davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12
Breeding Sturdy Lettuce.

Through the process of forcing"
owners of greenhouses are able to
produce crops, weeks and months
before they could arrive at maturity
through natural courses. In addition
the crop is made to develop far more
rapidly and to attain proportions
such as nature could not accomplish.
From $2,5OO,OOO to 100000 worth
of lettuce alone is forced" in the
United States each winter. Green
house gardeners in AIN endeavor to
''get rich quick" have failed to note
that this forcing was weakening
their stock until now the weak let
tuce often becomes so diseased in the
dollhouse that it is by no means rare
for a gardener to lose an entire crop
of greenhouse lettuce by disease to
which these overstrained plants are
particularly liable.
DR.. 3. T. Galloway, chief of the
Bureau of Plant Industry, in order to
correct this evil, has been working for
two seasons ON this subject and has
at last succeeded in obtaining a crop
Of winter lettuce plants immune to
the lettuce disease. at the same time
the plants are of large size and capa-
BILE of developing as early as the most
specialized of winter lettuce. This
work has involved much time and the
sarifice of thousands of plants. Seed
Of healthy winter lettuce was planted,
and at the proper time
the plants were crossed with
wild lettuce-a species free from
disease. Millions of seeds of these
cross-bred plants were sown in beds
a thousand in each-and out Of each
thousand two or three of the largest
and best were taken, while the rest
were destroyed. From these extra
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12

of the business. When a hen mouths
she stops laying eggs and no amount OF
persuasion can induce her to again
commence doing business until she is
ready. The California Experiment
Station has been making tests with the
object of shortening the moulting sea-
son Of laying fowls. Hens usually
commence moultlng in the early fall
and the plan of the California station
is to hasten this time into early sum-
mer. This is accomplished by method
of light feeding. followed with heavy
feeding. The egg-laying is stopped
and moulting is brought on by a one
half reduction of the supply of nitro
genous food, meat, middlings. and the
like. The hens, under this plan, stop
egg-laying and go to moulting. In
about month, it is claimed, the moult-
ing process is all finished and then the
ordinary feeding is resumed; the hen
then begins to lay eggs early in the
fall. The experiments of the station
have not been concluded, so that it is
still unsafe to say whether or not the
new method will prove practically sue
ceSsful.
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12

The calf and it's mother remain to-
gether for about nine months, the
mother, of course, providing food and
shelter for the younger animal. But
after that length of time has elapsed
she will try to get away. In order to
do this sic will often travel miles up
stream, SO as to leave no scent, and,
as rule, she succeeds in accomplish
ing her purpose.
The bulls have peculiar granting
sound by which they call to the cows.
A man can initiate the call after long
practice, but not so perfectly as to de-
ceive them. The only way in which this
ruse can be successfully carried out
is to make your call at the same time
that the moose make their noise. In
this manner l have called them under
the branches of the tree in which
have been sitting from distances as
great as a mile or more
The males also have an odd habit of
striking their antlers against trees,
making sound that rings clear as
bell, after which they below long and
loud. On a quiet night they can be
heard miles away This appears to be
their mode of expressing defiance and
challenging rival to contest.
Antlers No Handicap.
1t is astonishing to see them 60
through the woods while bearing their
immense branching antlers. They cal.
culate the distance between two trees
to a nicely and hardly ever strike
branch. But perhaps the strangest
part of this performance is that this
does not seem to retard their speed
in the slightest.
In the summer they seek the water
where they will not be pestered by
flies, and stay there during most of the
warm weather. AS they are not built
to reach the grass with their jaws, be-
ing very high in the forequarters, they
feed on lily pads. roots, watercress and
moose maple during the summer. The
watercress grows chiefly in deep
water, and to reach ii the moose dive
in water from ten TO fifteen feet in
depth, leaving only their heels visible
They stay under from a minute to
minute and half, and usually do their
diving at night. When they have filled
their large jaws they proceed to sort
out such parts as they want and eat
them leisurely
When autumn. approaches they take
to the rocks and high places, where
they live on yellow birch and white
willow tops. They stand on their hind
legs to reach the top of birch tree
fifteen feet above the ground, snap it
off. and then pull of the young shoots.
In the winter they sustain themselves.
on ichens, ground hemlock and white
cedar
When the snow becomes deep and
the temperature is far below zero, they
herd together in some dense cedar
swamp and trample down the snow
Often as many as sixty gather at one
time in this way.
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12
MOOSE In NATIVE WnDS.
UTTERED KING OF AMERICAN
FOREST ABOUNDS IN REMOTE
NORTHWEST REGIONS.

