATE.
To Whom ii May Concern:

You and each of you hereby notified to APP
pear at the Court House in Winneshiek Conu-
ty, Iowa, on the 10th day of May, 1904, at leo
O'Clock p. M. to attend the probate of an in
strument purporting to be the last will and
testament of Charles Rudolph, late of DEBORAH
township Winneshiek County, Iowa. deceas-
ed, at which time and place you will appear
and show cause, if any, why said will should
not be admitted to probate.
In testimony whereof have hereunto sub
scribed my name and affixed the seal of said
Office, this 18th day of April, 1904.
A. l., HAAKENSON,
Clerk District Court.
C. =. BOICE, Attorney. 1913
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

A curious fact in connection with
the northward migration of wild fowls
this spring has been the very large
number of wild swans. a rare bird in
deed. which passed across the states
tarrying to rest and feed, We're dur
ing the month of March killed in many
places. They are the finest game birds
in America and are so rarely obtained
that they are nearly always turned
over to the taxidermist instead Of the
cook
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

A new line of railway 252 miles in
length was formally opened in China
in February. The building OF this road
was very much like the running of a
stick through an ant hill. The Celes-
tial takes kindly to the cars when he
once gets used to them, though he
fights them most vigorously at first
for the reason that the building of the
road disturbs the bones of his ances-
TORS
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

No plant we cultivate peters out and
loses its vitality and productiveness so
quickly as the Irish potato. The best
of the new varieties only lasts about
fifteen years and many not that long.
This deterioration of the potato is much
more rapid all through the corn belt
than it is in the territory north of it
All through the corn belt the use of
northern grown seed is almost impera-
tive if one would expect to get crop
Of the tubers.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

One very pleasing feature of the
present spring is the temperance Of
the bluebirds in large numbers. For
several years they entirely disappear
ed, and we thought we had entirely
lost this most CHEEKY harbinger of
spring, but here he is back again,
ready TO go to housekeeping as of old
in the box you have prepared for him.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

Where has the black oat gone?
Years ago it was standard cereal.
1t had a stiff stalk and never crinkled.
1t never rusted and yielded large
crops. The meat was just as good
and nutritious as that of the white
oat, but it's color banished it. The
degenerate condition of the oat crop
over much of the country would sug-
gest the wisdom Of trying the black
oat again.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

Put 100000 people in the state of
Kansas, heather and idol worshipers,
ignorant and superstitious, governed by
a despotism, unskilled in agriculture,
and in climate, size of territory, popu-
lation, development and government
you will have the kingdom of Korea.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

We noticed a statement recently
made by one of the big packers to the
effect that there was an actual money
loss to him of 81 in buying steer and
selling the meat and that he had to de-
pend upon the offal and byproducts
to make this loss good and give him
his profit One can do as he pleases
about believing this offal story.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

A growing industry and new one
is the production of bulbs on the is
lands in Puget sound, where climatic
and soil conditions favor the produc-
ton of bulbs-lilies, tulips, gladiOluses,
hyacinths-in every way the equal of
those produced in Holland, country
which has enjoyed monopoly of the
business for centuries.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

Cuba raised a magnificent crop of
high grade tobacco the past year, Sc
much that the shed room for the cur
ing was totally inadequate, and in
some cases the people moved from
their houses and lived in tents in order
that they might use their homes fol-
curing the crop.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

1t has been a poor year for the feed
ers and finishers of beef cattle unless
they have been feeding the very best.
The feeders of low grade stock have
not realized over 20 cents bushel for
the corn fed.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

The enormous amount of $50,000000
is paid out each year in this country
for commercial fertilizers, wholly used
in the eastern and southern states.
The territory where the use of such
fertilizers is either compulsory or
found to be profitable is constantly
pushing west and now includes good
portion of the state of Ohio.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

The hired man will take kindly to
cleaning up the barnyards when you
give him a manure spreader to work
with, though he always hated the job
done in the old way.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

1t is the woman who has much to do
with the unsurpassed excellence of
Dutch cheese and Danish butter, and
the best type of European women in
the matter Of health, strength and
beauty is found in direct connection
with the dairy business.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

The man with the fourteen foot seed
er, the four horse disk and the twenty
two foot harrow makes very short
work of putting the crop in on 200
acre farm.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

York state farmers either can't or
won't raise sugar beets, and large
factory in that state, costing S250,0O0,
is to be removed to Wyoming The
American hates to grow crop which
makes him bend his back.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

