davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18

bulk and water to assist in the as
similation of the dry feeds that must
inevitably be the main dependence of
those especially who have only small
diaries and have felt that the cost of
the silo was beyond them.
To all who have only few cows,
it pays well to grow some artichokes.
The cows are very fond of them and
these ltubers are an excellent aid in
promoting health.
The tops, when properly cured for
fodder, are also relished by all grass
eating animals; so one is we'll repaid
in planting a goodly lot of them.
Sugar beets are also a fine feed and
so also are carrots and even rutabagas
and the despised turnip, if fed right
after milking; but artichokes take the
lead in all good qualities.
When feeding any root crops, be
sure the dirt is removed from them
Don't make the COWS chew grit" and
do not think anything is good enough
for them, either
Mouldy fodder, musty hay spoiled
grain, and impure water, each alone
or in combination, will not conduce
to a cows health. nor make her milk
production record breaker. Don't
ask her to feed you until you feed her
first. If you do your part, she will do
the rest.
Don't act as if you thought your
dairy herd are only Cow brutes."
This designation might do for the
cattle of the plains, but long associa-
ton with man has endowed our high
bred cows with many Of the charac-
teristics Of the human race, and we
find them with highly sensitive nerv-
Gus organization, subject to many of
the so-called "whims" of us superior
beings.
Just as kindness and gentleness
bring their reward in our everyday
intercourse with people in favors
shown by them, so do the same quail
tiles stand us in good stead in hand
ling cows. and the reward is just as
sure, for the COW shows her appre-
citation in an increased milk flow and
consequent profit to her owner.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
WHAT TRAP NESTS DO.
ley are guides to success.

They are guides to success.
They pick out the drones that we
may know the workers.
They arrest the egg-eaters, catch
ing them in the very act.
They tell us which are best winter
layers, and the number Of eggs laid
throughout the year.
| They pick out the layers Of the
brownest eggs, and the shape and
size of the product.
They make the hens tame, owing
has tendency to increase the egg
production.
They prevent crowding on the nest
and thus avoid breakage of eggs.
They enable us to set eggs from the
best layers, and in this way we in
crease the laying capacity of the
flocks.
Trap nests do not consume as much
time in their care as some writers
would make one believe. Fifty traps
can be attended to in from five tc
ten minutes, according to the convent
ence of location. If a trip is made
five or six times a day, say in the
morning when opening up the house
then four trips. between the hours OF
9 in the morning and in the after.
noon, and then when closing the
houses at night, there will in all be
consumed not much more than hall
an hour each day. That half hour.
work is more profitable than any
hours work on the farm, and wher
fully understood becomes an i1npera.
tive order.
Trap nests permit of no guess work
No other method can equal it, a.
there is no other way by which we
can learn the true condition of oul
stock as we'll as a correct report O.
what they are doing.
Truly, the invention Of the tra1
nest has revolutionized egg farming.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
Must Learn Value Of silage.

More silage will be put up this year
than ever before, and many feeders
who do not know its qualities will
make some mistakes. Probably the
most serious error in feeding silage is
due to the belief that it is a perfect
food and that animals should be given
all they will eat.
The result is they sometimes gorge
themselves, serious indigestion follows,
and the owner, not knowing what the
trouble is, believes that silage is of
no account. A little dry. roughness
should always be fed with silage for
the best results, but it need not be
an expensive hay. Alfalfa, clover or
shredded corn makes excellent rough
age for this purpose.
Not many feeders have yet become
convinced that silage is a good thing
for fattening cattle, but it is fact
that one pound Of gain can be made
from the consumption of about six
teen pounds of silage and three and
one-half pounds of corn and cob and
cottonseed meal. 1t is a fact that
some feeders have fed from twelve to
eighteen pounds of corn meal with a
larger quantity of clover hay or other
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
III O q S AAab Fr T d 5 fh gin 9

