Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-12-12

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CORRESPONDENCE n ~ A
Too much underdone, bread and too
much overdone mortgages are war
ranted to give any man the dyspepsia.
1t is wise man that is sharp enough
to sell his produce when the prices are
going up rather than when they are
falling.
Potatoes are not the best ration for
the dairy COW. They make the butter
colorless and dull and also affect its
keeping qualities.
A long step will be taken toward the
redemption Of the Russian peasants "
the contemplated plan Of distributing
20,00o000 acres of the crown land
among them is put into execution.
Old world thrift is in no way more
nicely illustrated in comparison with
American prodigality than in the fact
that the foreigner cuts his cord wood
into four pieces, while his new world
cousin in the next door yard makes 1t
three
IT'S hard to please some men, as
testified by the fact that one whom
we know, with nearly half a section
of land, a fine home, pretty wife,
good barns and hundreds Of heads Of
cattle and sheep and hogs, remarked
to us that he often felt that he would
be better off In town.
We know Of young farmer whose
wife has piano and cook stove. On
the former she is quite proficient. but
as a cook she is most inefficient. The
most effective harmony which can
come to any home arises from the art
of good cookery rather than from the
power to make a sweet combination of
notes.
AS cold weather comes on people
are prone to shut up their houses al
most to the point of suffocation, for
getting that ventilation, or, at least, an
oh Of a iC a M
sary in winter as in summer The air
is even more quickly exhausted dur
ing the winter on account of tho fire
and lights.
There are several localities in which
the organization of reading and study
clubs among the farmers wives has
met with much success, resulting in a
needed change from the routine Of
household duties and in both interest
and benefit to the members. Meetings
were held once a month and in homes
most conveniently located.
In cases whore wooden or other
shields cannot be readily obtained a
good way to protect the trunks Of
young orchard trees from rabbits and
mice is to rub them thoroughly from
ground to limbs with some good strong
soap. An occasional inspection will in
dictate whether the operation needs to
be repeated. This is sometimes the
case as the result of prolonged and
heavy rains.
So intensive culture Of the land Is
followed In the Japanese empire that
lines separating the estates Of land
owners are imaginary and not fences,
as in this and some other countries,
which throw a three or four foot strip
of land out of cultivation, occasional
landmarks only being placed to mark
the limits Of ones property. The I'M
productive and cumbersome fence and
posts must give way to grain or fruit
or productive tree.
Following out the tendency of very
generally recognized economic law, the
high prices of lumber of all kinds and
grades is resulting In substitution of
other materials where possible, and
this is particularly true Of cement.
Thus are at work influences that will
not only result in a decreased demand
for lumber products, but also lower
price, but which will tend to preserve
the forest areas of the country from
complete denudation.
A friend took US into his cellar the
other day. He felt justly proud Of his
harvest returns and wanted us to see
them. The carrots, beets, squashes,
turnips and potatoes certainly did pre-
sent nice appearance, but the best
part of all was the neatness and COM
pactness of the place-no struggling,
mixed up heaps upon the floor to en-
danger your life every time you went
down cellar. Every box and barrel
was accessible and convenient at any
time
Each year much good farm machin-
cry goes to waste for want Of proper
care and protection. Why is thisi
Negligence, lack of time and poor man
agement may be good excuses, but
poor reasons. The man who sells the