Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-14

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New York apple men will get about
So per barrel for their fruit on the
trees this year. Last year they were
glad to get 60 cents, and much fruit
was not picked at all.
Missouri is coming to the front among
all the states as the producer of more
frogs legs than any other. 1t is the
first time the croakers of that state
have ever had marketable value.
There was probably never better
matured crop of corn raised all through
the corn belt than this year. The
crop ripened naturally, exempt from
drougths and frosts, and it's feeding
value will be Of the highest order.
Duluth is becoming a most wonder
full wheat market and shipping point.
The city now has an elevator capacity
Of 34,O00,000 bushels, and 10000 men
are employed to care for the grain
which seeks the water route to the east
at that place.
| The corn crop has so well matured
this year without being touched by
frost that there should be no trouble
at all in securing almost perfect seed.
1t is not unlikely, however, that being
so good more men than usual will de-
pend upon the crib for their seed corn,
than which no plan is moro risky.
1t pays In two ways to kill off the
rabbits during the winter and feed
them to the hens, for it will save the
fruit trees and bring high priced eggs.
In an economic way rabbits are pest
to the farmer and fruit grower, and
eternal war should be waged on them.
Right here is where the folly of shoot
ing all the hawks and owls comes in.
The south is rounding up about H.
100000 bales Of cotton, worth about
II cents pound, a happy condition
which is In way equaled by Iowa
with 340,000,O00 bushels Of corn, worth
40 cents bushel. The south was never
| SO prosperous as today, for northern
men and northern money are busy de-
veloping its splendid natural resources.
! We come across many men who year
after year very successfully keep their
seed corn through the winter we'll
buried in bin Of dry oats. This method
certainly has something to recommend
it. 1t preserves the corn perfectly
from the attacks of mice and rats, and
should there be little moisture left in
the cobs of the corn when placed in
the oats they will draw it all out.
A progressive agriculture is well
symbolized by clean barnyard, big
red clover field and clean cornfield,
with the adjoining highway kept free
from weeds. Where this combination
exists there is usually balance to the
credit Of the owner in the town bank,
lot of good agricultural literature in
his home, paint on his house and barn,
a piano in his parlor and good driv-
ing team and carriage in his barn.
A very great benefit would be con-
ferred upon all our girls could they be
well instructed in the art of preparing
and cooking the cheaper cuts of meats,
which are equally nutritious and pala-
table when well cooked and served as
the high priced cuts. Too many wo-
N1,lr, l,ci q oh
sirloin or porterhouse steak, when for
the money these will cost twice the
amount of good meat can be obtained
if the cook only knows how to pre-
pare it. Every girl should be taught
the possibilities connected with fore
quarter of beef.
Some men never seem to consider the
benefit which would accrue to them by
taking the profits Of the farm and in
vesting them in the old farm in the
shape of needed improvements, better
stock and better home in which to
live, but instead take every dollar and
put it out at low rate of interest or,
worse yet, invest it in some wildcat
land, oil or gold mining scheme, where
1t becomes permanent investment in
every sense Of the word. There is
no end Of farms which could use the
profits for years in the manner indicat-
ed and return the owner a higher rate
of interest on his money than he could
anywhere else obtain.
We are afraid that there is trouble
in store for lot of people who have
during the past three years bought and
settled on lands in western Nebraska,
Kansas and the Dakotas. For three
years past rainfall which has been
far in excess Of normal for all the ter
ritory east Of the one hundredth de-
gree of west longitude has Tapped over
on to the territory referred to and re-
suited in a fine growth of all the grasses
and the production Of very satisfactory
crops where the land was under cult
walton. This happy condition of things
Is not normal for that country, and
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