davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Value of CIovers,

| have grown the common red clov.
er with good results. l regard 1t as
one of the most profitable crops that
farmers can raise, inasmuch as the
money value of hay and seed Is nearly
as great as for any other crop, and
the increased fertility of the soil is
worth at least half as much as the
crop. 1t is the cheapest and most
easily applied manure we can use.
even with the seed selling at eight
or ten dollars per bushel. My eX-
perience has been that it will yield
from one to two tons of hay to the
be called big yield of seed. In fact
| do not know how much seed I ever
raised to the acre, but have raised
enough 10 pay yearly rental OF three
dollars per acre. Besides, the crop of
CO. following the clover yielded twen-
ty bushels per acre more than the crop
that preceded it. This perhaps should
not all be credited to the clover
though as preparation for a crop OF
corn there is nothing equal to clover.
The hay does not command high
price in the market, nor as ready a
sale as timotty,' but for farm animals,
unless it be horses, it is in my judg.
ment far superior. | have never had
any experience with mammoth clover
nor with Alsike; have never grown
crimson clover. The common white
clover is in our pastures here as well
as elsewhere in Iowa. | regard 1t as a
splendid pasture grass for cattle and
sheep. both seeming to thrive on it.
1t starts early and grows rapidly and
will grow on ground that will hardly
produce any other grass. Horses do
not do we'll on it; 1t seems to produce
soldering in them.-Wm. NJ. Brown,
Union County, Iowa, in Farmers Re-
view.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Happy AUoURY FOR THE BRIDE.
Dove Aiishts on Young Woman's
Shoulder as She Leaves Church.


IL is seldom that such an augury Of
good luck greets a bride as was
30 Ichsafed to Miss Mary Waters Of
Philadelphia few days ago. AS she
stepped out OF the church by the side
of her newly acquired husband. Mich
ael Doheny. white dove alighted on
ne. shoulder
This prosaic. practical bird, be II
known, was hungry, and the rice-be-
sh ,wered bride was too good cnance
to be missed. All in attendance held
their breath, and the brides heart
fairly stood still for fear that the
little creature might be frightened
away.
After sitting on its chosen perch
and pecking rice from the hat of the
astonished bride until it had eaten a
;od square meal, 1t unfolded its
wings Of peace, and, after lowering
a moment over the happy pair, flew
back to its home in the belfry.
1t is probable that such another
symbolic occurrence might not hap
pen again in a century and Mrs. Do
heny is naturally delighted with the
harbinger of peace which blessed her
with its benediction at the outset OF
her married lie.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Axle Grease Killed Peach Tress.

In answer to R. H. Kline of John
son county, Mo-, advising the use Of
axle grease on young trees to prevent
rabbits gnawing them, would say
don't. We killed 230 young peach
trees with axle grease one winter. and
that settled the question forever with
us. OF course there may be some par
ticular brand of grease which will not
kill the trees, but not every one can
know which it Is. Grease in any shape
is Objectionable to young trees. Hogs
liver is Objectionable to young pear
trees, causing dead spots on the bark
the following summer. We know be-
cause we have tried it. We have dis
carded everything but the paper wrap,
just common building paper, and If
properly put on will stay all winter.
1t is quickly put on and does not mold
water and Ice to injure the bark as
rags do. Then when a deep snow
falls we 60 into the orchard and scoop
the snow away from around each tree
before it settles, leaving or 4 inches
for protection to the roots. We look
upon all tree paints and washes"
with suspicion. Any coating put on
the bark is against the laws of ma.
ture. The bark is the natural pro.
lection and to protect the bark VIC
must use something which can be re.
moved during the growing season.
Again, any coating on the trunks
closes the pores and stops the forming
of wood under the cambium layer
causing SDindly stem Or fr,nl,
Soft soap is beneficial II not too strong
and applied as a weak wash. The
tree takes up the potash and the rains
wash the trunks clean, giving 1t
bright, thrifty appearance-J. H,
Brown. Fulton Co.. ILL.,, in Farmers
Review
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Crop Rotation,

Most of the farmers in this
neighborhood practice rotation when
they deem it practicable. These
rotations include leguminous crop
like clover. We generally believe that
four crops should be included in the
rotation, namely, corn. timothy, oats
and clover. The principle obstacle to
rotations including clover and corn is
too much slough pasture. We find the
very best results coming from rota,
tons. l will say, however, that most
of the farmers regularly follow the ro.
tation Of oats and corn. which is about
the poorest rotation there is. To i'm
prove the rotations would say, SOW
rape with the oats, plow under after
corn and sow rye in corn, but use
clover and timothy in rotations as sug.
gested.-M. Zmpleman, McHenry
County ILL.,
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
The Cheerful Bache ors.