Ia finish on an animal than one
imagines. Some pigs take flesh on
very evenly, others unevenly. ga
change of fare often remedies feed-
ing evils of this kind. One pig has
been known to develope unevenness
of loin flesh when he was fed past the
finishing point. The feeders do not
always know when they have cd,
flesh enough on their hogs. Note ilE
hog in the accompanying pictured.
His flesh is not too heavy, yet he is a
great animal for a yearling. His coat
is smooth which denotes him to be
free of worms and internal disorders.
He is smooth in flesh, without
wrinkle and having won the ribbon
proves something of the feeders skill.
The good feeder knows his hog first,
then he understands that a variety of
grains well balanced are more eff
Gent in maintaining growth than q
superfluity of one. He knows the
value OF forages and the conditions
that must surround the animals hs;zsy
fatted. Time and experience are tt
teachers of intelligent feeders. Eve.
hog fitted for the ring and every r1
sent over the scales adds to the obs
serving feeders knowledge.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
to make the same gain.

rOuSnneSS TO make the same gain. Il
Cattle should receive very small
amount of silage at first until they be-
come used to it, when the amount can
be gradually increased. 1t is best to-
commence with ten or twelve pounds
per day and if cattle keep in good con-
dftion, as much as thirty to forty
pounds can be fed, provided cotton
seed meal or corn-cob meal is fed
with it.
A steer weighing about 500 pounds
can be fed about as much as thou
sand-pound steer, and he will do well
on it. For cattle on heavy feed, at
the finish, as much as ten to twelve
pounds of cotton-seed meal and corn
meal with the necessary roughage will
produce gain at very rapid rate.
Silage has been known to cause
death to horses and mules when fed
in large quantities. 1t will do no.
harm if not more than ten to fifteen
pounds per day is fed, but a larger
quantity is apt to produce disastrous.
results.
Sheep thrive we'll on silage, the best
ration being from four to six pounds
per day. They should always have
access to clover hay or some other
roughage.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
lays up loose that air may penetrate
To the MIN n {, y

lays up loose so that air may penetrate
to the plants.
The amount of material needed is
just enough to shade the plants. A
very light covering will answer the
purpose, so far as winter protection is
concerned. To retard growth of the
plants in the spring, or as a protec-
ton against summer drought, the
heavier the application, the better the
service.
AS a means of retarding the season
of fruiting, the mulch should be ap-
piled while the ground is frozen or
covered with snow. With such pur-
pose in view, it is often advantageous
to apply a light covering early in the
season, and second, heavy applica-
ton after the ground has become
frozen or covered deeply with snow.
Under favorable conditions, the
fruiting period may be delayed from a
week to ten days.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
HOG FEEDERS AND FEEDING.
Business must be Carefully Studied II
Money Ia to be Made.
CIV A. %. Burhans. J

(By "A. ~. BurnanS.)
Hog feeding has been reduced to Il
science by the stockman who puts
his faith in growing farm animals.
From the time that the pig begins to
crawl into its mothers feed trough un-
til the ribbon is won in the show-ring
or the fat hogs have topped the mar
ket, the work of hog feeding is carried
on intelligently. Pigs that begin to
crack corn and nibble at the forage
along with the old SOW need attention.
They must not be allowed to fill up on
thin swill or whey or buttermilk, for
this breaks down their digestive sys-
TENS and ruins the lines of their con-
formation If they be intended as show
or breeding animals. The down-to-
the-hour hog grower breeds for the
|show-ring and to supply the great
demand for breeding swine, disposing
of his culls on the market. This plan
gives the greatest profit to him who
can breed hogs as we'll as feed them
properly.
Getting good growth on pigs is
something besides throwing swill in
to the trough and hard corn on the
feeding floor! Yes indeed! Too often
in his zeal to force the young pig to a
nasty finish or size for show or sale,
the farmer breaks down his pigs
stomach and intestines with a loose,
sloppy feed. GOOD clover and alfalfa
forage with ground oats, some crack
ed corn and sweet swill in modera-
ton push the pig fast enough-as
fast as he can stand 1t. The alfalfa
plant will put moro growth into pigs,
keep their blood cool and clean, make
larger, stronger bone and better mus
Gle than any other one feed. It will
not destroy the trim body lines Of a
perfectly developing pig, but will aid
any other feeds in making the
Iyoungster thrive.
The finishing of hog for showing
is the great test Of the feeders skill.
Many are the pigs that have taken
defeat because Of poor feeding. And
a few of these have been taken in
hand by others and successfully
showed a second time. all Of which
proves that there is more in feeding
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18