Senses Developed to Remarkable
Degree-Feed Partly Under Water
in Summer-Many Bulls Killed in
Fratracidal Battles.
Few people have any conception OF
the astuteness of the moose, said a sue
cessful hunter who is exceptionally
well acquainted with the habits of this
splendid game animal, in speaking of
recent trip. They possess keenness
of scent and hearing that is almost be-
yond belief, and an intelligence that is
seldom credited to them by any one
except those who have devoted consid-
cradle time to studying them and
their ways.
In the section of the country where
we were the larger part of our stay
moose were exceedingly plentiful. and
we had the finest opportunity to OBJ
serve their actions. We followed them
from one place to another. endeavor-
ing not to brighten them and all the
while noticing them very closely.
In the mating season, which COM
mences around September 20 and ends
about the middle of october. the bulls
are exceedingly vicious, while the cows
are timid and seek the deepest forests,
being easily frightened. 1t Is my
opinion that the males kill many of
their mates at this time.
The cows soon betake themselves to
some island, in order that they may not
be disturbed by wolves or other wild
animals. The moose calves are about
as homely and unsightly as anything
| have ever seen. Their heads are
nearly as long as their bodies. and
when they are three or four weeks old
they weigh about 100 pounds.
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12
THE UNITED STA
GUY ELLIOTT MITCHELL.

Farmers from time to time send in
Implaints to the Department OF Agrl-
Nlture that not only their stock, but
wen farm hands, have been sickened
and killed through the presence
Of some poisonous plant on their farms.
DO frequently have these complaints
arrived at the department that Off
rials Of the Bureau of Plant Industry,
pnder the direction of Mr.. Frederick V.
Coville, the chief bOtanist, are now
making extensive experiments to as
certain the exact elements causing this
damage.
In order to aid farmers in the detec-
ton of the most common plants found
on their farms, the department has is
sued a farmers bulletin, No. sc, en-
titled Thirty Poisonous Plants of the
United States" This gives in detail
full descriptions of the plants, the
symptoms of the poisoning, and in
many cases antidotes for the relief OF
men or animals taking in the poison.
1t would be well for all agriculturists
to keep copy of this pamphlet among
their ready reference books. The Off
Gals of the Bureau of Plant Industry
are only too glad to furnish this most
valuable farmers bulletin to all who
may apply.
Destructive to Live Stock.
Probably the most destructive pois-
onous weed in the United States is the
loco; the damage is SO extensive that
during the period between 1881 and
1885 the State of Colorado paid out
over 100000 in an endeavor to exter-
inmate the weed.
The foliage of the loco weed is not
the agent which imparts the poison to
live stock grazing upon land impreg-
mated with it, it is the roots and stalk
which contain the poison. Animals
under the influence of the stimulant go
through antics as though they were in
toxicated, their eyes become CLASSY,
they sprawl around in maudlin fashion
until, with sheer exhaustion, they fall
to the ground in a stupor. The effect
of the poison is not acute, but in its
slow progress Stimulates diseases
caused by bacteria, worms or other
parasites. The stages of a locoed ami
NAL are recognized by officials OF the
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12
WHITE LOCO WEED.

department; the first, lasting several
months, is a period of hallucination
with defective eyesight, during which
the animal may cut all sorts of capers.
Once acquiring a taste for the loco
plant the stock refuse every other kind
of food until the second stage is ush-
cred in. This second stage is linger-
ing period of emaciation characterized
by sunken eye-ballS, lusterless hair and
feeble movements. The animal dies,
as if from starvation, in periods rang
ing from a few months to one or two
years.
Various States have attempted to
adopt measures for the eradication OF
the loco weed, but so far these at
temptS have not met with much sue
cess. Colorado, a number of years
ago. offered a reward Of SO much per
ton for quantities of the loco weed
brought in for determination The
Mexican greasers, with great thrift,
started in to farm and raise loco
weeds. One of the prime reasons for
failure to eradicate this weed ty State
action has been the inability to prop
States it has been one weed which
has caused the poison, and in others
an entirely different species has re-
suited in live stock destruction.
Experiments in Poisoning.
However, the Department of Agricul-
ture is now making experiments with
various poisonous plants of the West,
injecting the subtle poisons into sheep,
cattle and guinea pigs, and studying
every symptom, until it is hoped that
some measures may be adopted by
stockmen to prevent loss through eat
ing of the loco.
But it is not only the West that is
complaining to the Department of Agri-
culture on account of the presence of
poisonous plants, for there is no Sec
ton of the country which does not
abound with some form of plant life
which is either of an irritant or poison
ous character. New Jersey recently
reported a few cases where children
were poisoned by water hemlock. Ore.
gon loses cattle every year through one
species Of cicuta Familiar to us all
is the action of poison ivy. While it is
irritable to human beings, it has no
apparent effect upon animals, horses,
mules and goats eating its leaves with
impunity A number OF people are i'm
mune to its action, but some lose their
resistant power in middle life; others
have been known to attain immunity
only through considerable exposure to
the poison ivy.
Deadly Mushrooms.
The meadows and pastures Of many
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12