With consids :able ceremony tie
Bachelors amusement Societ, of
Yorktown Pa. was inauguratsa a
few nights ago for the purpose OF
mutual defense against the blandish-
ments of the other sex.
Before the inaugural proceedings be-
gan the members received a deputa.
tion of spinsters desirous of securing
cooperation in the organization of an
old maids auxiliary league. But the
bachelors were taking no risks, and
the petition was promptly refused.
The Bachelors Amusement Society
denies the right to all members to
flirt. ogle. talk. walk or hold hands
with persons OF the opposite sex. Be-
fore candidate shall be admitted to
membership he is required to sub
scribe to the following oath: "I
swear or affirm. that will never mar
ry while member of the club, and
that will sign petition to be sent
to Congress urging the adoption of a
law limiting marriage to the healthy
and wealthy
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
PRUNING Pear Trees

w. H. Deck Of Nebraska asks:
What shall do with my pear trees
prune them the same as apple and
other trees, or less, or more, or not n,
all?"
The question is very indefinite. as
he says apple or other trees" and
that includes wide range. Also he
does not say whether his pear trees
are newly set or well-grown. The
pear tree should be pruned to keen
down the amount Of bearing wood and
to keep the top from growing too
thick. The sun should be let in
enough TO ripen the pears. Different
varieties of pear trees differ greatly.
as we see by comparing the growth of
the body of a Lincoln and Sudduth
pear tree. Some varieties of pear
trees have such perfectly shaped heads
that they are true ornaments and the
pruning should be only enough to keen
down the too great DEVELOPMENT Of
wood. Some men never prune their
pear trees. Large limbs should never
be removed unless 1t becomes abso.
lutely necessary, while small limbs
and branches may be cut of at apy
time. We would like to hear f.om
some Of our peargrowers on this n,nr
ter Of pruning pear trees.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
comps rative Growth Of Trsss.

A man interested in the growing OF
trees will find 1t instructive to study
the comparative growth Of trees In
forest clumps or in open lawns. ne
will find the one no comparison lor
the other A tree planted on the lawn
has some light on all sides OF II. IL
probably grows in diameter many
times more rapidly than the tree IN
the forest. Trees in the forests are
by nature sown thickly, sometimes
10000 seedlings, few inches nlgn'
growing on a single acre OF land. IN
the course of 12 years most OF these
are killed out and the number is re-
duced to a few thousand, but even
1000 or 5000 trees on an acre is
great many Four thousand trees on
an acre will give nearly square yard
to each tree and 1t Is not unusual to
find forests thus thickly planted. In
such a case, however, the tree re-
ceives its light mostly from the top,
and this accounts for its slow growth.
The side branches are small, and the
twigs far apart and with scant leaves
The real head of the tree is at the
top. and that may expand for only
few feet in each direction. The num-
ber of leaves is comparatively small.
The slow growth of the tree Is caused
by the fact that all food for the in
crease OF cell structure must first be
elaborated in the leaves, and these
leaves are few. The amount OF work
that single leaf can do in season
is extremely limited. 1t is not sur
prlsing therefore to learn that the
red spruce tree eighteen inches IN
diameter, growing in the forest with
other trees has required $50 years TO
reach that size. Men familiar with
the slow growing Of forest trees have
been astonished at the rapid develop
ment of trees planted in the open
Thus, maple tree given an abdn-
dance of room develops hundreds OF
thousands thrifty leaves on all sides.
Sometimes these leaves are SO thick
ly arrayed that one cannot see
through the branches of the tree. 1t
must be remembered that each leaf
Of these hundreds of thousands Is en-
gagged in celebrating material for cell
building, and that this food already
prepared for use by the tree Is sent
down in immense quantities every day
during the growing season of the
leaves. This should be a lesson to
those who wish to have good shade
trees in few years. 1t does not pay
tn crowd shade trees. Give them an
abundance of room. No maple tree
oa city lawn should be planted near
er than fifty feet to another tree Of the
same kind. Elm trees may be planted
somewhat closer, as their branches
are more open and one tree does not
seriously interfere with another Tree
in its development. The man that
wants single beautiful tree at some
point in his lawn should plant 1t
where 1t will have an abundance of
| light at all times of the day and it
will then develop symmetrically and
will grow with astonishing rapidity.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Glover as a Horse Feed,

