davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09
THE FARMERS LIVING.

A late magazine writer attempts to
show that the average profits associ-
ated with agriculture are very much
less than those obtained by men in
other lines of business, but he entirely
overlooked one very important fact.
The salaried man, the mechanic, the
merchant and that large class whose
yearly earnings do not exceed $3.50 per
year find that house rent and house
hold supplies absorb the larger part of
their income, while the man on the
farm has his home rent free and can
with dairy, poultry, garden and or
chard well cared for secure an abun-
dance of those things free which cost
the town resident the most money.
The farm is not as general rule
properly credited with this Item of the
good living obtained directly from 1t.
Many a farmer would think that he
had struck a snap If he could secure an
$500 position in some town, when he
would very soon find out that he had
left on the farm better home and a
better living than $500 would secure
for him in any town.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09
THE MAN WITH THE HOE.

The most touching feature of Millet's
famous picture, THE Man With the
Hoe" lies not in the attitude and ex-
preston of the man himself so much
as in the style of his hoe-a crude,
heavy, awkward implement, the using
of which would soon bring any man to
the level of mental and moral degen-
eracy described in Markham's famous
poem of the same name. That hoe
marks the distinctive difference. be-
tween American and foreign methods
Of agriculture. The average American
hired man would not work half day
with such a tool. Bright tools and
sharp tools are typical Of modern
American agriculture.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09
AN ACRE OF POTATOES.


We have three inquiries, one from
New York, one from Michigan and one
from Illinois, how most successfully to
grow an acre of potatoes. The ques-
ton of soil conditions has more to do
with the potato crop than any other
crop raised on the farm. In order to
secure a maximum yield the ground
should be prepared the year previous
and should consist preferably of clio
yer sod turned under in September, a
timothy and blue grass sod similarly
treated or piece of hazel brush or tim
Der clearing. The soil should be put into
the best possible filth or mellowness.
The potatoes should be planted during
the latter part Of May in rows three
feet apart and the hills eighteen inches
apart in the row. Use only medium
sized potatoes for seed, with two good
eyes to each cutting. The drag will be
found the most useful tool for cultivat-
ing the crop, and the bulk of the work
may be done before and just after the
potatoes come up. The crop should be
plowed to good depth with a corn cul-
tivator as soon as the potatoes begin to
show in the row, no care being taken
to keep the plants from being covered,
few days after which they should be
dragged second time. During late
years the potato leaf blight has become
such serious menace to the crop that
spraying with the bordeaux mixture
has come to be looked upon as a neces-
sity. AS to varieties to plant, it is diff
cult to recommend any one variety as
superior to all others, as potatoes of a
tain localities than others. In those
portions Of the country where the grow
er cannot count upon an abundant or
sufficient midsummer rainfall early
maturing varieties will be found to
produce much better results than would
the late planted under exactly the same
conditions. In general way it may be
said that the bumper crop of potatoes
is the result of the same measure Of
intelligence and care that would in
sure success in any other line Of work.
Climatic conditions have very much to
do with success in potato raising, the
best potatoes in the United States be-
ing raised on the cut off spruce lands
of Maine, the rule being that where
corn does well potatoes will be poor
crop. Very large crops of potatoes are
also raised in Colorado under irriga-
ton, but the tubers are very inferior
in quality, being sweet and soggy. The
cut off pine lands of northern Minneso-
ia and Wisconsin furnish almost ideal
conditions for potato culture.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09
HENRY HUDSON.
Born No One Knows Where and Died
No One Knows How.

No One knows How.
Hudson must have been at least forty
when he died, but nothing is known of
his life before the last four years of it.
A certain Henry Herdson, or Hudson,
alderman of London and one of the
founders of the Muscovy company, has
been suggested as his grandfather, and
the relationship is the more likely be-
cause it is certain that some of his
name and kin were interested in the
company. 1t may have been upon their
recommendation that he was first APP
pointed to the command of q ship In
the company's service in 1907. OF his
early training and previous voyages
nothing is known. The beginning of his
history is as mysterious as its end. He
was born no one knows where, and he
died no one knows how He comes into
our knowledge on the quarter deck Of
ship bound for the pole; he goes out Of
it in crazy boat manned by eight sick
men, and so fades away into the dim
haze that hangs about the desolate ice
foes.
The four voyages of Hudson of which
we have record were not directed to
observations made by his precursors
were so untrustworthy that they were
of little service except to mislead him.
The object OF his first voyage in the
service of the Muscovy company was
ito discover the pole and to sail across
IL RI tba icIon1c Of Cpioorv on. Cafhor
and on April 10, 1907, he, with JOHN
Hudson, his son, sixteen years old, and
the ten men who made up the crew of
the Hopeful, took the sacrament to-
gether at st. Ethelburga's, in Bishops
gate, "purpOsing to go to sea four
days after" In the following year
Hudson sailed again, still in the serv-
ice Of the company. They reached the
Lofoden isles in month and rounded
the North cape on June /. A fortnight
later they encountered one of those
wonders Of the deep which the seamen
Of that time were so often privileged
to witness and describe ON June 10.
Zone of our company, looking over
board, saw mermaid. Calling up
some of the company to see her, one
more came up, and by that time she
was close to the ships side, looking
earnestly on the men. A little after
sea came up and overturned her.
From the navel upward her back and
breasts were like woman las they
say that saw herr; her body was as big
as one Of us; her skin very white, and
long hair hanging down behind, Of
color, black. In her going down they
saw her tail, which was like the tail
Of a porpoise and speckled like mack
erel Their names that saw her were
Thomas Hilles and Robert Rayner."
The only really incredible part of the
story is that no more than two men
thought it worth while to go on deck
to look at her.-W. J. Fletcher in Mac
millan's Magazine.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09
THE HIRED MAN PROBLEM.

