Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-26

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The poorest lands in the states Of
Missouri and Arkansas grow the best
peaches, the rough and stony lands
which are impossible Of cultivation In
any crop.
The good horse will always bring
more money If he is fat than if he is
just in good working condition. A
sleek hide and well rounded out form
always count with the buyer.
The question will never be settled
which is the best breed of cattle. Of
hogs, horses or hens. Any improved
breed is better than stock of no breed
It a man has any likes<er dislikes this
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breed which he likes the best
1T is getting to be snow time, and
one of the first duties Of good citizen
is to see that his walks are kept free
from snow. If too busy to do it him
self, there are plenty Of bright boys
who will be glad to earn dime or two
in this way. 1t is good idea to look
after the Widows sidewalk also.
1t is almost impossible to secure a
fine quality of celery, white, tender and
nutty In flavor, when 1t is bleached In
any other way than with earth. The
use of boards, tile or paper for bleach
ing is a mere makeshift The best
celery literally grows underground, is
not grown above ground and afterward
bleached.
We regard all catch crops sown in the
cornfield, such as rape, cowpeas or even
clover, as injurious to the crop of corn
to greater or less extent. 1t may
be urged that such catch crops cannot
hurt the corn more than do weeds,
which is probably true, but then weeds
In the cornfield are ever and always
hurtful to the corn.
There are many old and abandoned
farms in Maine upon which are rem
nants of once fine orchards. With the
abandonment of the farms has come
about quite reforesting of much Of
the country and with this an increase
Of wild game. 1t is said that large
number Of bears have been killed this
fall in that section, and they are near
ly always found in these old apple
orchards, bruin being very fond Of
apples.
The settlers out in what may be prop
erly called the semiarid region Of the
west are making merry this year for
the reason that an abundant rainfall
has secured them very fine crop Tho
bad thing about this is that the dry or
the normal seasons are sure to return.
and when they come there is nothing
but disappointment and loss for the
men who try to cultivate the soil 1t
has been that way in the past and will
be again.
We noticed a new thing the other
day. A man had transplanted white
oak tree about three inches In diameter.
setting it out this fall. We have never
known an oak tree to be transplanted
and live and have often regretted that
1t could not be SO moved The only
way to certainly secure the oak tree
seems to be to plant the acorn where
the tree is to grow, and this is such
tedious process of securing tree, the
oaks making but slow and feeble
growth during the first fifteen years,
that few care to try the experiment.
The common custom all through the
hog raising sections of the country Is to
push the pigs for the market in the
shortest time possible, the aim being
to make the pig weigh from 200 to 225
pounds by the time 1t is eight months
old, and then sell it. We have a friend
who pursues another plan with profit.
He does not attempt to force his pigs,
but runs them on grass and clover the
first summer and feeds enough during
the winter to only just keep them in
fair flesh and growing. When they are
year old he fattens them and has pigs
to sell which weigh from $50 to 45O
pounds. He claims, and we think right
~. that pigs so raised have better con-
stitutions, are healthier and are far
less liable to disease.
1t would be good thing every way
It a farmer would each year make the
effort to raise one acre of some extra
crop-that is, SO care for one acre Of
land that he could produce an extraor-
binary yield Of whatever crop he Sc
iected. This would give him an object
lesson Of the relative values Of average
and superexcellent crops. For instance,
1t Is entirely practicable to produce 100
T. - H.