One great objection to clover as a
horse feed is the fact that it is fire.
quently not cut in time and becomes
dusty. The formation of the plant is
such that the leaves go to pieces very
quickly II they are permitted to be.
come too dry before being cut. Glover
cut when the first blooms appear and
made into hay properly and properly
housed makes good feed for any kind
Of stock, including horses. 1t has
more substance than timothy and this
Is important III horse feed, as the
stomach of the horse is smaller than
that Of some other farm animals
Bat when clover is fed to horses II
cannot be given in as great quantities
as can timothy. One of the advan-
tagGs in feeding timothy has been
that the horse could be fed more than
he would eat and then not eat so
much as to injure him. That was be.
cause the same bulk contains less sub.
stance than does clover. Thus, the
scientific feeder knows that he must
be careful as to the amount of clover
hay fed, just as he would be careful
Of the concentrates fed. He would
not think of giving the horse an un.
limited supply Of grain Of any kind.
How much to feed Is problem that
must be worked out by the horse own.
er, for we have all kinds of horses,
engaged in all kinds of work.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06

gentlemen"
be steadily lowering your moral stand
ard. Why can't you keep your eyes
open when people give you change?
You never hear of anybody giving
counterfeit half-dollars to me. We
can't afford to lose money that way
Can't you remember where you got
it?"
mo. Probably on some street car
But never mind. No use crying over
spilled milk. I'm sorry that I'm sink
ing in your estimation. I'll try to dc
better. But you mustn't blame the
club for my downfall. The members
OF it are all gentlemen"
What are you going to do with it?'
with WHAT" This counterfeit half
dollar? Oh, III throw it away, or keep
it as pocketpiece, just to remind me
to look at my change reXt time"
let me have it. I'm going to STOP
at the butchers on my way home from
Mrs. Wappsleigh's. The cashier is such
a stupid thing that I'm quite sure
she'll never notice it. Henry, what's
the matter with you? Don't sit there
grinning like a monkey. | declare you
look sometimes as if you really didn't
have good sense Where are you
soins?"
Excuse me. dear. There's the
money. think I'll run out and see il
cant raise my moral standard 6
LITTLE inst for pra ctirn ~
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
|lIVE1
STOCK
Care Of Brood Sows,

l know nothing of the treatment of
soWs save in the extreme
corn belt. and of conditions
arising therein / will write. The
hogs are supposed to be summered on
corn and grass in the main, full ra-
ton OF corn being given from Sept. 15.
as soon as new corn will do to feed.
l am not saying that this is the ideal
condition, but it is the method that
obtains In the great pork producing
states II properly managed this
need not be at all detrimental to the
sow. Some time in November, how
ever the prospective brood sows
should be separated from the rest OF
the herd and ration less inclined to
make fat should be fed. For cheap
ness and real value know OF moth
Ing that Is superior to oats, and If
the sows are very fat l would advise
almost an exclusive diet Of oats, COM
mencing at least three weeks before
breeding. always confine my boars
and feed them oats, or almost anything
in preference to corn, till breeding
time, then l give mixed ration and
all they can eat.
The boar's condition is half the bat
tie In getting a crop of pigs On an
average boar can not get two large
iltters OF pigs a day. Still l once
owned one that was reasonably sure
lor three or four and in one day got
four litters of 81 strong pigs. The
| hog man will do well, however, to
limit to less than an average of two.
l record the date Of breeding and mum.
| per the sows by shearing figures on
them. These will show plainly till
| tney rarrow and by consulting the rec
| ora know when to expect the pigs.
l ike sows to run at large every day
and while for early pigs l use hog
| mouse, the sows are never confined As
hours. When 112 days are completed
l watch the SOW carefully and pen her
always In the same pen, letting her
out few hours each day. have
never seen strong pigs farrowed un-
Ger III days and never over 118 days,
the best pigs and the greatest number
coming 113 and ia So your can
see that it is no great task to put
forth special effort on each sow.
| MY hog house has dirt floor. 1t is
graded up inside higher than the
ground outside, SO that no water runs
IN. Hogs will never root up the bed
If 1t is kept dry, and when you see
your hogs roofing 1t is an indication
that you should put in a large supply
OF dry bedding. Sows that are healthy
can safely be fed all the oats they will
eat Immediately after farrowing. They
Will not eat much. After a few days
they should have corn, ETC., and as
soon as the pigs are strong enough to
follow they should be turned out, q
few hours at time at first, but soon
let them run all the time, sleeping in
a common bed.
can easily take care of 40 CT SO
soWs and have half the day, when the
weather is good, for other work. In
fifteen years Of hog raising I believe
have matured an average of over five
pigs to the litter from Poland China
and Chester White hogs This Is not
a great pig average, but has been
very satisfactory to me.
Cedar Co., Neb. L. W. Ferguson, Jr
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Floqqina Not Ancient Custom.