We note that the English sparrow
has a great liking for the long and
plant fibers which are to be found on
all telegraph and telephone poles when
they get the nest building fever on.
We saw dozen of these birds at work
on one pole the other day busily strip
ping the fiber Off
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

One of the very best types of Euro
pean agriculture is to be found in Hol-
land OH lands reclaimed from the ocean
and which lie twenty feet below the
level of the ocean, protected from it by
bikes. These lands, largely in grass,
are made to produce an annual income
of 500 per acre and over.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

The opportunity now offers for men
who have met grief in their specula-
tons in northern lands, oil stocks, min
ing schemes and cattle ranges to try
their luck with some stock in coffee
plantations in Mexico and Central
America. Millions in it, according to
promoters.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

1t is an easy matter to improve a
poor herd of stock. The sum of 5000
properly invested will do it-S100 now
for a registered sire and two years
later another. While doing this the
very poorest of the herd should be
culled out. Four years on this line
of work will make over the herd and
add 100 per cent to its value. And
this applies to both beef and dairy
herds and for that matter to all our
domesticated animals.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

While the sheep may be rightly said
to wear the golden hoof when kept on
the farm. no animal is more destruc-
tive when given the range Of land de-
sired for the growth of timber. The
sheep should be absolutely excluded
from all the forest reserves set apart
by the government.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

A farmer aged sixty three writes us
that a year ago he sold nice little
farm and bought residence in town,
as so many do. He says he finds the
life of the town utterly unbearable,
though his good wife likes it pretty
WELL and wants to get back out in the
country again. There are many men
in this fix. What man should do is
to get small place close to town of a
few acres, where his wife can go to
pink teas and club meetings and he can
still keep horse, COW, pig and putter
around on piece of land.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

We think that the owner of the sandy
farm is mere to be pitied than any 9th
err farmer. The wind whips his fields,
in dry season he can raise nothing
and in a wet one his fertilizers are
leached away and largely lost We
could stand a billy farm, fiat and
wet one, stiff clay and quite sprin-
Killing of rocks, but would steer clear
Of the sandy farm.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

A few years ago measure was seri.
ously considered by congress to appro-
pirate the sum of $l,000,000 for the
purpose Of exterminating the Russian
thistle, pest which it was feared
would overrun all the farms of the
west. The appropriation was not
made. and while the weed drifted
down into the corn belt along the
rights of way Of the railroads, it never
obtained any foothold, and even where
it worked its way into the fields in
Dakota it is now no longer feared. Pi-
geon grass, wild barley, purslane and
ragweed are what take the heavy toll
from the corn belt farmers.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

While only just a beginning-a sort
Of kindergarten school, as it were-the
work done at the many farmers insti-
tutes through the corn belt, in the line
OF educating corn growers as to what
good corn really is, is already produc-
ing very marked results. The POSSIBLE
tiles connected with the culture of corn
are just being revealed, and the final
result is sure to be an immense in
crease in yield and great improvement
in quality. No one thing discussed at
the institutes the past winter attracted
such widespread interest.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

When the dead leaves are burned up
either in the fall or spring, the very
best mulching material to be had is de-
stroyed
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

Foresight is most valuable trait
for a farmer to cultivate. His present
is so closely linked with his future that
if he cannot look ahead his chance of
winning success is slim. Varying pres
ent conditions compel equally varying
future ones.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

Climatic handicaps may be found in
every section of the country. The
glorious sunshine of the far west is as.
ISOLATED with scarcity of rainfall; an
excess of water makes an aquatic eX'
istence for Washington and Oregon
the blizzard, extreme cold, hailstorms
and cyclones veX the residents of the
great northwest, while the genial eli
mate Of the great south is largely cou
pied with poverty of soil. 1t is hard
to find spot where soil is good, mar.
kets handy, mercury always above
zero, rainfall sufficient and plenty OF
sunshine.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

The Cuban reciprocity treaty, or a
large supply, has brought around the
time when the people are getting TWEEN
ty pounds of sugar for 81. They ought
never to get any less and should get
more
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-05-04

The breakfast food craze has about
subsidized. Scores Of concerns which
claimed for a tablespoonful of parched
wheat or other grain nutritive value
equal to a pound Of beefsteak have
gone to the wall and quit business.
Breakfast food is all right, and few
of the old standbys in Oat and wheat
preparations survive, while the high
priced trash has almost disappeared, to
the great relief of the retail grOcers all
over the country.