plant protruding an inch or more
about the surface, the broken ends of
it's roots exposed to view. Plants are
often thus killed outright or left prac-
tically worthless.
Now, it is commonly supposed that
the injury mentioned above is the only
one to which strawberry plants are
subject when left unprotected. If this
were true, then it would not be neces-
sary to apply the mulch until spring,
during which time the greater share
of alternate thawing and freezing
soils which do not honeycomb under
the influence of frost.
Nevertheless, the more familiar we
become with the strawberry plant and
it's habits and the conditions that ex-
list where the plants grow wild, the
more firmly are we convinced that this
is an erroneous view.
There is a general lack in the es-
sential information necessary to form
correct idea in regard to the mat
/ ter.
By nature and habit, the straw
berry plant is an evergreen. Unlike
the bush fruits, it does not ripen its
vegetative growth and cast its leaves
with the coming Of autumn, but will,
if given protection, remain green, in
a dormant state, waiting for the COM
ing of spring, when it may again take
UP the process of life.
Leaves that come out bright and
green will begin work in the spring
where they left off in the fall
On the other hand the 1aavaS
and crown of the plant are left ex-
posed to winter sunshine, the moisture
in the leaves will evaporate. and as
cut off because of the frozen soil, the
leaves shrivel and die.
Plants with leaves practically dead,
will often put forth new leaves in
the spring, but such plants never show
the vigor Of those given protection.
Having decided in favor of winter
protection for the strawberry bed,
there arises the question of mulch
ing materials, and time and manner
of applying.
AS to the material, anything that
will shade the plant and ground from
the sun will answer the purpose. Gen
orally speaking, the coarser and freer
from weeds and grass seed, the better.
The most satisfactory job of mulch
ing we ever did was with marsh hay
applied before the ground had frozen
Any kind of straw is good for the pur-
pose, but trouble is likely to come with
| it. because of the seeds of grasses and
weeds.
Corn stalks will answer the purpose
and admirably SO, if shredded Pulp
from cane mills may be used; also
the leaves from forest trees. Leaves
will need to be held in place by q
sprinkling of earth. This mulch may
be applied any time after the ground
has begun to freeze, or even before, ii
the material is spread thin enough OF
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
FINE FOR SHEEP.

F. : r. y /. . q q
Nebraska has numerous sugar beet
factories, and the feeding of sheep on
beet pulp has become a large and
profitable business. One firm has for
several years been quite extensively
engaged in feeding pulp to sheep, and
after numerous experiments adopted
the following formula for a ninety
days feed, which is giving satisfac-
tory results:
The sheep are started on six pounds
of pulp per day per head, with alfalfa
hay. This in ten days is gradually
increased to twenty pounds, when
one-fourth pound of corn per head
is added per day.
At the expiration of thirty days
there is an increase to one and three
fourths of ground corn mixed in with
the pulp, and a decrease of pulp to
fifteen pounds per head per day, as
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
Pick Out Your Sows.

Farmers complain good deal Of
the small litters narrowed by some
Of the breeds of improved hogs. DH
it ever occur to our readers that this
may be due in part at least to the
general habit Of waiting until breed
ing time to select the gifts that are to
be bred, and then selecting those tina
look the best to the eye? Is not tn
tendency to produce large litters her
editary? Will not gifts selected from
large filters be more likely to in tur,
produce large filters than those fror
small filters? BY the method no,
generally followed in the selection O
the young brood sows the choice Il
more likely to fall on the gifts from
small litters than ON those from largt
ones, for the very simple reason tina
they had more milk from the SOW
and consequently a better start and
usually look better in the fall and
early winter. We believe that If moro
attention was paid to this matte,
there would be less complaint about
small litters.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
King Road Drag.