FlosSlng, in pubic and otherwise, is
not of medieval origin. In tie middle
ages ridicule and not physical suffer,
Ing was the means employed for the
correction CT wrong-do.ng. Hence the
pil.Dry, the stocks and the thewe-a
chair suspended high over the heads
of the crowd, in which women, gener.
ally scolds, were brought to sweet
reasonableness-but the whipping post
belongs to the Tudor age. The Eliz
abethan servant question was met by
fiogging girls for idleness on Sunday
morning. But it was in the Hano
veriar period that flogging was car.
ried to excess. AS late as 1904 six
women were publicly flogged in
Gloucester, England, because they hal
been found begging.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Freak of ljontnino.

Detective Delahay of the Southern
Rhodesia constabulary was struck by
lightning in recent storm, says dis
patch from Cape Town, South Africa
He was hurled to the ground insensi-
BILE. and when he had recovered con.
sciousness made his way home in a
dazed condition, all the damage that
he noticed being burned mark on
ais trousers.
Next morning he was unable to at.
tend to his duties and felt generally
lnwel. colleague then discovered
that the two outer fingers of the Off
GERS right hand were fieshless the
1oaas having been burned hare.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06

the passing boat turns in toward the
bank and before it has slackened its
pace long bamboo stick has been
raised and leaned against its side, and.
spry as monkey. the Egyptian is
scampering up its side. Toes strong
as steel and supple as rubber, an eye
as clear as crystal and a head and
neck of prodisious strength are the
for the load he balances on his crani-
um is heavy and the hold he has on
his single stick ladder must needs
be sure.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Weeds in the Corn,

find it is difficult matter
to keep the weeds down. espe.
cially in the corn field. do it
by careful cultivation and hav-
ing only about twenty acres to a man
and team. | have neither the morn.
ing glory or bind weed to trouble me
l am not troubled with any kind of
weeds in my small grain except when
get poor stand of grain. Then
weeds Of different kinds take the
place of the grain. The kind of weed
making the most trouble in our vicin.
ity is grass known as fox tail. We
do not find the state law as to obnox-
icus weed. at all effective.-G. C. Glib.
son, Morgan County, III.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06

OF all there is the beautiful Isis. fas
the Thames is called here,) the ucost
boatable of all rivers" on which shw-
ing, that Characteristic and faL,Dus
sport of Oxford, is exercised in all its
varied phases.
Nearly every Oxford undergraduate
goes in for some kind of sport. For
there is such varied list to choose
from that every one can find sport
to his liking; the climate Is such as
to require a great deal Of exercise.
and it is considered each mans bCun-
den duty to help maintain the ;tth-
letic prestige OF his college. In the
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06

| feel sure, unless possibly at Cam.
bridge. 1t begins for the .callow
''fresher" with the receipt OF invita-
tions for breakfast, luncheon, or tea
The upper class men very conscien-
tiously take this way of introducing
the new men to their college asso-
ciates, so that nearly every freshman
receives during his first term more
invitations than he can accept. most
of them coming from men whom he
does not know even by sight During
his second term, as he is not usually
expected to return these favors of
TIE upper class men. he seeks the
society of his fellow-freshmen, whom
by this time he has come to know very
well. He invites them in little groups
to his own hospitable board and is
invited in return. Thus begins that
folly sociability among the students
that forms such an attractive feature
o. college days at Oxford.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Novelist's Home in Demand,