There is something fascinating in the
development of tropical fruits, those
things which we can not grow in the
emperate and colder climates, where
Jack Frost is sure to reap his annual
harvest. There is the mango, for in
stance, which the Department of Ag-
riculture is growing in Porto Rico, and
the alligator pear, most delicious
tropical vegetable-fruit, the pepino, and
a score of others which will stand little
or no frost. To most persons there is
a glamOr and a fascination about the
tropics and its products. We have in
the United States no tropical section.
Frosts or chills of atmosphere are
likely to visit US at all points. In
Porto Rico and the Philippines, how
ever, are found the genuine tropical
conditions where nothing worse occurs
than the hurricane which sweeps away
every vestige of vegetation, house and
occupants; but there is no frost.
While we have taken control of
Porto Rico and the Philippines, never
theless, it is the constant endeavor OF
the home government to cross and n.y.
bridize tropical with hardy fruits so
that they will stand the cold and
frost of northern climes. The artifi-
cial evolution of the hardy orange is
an example of this.
BY selection and cross breeding,
plants can become wonderfully we'll
acclimated and as result the northern
varieties and species are gradually in
vading the southern fields, while the
northern orchards are constantly being
exclusively southern in temperament.
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12
Secretary Bonaparte, Farmer.

About Is miles from Baltimore Is
the farm of Secretary Charles j. Bona
parte of the Navy. Before The became
the head Of the Navy Department,Sec-
rotary Bonaparte used to spend SIX
months of the year on his farm. He
arose daily at $50 and always took a
look over the place before breakfast
After breakfast he would drive into
the city, arriving usually about the
time people We're getting out of bed.
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12

record Of how hens are laying, in order
to weed out the poor ones of the flock.
The station has used these nests In ex-
periments undertaken to establish
breeds of hens that shall excel as egg
producers. A description of this box,
and how to make it can be found in
farmers bulletin No. ia, of the De-
partment of Agriculture.
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12
Came as q Shock.

Flossie-"Mamma. were you at home
when l was born?"
Mamma-"No. dear, / was at grand
mas. in the country"
F1ossie-"Wasn't you awfully sur
prised when you heard about it?
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12
Eight Weeks Growth
From Seed of NezO
HYBRID and Stand.
ard Hartefy.
The Nezo Lettuce
Gyosos Very Rank.

large early and fine heads another
crop was raised, and it is from these
that seed will be furnished to the
greenhousemen of the great cities. 1t
is believed that through this work
will be saved from ruin the winter
lettuce industry, which for the last
three years has been threatened with
extinction.
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12

"My ancestors came over In the
Mayfiower," boosted Blueblood, but
it isn't generally known"
That's all right old man." said his
friend. I'll never tell. You can't help
what your ancestors didp
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12

homesteads TEEN with mushroom
growths, some of them edible and 9th
ers deadly poison. Among the latter
class the farmer has to contend with
two species, the fly amanita, or, as
some call it, the fly killer, and the
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12

Why Is ragged boy like minister
near the end Of his sermon? He's
tore'd his close.
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12

HON. CHARLES ]. BONAPARTE,
Secretary Of the Navy.
Secretary Bonaparte has never ex-
pected to make q fortune out Of his
farm, but simply supports it as
means Of recreation
Smile. sign of happiness; miss, the
cause of much happiness. Hence the
expression, a miss is as good as smile
The temperature in the Sahara Des-
ert often rises TO $50 degrees in the
daytime and sinks below freezing
point at night
"a little learning Is a dangerous
thing.
Drink deep. or taste not of the Pierian
Spring.
"And he that does one fault at first
And lies to hide, makes two"
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12
PENSIONS.

Over one Million Dollars
allowed our clients during the last
six years.
Over one T h O II 8 a n q
claims allowed through us dur
ing the last six months. Dis.
ability, Age and In.
Gre a $ e pensions obtained
in the shortest possible time.
Widows claims a speciality.
Usually granted within 90
days if placed with Us immedi-
ately on soldier S death. Fees
fixed b. law and payable out of
allowed pension. A successful
experience Of IS years and benefit
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12

To Keep Egg Records.
The Maine Experiment Station has
published description of a nest box
which is Claimed to. be simple and In:
Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12

tons have been devoting considerable
time and attention to one feature OF
poultry raising, which has been a
stumbling block in the way of obtain
ing the greatest amount of profit out
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-10-27
wrLp GEESE on M1eRAT1oN !.