five miles of road in good condition
all the year round, and they will not
have to put in more than ten days
each during the time.
The Improvement in ordinary dirt
roads by the use of this drag is be-
You'd the belief of people who have
never seen it. The road shown in the
illustration, over which three tons of
cotton can now be drawn by two
horses was previous to the use of the
King Road Drag, almost impossible
during the winter season. At the worst
season of the year it would require
ten horses to draw three tons over this
road.
D.. Ward King. of Maitland,
Missouri, has done more for the good
roads movement in this country than
any other man. He manufactured
nothing to sell, and his work is, there
FORE all the more commendable.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
DAIRYING FOR PROFIT

With tn coming of cool weather
many believe that strenuous measure.
20 secure cleanliness In the dairy are
40 longer needed, and content them.
ielves by giving the different utensils
.sed "a lick and a PROMISE"
Those who do this are the ones who
complain that "it is hard to make
rood favored butter in winter OF
my cream Is bitter, the cows mus
Be eating something that spoils the
milk"
The truth is, the off flavor of the
iairy products may be traced to lack
Of care in keeping everything scrup-
nlously clean; for remember that the
same bacteria that sours and other.
wise spoils the milk in warm weather
have relations that work very hare
to gain foothold to faint the milk il
winter, and they want no better en-.
little neglect on the part of the one
who has charge Of the dairy
There is no better method, at al
times Of the year, to secure perfect
cleanliness of dairy utensils, than tc
first wash away all traces of milk with
luke warm water (hot water coagu-
lateL the milk and causes it to stick
making it very difficult to remove)
then wash in warm water in which
has been dissolved enough salsoda OF
concentrated I've to give the water a
slippery feeling and rather sweetish
taste; experience soon shows how
much to use.
No exac quantity can be given, as
the water has much to do with the
amount required. In both these wash
ings, be sure to reach every portion
of the surface, for remember that II
Is in the little crevices the bacteria
Turk. Next scald in not hot, but boil
Ing water.
A very large dishpan or small tub
Is nice for this purI ose as everything
can b. immersed. Do not wipe, but
hang or set on a clean surface where
there is free circulation of air, cover
with a light weight cloth to protect
from dust and flies; and the job is
done.
Many who pride themselves on be-
Ing rp-to-date in most matters con-
nected with the dairy make a practice
of cleansing the cream separator only
once a day in cool weather, being con-
tent to Flush OUT the tank and bowl
viii some warm water before using
the second time after washing. This
Is a poor practice, for aside from the
objectional features connected with
the lack of cleanliness, no one could
expect a machine to do its most per-
feet work clogged by the accumula-
tons of the previous using.
To wash every part after every u.s.
Ing in all seasons is O paying invest.
ment of time, and consciousness Of
work we'll done is also satisfaction.
AS the cows are beginning to fee
the want of the succulent grass they
have feasted on. it is to be hoped
that something has been provided tc
take the place of the pasture. Those
who have no silo surely have pump.
kins or some root crop to help out.
Is For the autumn and up to Christ.
mas. pumpkins make an excellent par
OF the daily ration. To be sure thei1
water contents is large; SO is that Of
the most nutritious grasses; but they
the grasses. produce the best milk
Tow, and the pumpkins approach the
value of grass in that they furnish
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
the regular full feed with one and

