Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-29


at cost Of is cents, will last period
of twenty-one years. This is likely to
be the solution of the tie problem for
the future.
The growing of Bermuda onions in
Texas has been carried on the past
season to such an extent that the bust
ness has become Improbable. Two
years ago it was the biggest agri-
cultural snap in America.
The attempt to dispose Of the weeds
along the railway tracks by running
q machine over the track which scorch-
ed and burned them did not prove a
success. While the process checked
the growth, it did not eradicate 1t.
The Poland China hog represents the
aristocrat of the hog family. He has
been bred on such fine lines for so
long that, as with aristocrats generally,
he has ceased to be prolific For large
filters Of pigs we have to turn to
the Duroc-Jerseys.
The danger from bad drinking water
is not confined to the cities. If the
well on your farm from which you
get your water is located in a sag
where it gets the drain from the barn
yard or other insanitary place the mat
ter will bear looking into.
The pine stumps of the yellow pine
regions Of the south are now being
made to return value of $33 per cord
in turpentine, oil and byproducts by
the new method Of treating them, the
old stumps being Of greater value than
the trees which grew on them were for
lumber.
The heated term in July Of this year
resulted in a most remarkable growth
of corn, which was just at that stage
when hot weather and moisture would
most greatly affect 1t. A growth Of
four inches in height was reported
from many places for the twenty four
hours, or foot in three days.
A reader wishes to know where he
can find a market for mushrooms
These edible fungi are in good de-
mand in all our cities, and the best
way to find the market desired is to
get in communication with some good
commission house which makes a spe-
cialty OF fruits and vegetables.
The crop Of corn which might easily
have been raised this season on the
land would more than have paid all
expense Of tile draining those fields
which for lack Of such drainage will
not produce any corn worth harvest
ing. There are hundreds Of thousands
of acres Of such land all through the
country.
We often wonder why various forms
of vines and creepers are not more
used to cover up unsightly spots
around the home. The Virginia creep
er is very useful for this purpose, be-
ing easily obtained and perfectly hardy.
The wild grape is also very good and
can be obtained from some nearby
wood at the cost Of but little trouble.
The south has the johnson grass and
the north the quack grass to contend
with as aggressive pests. These
grasses are much alike in habit, being
extremely difficult Of eradication from
the soil when once they get possession.
Each has some value as forage, but
because neither can be controlled nor
got rid Of it becomes dangerous occu-
pant of the farm.
One acre Of corn put in the silo will
furnish three cows all the silage they
will eat for a period of 200 days, forty
pounds day each. Thus ten acres
Of corn SO used will supply thirty cows
for the same length Of time. In addi-
ton to the ensilage ration, the cows
will need a little good hay and pro-
TEN ration of bran or gluten feed. This
sort Of ration will secure profitable
results from any dairy of cows.
Four years of country telephone and
rural mail service have revolutionized
farm life. The Improvement
Of the country highways is now the
chief center Of attraction and bids fair
to do more for the country resident
than either of the other things named.
More men are desiring country home
than ever before. After awhile the
farm automobile will still further add
to the pleasure of country living
For all the corn country north of lat
itude ~ it is of the utmost impor-
lance that seed corn should be gather
ed from the field not later than the
middle of October and be placed where
it can thoroughly dry out untouched
by frost. This is the great secret in
connection with securing a good stand
Of corn. 1t is unsafe to select seed
when husking in November and still
more risky to depend upon getting
seed from the crib when it is needed