At the end of March or during the
first week in April all the gray geese
in the Outer Hebrides collect in one
place before taking their departure
for their nesting haunts within the
Arctic Circle.
To estimate their numbers is impos-
sible, says the London MaiI, and to
behold this vast concourse of geese is
one of the sights of a lifetime. The
vast host of birds stands packed to-
gether in huge phalanx till the king
of the grayleg starts the fight. As
the old leader ascends 100, 900 voices
salute him, but none stirs till from
overhead he gives the call for his
subjects to follow him.
Some fifty birds rise in the air and
follow him, and as they go gradually
assume the wedgelike formation, with
three single birds in string at the
apex of the triangle, and in few
minutes are out of sight. When
they have been fairly started the
king returns, and after a few min
utes' rest he rises into the air again,
and the same process is gone through
before he leads off another batch.
Again and again he returns until
all are gone but 900 old veterans,
which rise to meet him in the air as
he flies back to them. Then, with
their sovereign at their head, these
also wing their way toward the Pole,
not to return until the following Oc-
tober.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-10-27
BE WAS ALWAYS A JUDGE.

A Southern lawyer tell of judge
of county court who had many du-
ties besides his legal ones TO perform,
but who never for an instant forgot
that he embodied the law" under
all circumstances. On one occasion
this Judge was acting as an auction
eer to dispose of the stock of retail
er who had died short time be-
fore.
While the auction was in progress
a certain bidder was the cause of a
disturbance that finally so exaspera-
ted the acutioneer that he suddenly
assumed his character of judge and
fined the offender in the sum of SIS
for contempt of court.
OF course, an application for the
remission of the fine was Immediately
filed by an attorney, on the ground
that there had been no contempt of
court. The attorney maintained that
the judge when acting as auctioneer
was not court, and was not, there
fore, liable to contempt. The judge,
who heard this application with in
creasing wrath, assumed every bit of
dignity he possessed, and, giaring
fercely at the attorney, said:
"Sir, would invite your attention
to the fact that I am the judge of
this county under any and all circun-
stances; l am, sir, the judge from
the rising of the sun to the setting OF
the same And as such, sir, let me
tell you that am always and every
where an object of contempt II
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-10-27
HOW TO LIMIT BIG FORTUNES.

Fortunes may be considered as
swollen beyond healthy limits which
yield from SIS, 900, 900 to $40, 900, 900
a year. The methods of relief some
times proposed are an arbitrary limit
to the amount an individual may ac-
cumulate; progressive taxation of
incomes, and progressive inheritance
taxes. Where should the limit be
drawn? The limitation is repressive
and is meant to be so. 1t would put
a premium upon relative ineficiency
and deprive society of the advantage
of beneficial enterprises. A progress
sive tax on incomes high enough to
accomplish the purpose aimed at has
the same disadvantages. There is
left the progressive tax on inheri-
tance. As a tax measure aiming at
revenue, I approve of it. It is easily
collected. As a measure to limit
fortunes, however, it seems to me
more doubtful. To accomplish the
purpose the rate must be very high.
A tax heavy enough would involve a
problem of administration. Even so
low a rate as 80 per cent. would
mean tax of SIS, 900, 900 for every
estate of $50, 900, 900, and there are
now many fortunes of that size.
There are said to be fifty men in
Pittsburg alone whose fortunes ex-
ceed that amount, and in the case of
some we'll known fortunes the tax
would amount to upward of $4,000
900. The greatest objection is the
encouragement which the heavy tax
alton of the wealthy will give to ex-
travagant public expenditures. .-P,yf
lanes Waiter Crook.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-10-27
THE COACH HORSE.

A horseman of experience COM
mends the coach horse as class in
good demand at profitable prices al
ways and says that a carriage horse
should be able to pull weight and
have endurance enough to continue
at fair rate of speed. The demands
of the times call for true natural ac-
tion. Boots and weights are imprac-
ticable, unsightly and inconvenient
for use on the public highway. More
over, the action should be pure and
frictionless. Horses for pleasure use
in the great cities must possess cour-
age and great endurance.
While speed is very desirable
quality, the breeder should not sac
rifce size for it. The ordinary farm
er will hardly profit by breeding
horses for speed purposes only. What
he wants is saleable-animal or horse
of general utility, and horse to be
generally useful and the class that
command the longest prices are those
that belong to the carriage type. As
aforesaid, if the farmers and small
breeders can evolve a type of horses
with nice conformation, fair rate of
speed, with plenty of substance and
size for pulling weight, and to this
add endurance and gameness, they
will find horse breeding most pro-
ftable and useful industry.