We have farmer friend who seems
to have found happy solution of the
difficulties connected with the hired
man question by building small house
on his farm and securing the services
of a married man. Under this method
the farmer knows where his man Is
nights and he finds that the quality of
service he renders during the day is
Of a much better grade. Under this
system the housewife is also relieved
of the burden entailed in the care Of
extra men In the home. In this case
the man, who is allowed to keep COW,
some chickens and a pig, is thus bene-
6ted to as great degree as his en-
ployer
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09
WHAT THE TREE NEEDS.

The best possible conditions for tree
growth are those which nature provides
and which may be found in any unmo-
Tested tract of forest. Here we find
the ground shaded and well mulched
each fall with the years growth of TO
liage. The moisture is retained and
conserved and the surface of the
ground kept mellow and rich by the
decaying vegetation. While these de-
sirable conditions perhaps cannot be
duplicated in all places where 1t is de-
sirable to plant trees, we should still
strive to reproduce them as nearly as
possible both for our shade trees and
orchards.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

BY common consent it seems to be
agreed that three kernels Of corn to
the hill fetch the best results. This is
not always the case. If the soil is very
rich and retentive of moisture four
stalks to the hill will give larger re-
turn than three, while If the soil is
worn and the water supply insufficient
one stalk to the hill will beat either
three or four.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

If a colony of grackles or crow black
birds propose to locate in the ever
greens around your home, as they are
very apt to do, they should be discour-
aged at once, as they are extremely
dirty and noisy neighbors.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

Every grower Of clover in the north
central states realizes how very diff
cult it is to secure the first crop of
clover hay in good condition, the catchy
weather of July quite frequently
spelling the entire crop. The thought
occurs to us that the crop maturing at
this season might profitably be cut and
at once converted into ensilage. This
would eliminate all of the risk incident
TO the curing of the crop.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

Among the list Of birds which were
quite plentiful when the western prai-
RE region was first settled fifty years
ago and which have entirely disap-
peared are the small gull, the long
billed curlew, the plover and the blue
winged teal
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

Have any of our readers ever tried
the ferret as a means of getting rid Of
the pocket gopher? We should be glad
to hear from them If they have, or to
receive the details Of any other plan
that has been found successful in Grad
icating the pest.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

The proper training of horse often
represents from third to one-half
of its value; hence it is piece Of bad
management to take pains with the
breeding of colt and put it on the
market in an unfinished and crude con-
ditiOn
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

The planting of grove out on the
prairie always attracts bird life, they
seeming to prefer the shelter and food
afforded by such conditions to life in
native timbered sections.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

The cabbage growers on Muscatine
island, in the Mississippi river, are set
plants shipped from points farther
south, which, it is thought, will pro-
duce earlier heads than plants from
their own hotbeds.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

A cOmmendable sanitary precaution
which has been taken by one enter
prising western city consists in the APP
pointment of an assistant health physi-
clan to inspect all fruits and vegetables
retailed by stands and hucksters with
a view to ascertaining it's fitness for
food and the condemning Of any por-
lions which are decayed and likely to
produce disease.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

We are asked whether popcorn is a
paying crop to grow where other corn
does well. 1t is not as a general thing.
There Is often considerable difficulty
connected with drying and storing the
latter crop, while the market for it is
far away and very fuctuating. An
other fact that it is well to take into
account is that popcorn stalks have lit
tie or no feeding value.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

A poultry fancier living near Chicago
will this year raise 5000 English
pheasants. 1t has been found that
these birds do very well in confine-
ment, while it is claimed they will
bring good prices both for useful and
ornamental purposes.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