the regular full feed with one and
one-half pounds of alfalfa hay.
This course of ninety days feeding
gives an average gain Of twenty-five
pounds per head. The same sheep
on pulp and hay alone will give an
approximate gain of fifteen pounds
| in ninety days. Some are very fond
of the pulp, and it requires care in
getting them started onto full feed.
The sheep is natural vegetarian and
delights in INDUCING its appetite in
all kinds of root crops, beets, tur-
nips, carrots, parsnips and potatoes.
Sheep will stand a good deal of
neglect, but it does not pay in the
end.
When lambs are dropped early,
good warm stables are absolutely nee
essary. Lambs dropped in late April
or early May will not require warm
stables, but the ewes must have shell
ter from rain.
Beets, potatoes, beans and some
other crops are great soil robbers and
there is no better way to keep up
fertility than by having flock of
sheep on the farm.
Not few shepherds practice warm
ing chilled lambs by putting them up
to their necks in water nearly as hot
as one can bear their hands in. They
claim this has done the work when
wrapping them in warm cloths and
putting in ovens had no effect.
In all small focks it will pay and
pay well to go over the young lambs
every night and morning and look
for lambs that are not we'll pumped
out, and fill them with warm milk
from a fresh COW, if possible. Care
must be taken not to overfeed. A
little at time is what makes lambs
thrive.
Some breeders claim that rape is
more easily grown than cabbage and
will answer the same purpose for
sheep in the barn
/ clear, pink skin is a sign that the
internal organism is in good condi-
ton. 1t has been stated that sheep
with pink skins are better feeders
than those with pale or dark skins
A clear fleece goes with a clear, pink
skin
The eve that raises good, strong
twin lambs each season is much more
valuable than the one which raises a
single lamb. Great Improvements can
be worked out along this line If Sc
lection of twin eve lambs are con-
stantly made and then mated with q
twin or triplet ram. 1t is fact thai
some breeds do not show many twins
but with the Shropshire and many
4 other good breeds, this matter of twin
breeding is becoming almost univer.
sal.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
TO CARE FOR ROSE BUSHES.

This is the way care for my rose
bushes in winter:
Take any old mating that is partly
worn and wrap it about the plants.
1t will protect them, at the same time
allowing sufficient air to pass through
to prevent dampness and mould and
rot. 1t Is not well to cover plants
too closely. They need some air to
keep In normal condition. Roses are
harder If kept on their own roots,
as grating weakens. Do not mulch
your plants until there is danger of
very cold weather, as it keeps the
plants too tender to mulch early in
the season. Let them harden in the
way nature intended they should as
long as possible.
MRS. JAY LAWSHE.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
Always shreds Fodder.

With the right kind of manage
ment and help, it costs only about 20
cents per acre more to shred fodder
than to harvest it in the usual way
and this being the case. pays. think
1t is worth nearly as much for cattle
as timothy hay. OF course, timothy
Is not clover or alfalfa, but we all
value it highly. If shredded corn will
give as much good feed as timothy
to say. nothing of it's value as man
ure, is it not waste to let it be used
in the usual way? Fed with alfalfa
oil meal or clover, shredded corn
makes ideal feed. A. P. CIRCUIT.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
WINTER WORK ON THE ROADS.
BY the Use of the King Drag, High
ways May Be Kept In Good
Condition.

We intend to keep on printing pie
lures of the King Road Drag and
urging farmers to adopt it in making
country roads until every highway in
this section is in first-class condition
1t may take years, but we will never
let up on this important proposition.
The King Road Drag has been
described so often that detailed
description is not necessary. 1t is
made of two logs fastened together
with log chain, as shown in the
engraving. 1t can be made by any
farmer at a cost of $500 and two men
using it at the proper time can keep
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
Pasture Your Stalk Field.

Why rent your stalk field to your
neighbor? His cattle will nearly al
ways prove a nuisance, in one way
or another, getting into places where
they do not belong, breaking through
fences and tramping up the ground
late in the spring. If your neighbor
can afford to pay you for the use of
your stalk field, be sure it will pay
you better to pasture there with your
own cattle, If you have other feed,
even If you have to buy them on
credit.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
MULCH THE STRAWBERRY BED
ON. N. Edgerton. )

A point in strawberry culture more
often overlooked and neglected than
any other is that Of winter protec-
tion.
Briefly stated, the reason for mulch
ing is this: strawberry plants are in
jured by the alternate freezing and
thawing incident to the winter and
spring months
Freezing expands the moisture in
the soil. This slightly raises the sur
face of the ground, which in turn, ex-
erts lifting force upon the plant.
The root system being held in a frozen
soil, some of the finer roots and root
lets are broken. Upon the thawing of
the soil, its surface settles to it's origi-
nal position, but not so the plant.
A continual repetition of this pro-
cess often leaves the crown of the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18

In the hog house shown in tho
Illustration, the troughs slope from
the outside to a perpendicular wall
inside the partition, so the feed is
all carried to the spot where the hog
can easily reach it.
Any farmer who has studied con-
crete construction can build one OF
these houses, but it would be cheaper
to have a mason lay out the plan and
direct the work.