1t is reported that the Samoan res:
dence of Robert Louis Stevenson,
Vailima, will become tourist hotel,
or it may be that it will be made the
official residence of the German rep.
resentative. A syndicate of Philadel.
phians is negotiating with the present
owner of the villa with the tourist
MOTEL plan in view. while the German
government is desirous of acquiring
the property and contemplates making
an offer
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06

performance of this duty the Americas
Rhodians have certainly not proven
laggards. Though the report that
they are all athletes is exaggerated.
they are nearly all lovers of outdoor
sport, and have entered into Oxford
athletics with great heartiness and
success. This Is not the place to
enumerate their laurels at length, but
must at least proclaim that they won
seven out of nine events in the fresh.
mtn sports, and that many Of their
number have gaiIed distinction for
themselves in rowing-a sport with
which they FIRST became acquainted at
Oxford.
Examinations.
In the scheme of instruction at Ok
ford everything depends upon exam
nations. In those courses OF study
leading to the degrees of B. A. aid
NJ. A.-and these courses are pursued
by the vast majority OF the students
two examinations are required, called
officially the first and second public
examinations. These two eXamina.
tions may be taken either in a pass
school (the term school meaning
course of study or an honor school,
or one in eacn. The work in the pass
schools is nIch easier than that in
the honor schools, and seems intended
for the benefit of those who wish to
procure degree with as little trouble
as possible. = pass degree, however,
confers little :. lory upon student. so
that all AMBITIOUS aspirants for the
q. A. and NJ. A. take it in one Of
eight final !onor schools s"-literae
humaniores. mathematics, natural
science. Jurisprudence, modern history.
theology. Oriental studies. English
language. and siterature-and accord
ing to the knowledge and ability dis
played in the final examination they
receive first, second, third, or fourth
honors To those who acquit them.
selves with unusual eclat double
first" is given. while those deemed
unworthy of fourth honors fall wholly
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Bran and Oats.

A mixture OF bran and oats
makes n good feed for almost
any kind of farm animals. Out
of these two come strong muscles and
vigor. They are frequently as cheap
as corn and as a stock feed are far
superior to 1t. For growing horses
this feed is to be strongly recon-
mended
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Bavaria Supplies Skeletons.

Trade in human skeletons, which Is
regular business with certain houses
is most active in September. when the
medical schools and colleges open for
the year. While some skeletons are
obtained in this country. the great
bulk OF the supply comes from Bava.
ria. and the price rules high or low as
the death rate In that country moves
up and down.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Merinos in Australia.

The Australians have been using
the Merino sheep to a very
much larger extent than the Amer.
leans. They are now very well
pleased with their former course,
as the demand for Merino wool
is very large and prices are high.
They have found also that the Meri.
nos herd easily, are good travellers
when the pastures are short, and stand
hardships better than many other
sheep,
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
The Walk Of the Horse.

A horseman says that the rate
at which Z horse walks Is gov.
erned largely by training. The
greater number of people, how
ever, believe that it comes as
a result OF the right kind of breeding.
A fast walking horse will produce
fast walking horse, under ordinary
conditions.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
PLY THEIR TRADE As OF OLD
{ .;yptian Water Carriers on the Nile

Egyptian Water Carriers on the Nile
Are Expert Climbers.
Few travellers on the Nile have
failed to note the native Egyptian
water carriers who ply their trade
along the great waterway of the
Pharaohs. Whatever changes have
come to pass. whatever innovations
If modern methods have taken place,
the Egyptian water carrier remains as
he was thousand years ago. Tall,
long of limb, agile and athletic. coal
black, wearing nothing but his turban
and his breech cloth, he halls every
passing craft. If they need fresh
snpply of water that is fit to drink
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
High Prices for Horses.

High prices for horses are
only obtainable for high class
stock. The man that breeds to.
gether two very commonplace an
imals need not expect to get
from that mating anything that he can
sell for fancy price. Fancy horses
do not come from such parentase.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-04-06
Stimulating Appetite.

The appetites Of animals may
be improved by changing the
feed. A variety of food seems
to stimulate the appetite. For
this reason probably better results are
obtained from feeding animals on
many foods than on one food.