We desire information as to the sue
cess or failure of the new method of
feeding off the corn crop with stock,
which was quite generally tried last
fall by farmers in some localities, some
using steers and hogs and many others
sheep. If it is a good thing others
should know about it.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

When it forms considerable portion
of the bill of fare rice, which Is rich in
carbohydrates. should be supplement
ed by foods of high protein value, such
as meat, cheese and legumes, beans,
peas etc
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

The placing of poultry and game in
cold storage in an undrawn condition
has been found to be responsible for a
large number of cases of ptomaine
poisoning, recent report attributing
the deathly sickness of 14S people In
one locality to this one cause. An agi-
tation is on foot looking to the passage
of legislation which will prevent the
placing of poultry and game in cold
storage in the above undressed cOndi-
ton.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

Under modern scientific methods the
art of buttermaking has attained such
perfection that it is doubtful If any
better butter will ever be made than
has been and is being made. The only
trouble is that there is not enough Of
the best butter made.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

If you have one or two old black
pussies and four or five Maltese toms
running around your dooryard you
may not expect any pleasure or COM
fort from the birds that may nest
around your home for while the cats
may not get the old birds they will
surely get every fiedgeling as soon as it
leaves the nest.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

Scab in potatoes may be prevented
by placing the seed in gunny sack
and soaking it for two or three hours in
a fOrmalin solution.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

Don't burn the dead leaves, for they
make the best of all mulching and
should be. placed around the berry
bushes and fruit trees.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

Taking the country over the Holstein
COW is making dairy record which
should commend her strongly to dairy
men. She is great eater and uses her
food in milk and not fat production.
When cross is made with beef
breed-Shorthorn or Angus-and HOl-
stein COW, feeder Of no small value is
obtained. The quantity of milk given
is the chief recommendation of the
Holstein as dairy COW.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

Careful tests which have been made
go to show that of two mixers equal
ly careful and gentle with the dairy
cows the one who milks the faster
gets a greater per cent of butter into
his pail. A friend of the writer, with
view to accomplishing this result to
the greatest possible extent, had his
boys milk COW between them, one on
one side and one on the other, results
obtained going to show that the plan
worked out even in this case.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

A number of capitalists located near
Pasadena, CAL, have conceived the
rather unique idea of starting an ele-
plant ranch and raising the animals
both for pleasure and profit. The out
come of the enterprise will be watched
with considerable interest.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

Good cheese with some people seems
to depend upon getting it with just the
right degree of putrefaction and stink.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

The largest farm in the world is
owned by Don Terrazas Of Chihuahua,
Mexico. 1t comprises 100000 acres
and trains are half day in crossing
his estate. He owns 100000 horses,
100000 sheep and brands 100000 calves
annually. He conducts great slaughter
and packing houses and owns his own
refrigerator lines. He employs 10000
laborers and lives in palace worth
100000, being the richest man in
Mexico and the wealthiest farmer In
the world.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

The new variety Of fax originated
by the Minnesota experiment station
In cooperation with the United States
department of agriculture and distrib-
uted in 1905 to the farmers Of Mime
sofa has proved very valuable yari-
ETY. for the farmers of the state. A
pamphlet recently issued by the exper-
iment station giving the results OF the
1905 tests shows this new fax to have
yielded 81 bushels, or 20 per cen,
more than the common variety grown
by the farmers. These figures are
based on the results of tests reported
by eight farmers In different sections
Of the state who grew this f,ax and the
common varieties under similar condi-
tons.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

1t is useless to spray plum trees for
the purpose of heading off the curculio,
because the damage is inflicted as the
result of a sting and not a bite, as In
the case Of many other fruits. The
most successful method of controlling
this pest is to spread sheet under the
tree early in the morning when the
plums are about the size of a pea and
jar the tree with two or three sharp
blows, which will shake the beetles to
the ground, when they can be gathered
up and burned.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

A very useful as well as important
work which is being conducted by the
department of agriculture is that of
the testing of grain and grass seeds
used in different parts Of the country.
Samples sent the department are given
a thorough examination with view to
determining adulteration. The results
of the test are sent by mail to the
sender of the sample or telegraphed in
case the time is short and the need is
urgent. Several disreputable seed
swindles of this character have been
brought to light by the experiment sta
tons Of the different states.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

Being a marine plant explains why
an application of salt is always bene-
fetal to the asparagus bed.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

The wren is the most useful bird of
the entire list when it comes to the de-
struction of garden worms and insects.
There is no pleasanter or more CHEEKY
music around the home than that
which this little bird furnishes. The
sparrow seems to pre-empt most of the
natural resting places of the wren, but
this difficulty may be overcome by TAX
ing a good sized tin can or cigar box
and cutting a hole in it the size OF
half dollar and lacking 1t up under the
caves of the house, shed or barn.
From the practical standpoint this
small expenditure of time and effort
will be found to bring large returns.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

There is no state In the Union whose
agricultural interests are so well
looked after and promoted as In Kan
sas, that state having in Secretary Co
burn of the agricultural society an en-
thusiast of the first order. The chief
value and merit of his work lie in the
practical insight that he possesses
touching the agricultural needs of his
state and the admirable manner In
which he presents the results Of his ex-
detrimental work. There never can be
anything the matter with Kansas 80
long as Secretary Coburn is at the
helm. He has now In press new
treatise on alfalfa which will be Of
inestimable value to those portions of
the country In which the culture Of this
most valuable legume IL possible.
The Cairo bulletin., 1906-08-27
HUSBAND NOT DEAD.
Although Wife Twice Identified Bodies
Finds Him Alive and his Ar
rest viii Follow.

Chicago. Aug. 25,--Last April Mrs
o. p. j. Kemper Of this city, told me
police that her husband had disap'
peared. Later she Identified a corpse
found in the drainage canal as that OF
her husband. The body was buried ana
Mrs. Kempler collected his insurance
Of $4,000.
late in May the body of man was
found floating in Lake Michigan and
Mrs. Kempler declared positively that
the suit was hat worn by her hus-
band when he disappeared.
Today she informed the police that
her husband was alive in Allegan,
Mich She declared that she had been
there in disguise and talked with him
without disclosing her identity Two
detectives were sent to Allegan 70
arres Kempler.
The Cairo bulletin., 1906-08-27
ELECTION NOTICE.


Cairo, Illinois, August 10, 1906.
Public notice is hereby given that
on Thursday, August 30th, A. d., 1906,
d Special Election will be held in the
Third Ward OF the City of Cairo, IN
nois for the election of one alderman
from said Third Ward to fill the I'M
expired term OF Fl s, Antrim. reign
ed
For the purpose OF the said spec
i'll election polls will be opened at NO
1112 Washington avenue. being STU
ated on east side OF said avenue be-
tween Eleventh and Twelfth street
Polls VII be opened at 700 o'clock
a. m. and continue open until 900
O'Clock D. M, Of the said Thirtieth day
of August, 1906.
Nomination papers for said election
can be secured at this office and must
be filed In this office on or before
Wednesday August Is, 1906.
R.AHATCHER,
City Clerk.
The Cairo bulletin., 1906-08-27
THE OUTING COSTUME.
A Sensible New Tennis Dress Evolved
mo Strictly Golfing Frocks
to Be Seen.

For tennis heavy white skirts, well
cut and quite short, are the rule, with
short sleeves and low.turned collars
ruling favorites for the year. The
tennis suit proper is new idea Just
being developed, and is now being
fashioned in one piece with loose but
well.shaped waist lines, short, full
sleeves, and with skirt gored so that
the extra fulness of the hem is well
controlled above the knees
Heavy linen crash seems to be
wellliked fabric for these suits, with
trimmings of small. scarlet buttons,
and with accessories accompanying,
consisting of crash-colored scarlet
clocked hosiery, tennis shoes that
match, and hat With soft, rolling
brim, made OF stitched crash or of
panama and trimmed with scarlet
band A scarlet belt is worn occa-
sionally Boomers of silk or soft
linen are also worn with this style
frock, eliminating the necessity Of
petticoats, that are always wrapping
around ones ankles during swift
plays.
In the golfing world, dress that in
cludes strictly golfing trocks is an
unknown thing. Women revel in UNI
mated skirts and waists, observing
only the following points, to wit:
short and very full skirts; big sleeves,
elbow length, and made so as to al
low full unconfined play for the arms
during the swing, and eyes shaded by
a hat that may be pulled down upon
the head and stay there, and equip
ped with very narrow brim. For
wet days a good serviceable sweat
er is the most comfortable thing in
existence. Waists of soft, colored or
black gloria silk are worn under
these sweaters, coming forth from
the knit embraces, wrinkleless and
unframed by the contact of either
sweater or rain. The sweater itself
is nicely shaped, closeIy-ttting and
buttoning in front, and is well
equipped with snug, fiat pockets that
Will uOlu IIllddi > liJtlt VANITY hCNCS-
stiles, all OF which, by reason of
womans inconsistencies, go forth
with the links as well as the ball
room.
Red jackets are no longer the rule,
and although they are seen occasion
ally upon the links, they have great.
err legendary significance than practi-
cal value.
Skirts are now equipped with elias
tic bands run in below the hips and
buttoned there, so as to control the
fullness of the skirt. All skirts are
short, nay, above the ankles. and are
made of linens as well as wooden ma
terials. the cotton material standing
the hard service attending golf play
ing very well indeed.