davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

80; 49,
ezSltY6Y1ES KING CORN ANR%&M
SR49k@s How the Can Double His
80 s'~ Great American Crop. - >sM 4,
KING CORN.

Corn planting timel The United
States this year will have over 10000
600 acres planted to this king of yrops.
For this enormous acreage $1,000, 900
bushels of seed will be required.
Probably but little thought is given
by the average farmer to the germin-
ating quality of the seed used, for he
has so long been accustomed to get
ting a stand" under ordinarily favor
able conditions, varying from 60 to IS
per cent, that many have come to
think a more complete stand impos-
sible. Yet experiments have shown
that barring unfavorable weather at
planting time, the work of grubs, wire
worms, and the like, there is no rea-
son why stand of corn should be less
than So per cent. OF recent years, how
ever, conditions have much improved,
and never before has there been such
demand for seed corn of high vital
ity. Some of our best farmers are be-
ginning to realize that one Of the great
est factors in profitable corn produc-
ton is the use OF seed which will show
a high per centage of termination.
III each corn grower would give a lit
tile time during the early spring to the
testing Of the seed, the vitality of each
individual ear of corn intended for
planting could be readily determined. |
The poor ears could then be discarded, !
and the millions of bushels of seed |
corn which fail to grow each spring |
could be very profitably converted in
to pork and beef OF the $4,000, 900 |
bushels Of seed corn which will be
planted this year, it is almost certain
that from two to three million bushels,
or nearly 20 per cent. of the corn first
planted, will fail to grow as a result |
OF the low vitality of the seed Thou
sands of acres will have to be replant- |
ed either in their entirety or in part,
and many thousands more will grow
to @aturity with an imperfect stand
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

The statement is made by officials OF
the Department of Agriculture that
while corn breeders have achieved
marked success in the production OF
improved types Of corn during the last
decade, unless the farmers take better
care of their seed corn and test each
ear separately, preparatory to planting,
the chances are that the average yield
of corn per acre in the United States
will not be materially increased.
In our principal corn-growing States,
corn is planted in hills 31a feet apart
each way, giving 1855 hills per acre.
In most sections three stalks to the
hill is considered perfect stand; m
some States, two is the standard. Yet
If each hill would produce but one
medium sized ear, 6 or inches in
length and weighing trifle more than
ounces, the yield for each acre would
be 2SS bushels, the average yield per
acre In the United States in 1905.
A single ear of corn to the hill the
size shown as A in the illustration
would give an average of 2S.S bushels
to the acre; single cal shown as B
would give 30 bushels per acre; an
ear such as G would produce 40
bushels per acre; an car such
as d would yield As bushels per acre;
while en- ear like e, which weighs
trifie less than pound, would yield so
bushels of shelled corn per acre, count
ing only one such ear for each Of the
3,556 hills There are, however, very
few farmers who raise as much as so
bushels of shelled corn per acre. Yet
every corn grower can probably pro-
duce many ears which are larger than
that shown as r in the cut Eliminat
ing, however, both ears d and e and
granting that every farmer could har
vest from each Hill two such ears as
the one shown as G. an ear which is
less than 81 inches long, and weighs
1916 ounces. the yield would be so
bushels of shelled corn per acre. Are
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04
JOURNALISM IN CHINA.
Dialect Newspapers Increase Gulf
Between PROVINCES.

United States Consul Anderson, a
Annoy, has made a report on journal
ism among the Chinese. He says:
1t is rather surprising, in view o.
the comparatively small population
OF foreigners in China, how many
large publications there are in foreign
languages. The prices they obtain fol
their publications and their work
probably explain the situation
Shanghai has five daily newspapers
three morning and two evening pa
pers; one is French. 1t has six for.
eign weeklies, one German. 1t also
has four Chinese dailies and a large
number of Chinese weeklfes.
Practically all of the foreign pa.
pers sell for 4l1 cents gold per copy.
The subscription price is about SIS
gold per annum, postage extra The
Chinese dailies sell for about u cent
gold per copy. In addition to these
publications there are many religious
papers, mostly in Chinese, published
by the mission authorities.
I'm the south Hong Kong domi.
mates the publication business, and
as it is a British colony, English publ.
cations might reasonably be expected
to lead, but on the face of the record
the Chinese predominant. There are
four English dailies, the Post, the
Press, both morning papers, and the
Telegraph and the Mail, both evening
papers.
There are six Chinese dailies, and,
as in the case of Shanghai, there are
a large number of publications de-
signed to fill various wants in South
China, a Portuguese weekly and the
Government Gazette being among
them. In nearly every port of inn
portance in China there is an English
publication of some sort.
The publication houses, as a rule,
both newspaper concerns and con-
Germs for general printing only, are
fairly well equipped for their work.
Some of them attempt work in the
line of high grade magazine and book
publishing, and while it is not always
an unmixed success from a technical
typographical standpoint, it demon
strates that the Chinese workmen,
who do most of the work under for
eign supervision, will in time &C
quire considerable merit in this line
of effort.
1T is rather interesting to note
that China at present seems to be
passing through much the same pro-
cess with its newspapers and other
that many parts of the
United States have passed through.
All over the empire native newspap-
ers are being started in the collo-
quail dialects, and are more or less
local in character
1T is unfortunate in many re-
spects that the publication of news |
papers in the several local dialects |
has developed so generally. While |
such publications win afford means
Of educating the people of the en-
pire in some lines, they also furnish
the means for deepening the CULTS,
dividing the several provinces which
differ in dialects. Each newspaper
center, if it performs it's natural mis-
sion, will develope its own language
n its own field to the exclusion of
language which might in time be-
'ome common to all China"
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04
WHAT MAKES THE CORN AVERAGE Low.

suspended in some suitable place and
there need be no fear of the ears be-
ing mixed while the termination test
is in progress
The kernels in the testing box
should begin to terminate freely a.
bout the third or fourth day, but the
counting should not be done until the
the shoots or stems are from to IL
inches long. This part of the testing
must be done with considerable care
and requires good judgment, as kerr
nels will be found in all stages of de-
velopment. If the six kernels in any
one square in the terminating box
show six good healthy sprouts, the ear
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04
OLDEN DAYS OF WILLING.

The days of the old-time whaling
fleets when more than two hundred
full-rigged ships sailed out of New
Bedford harbor on three and four
year voyages to the most distant and
| dangerous seas, were over more than
half century ago. The right OF
Greenland whale of the Arctic waters
with his mouth full of whalebone and
his cousin. the sperm whale of tropi-
cal waters, bearing in its head the
precious spermaceti were practically
exterminated by those all-daring, iron
nerved, keen-eyed Yankee shippers.
Their splendid ships, the Annie b..
the Mary Jane, the Blue-Eyed Susan
great lovers of their wives and sweet
hearts, were this race of gentlemen ad-
venturers-rotted at the wharves or
were degraded to service as coastwise
and with them vanished a world of
romance and adventure. No men, in
no time, more truly than they, went
down to the sea in Ships.
But when the pennant of the last
old-time whaling ship was hauled down
forever, there still proudly swan
the oceans the vast rorqual or racer
whale, greatest of all his mighty kin.
To the sailing fleet of the old days, the
rorqual was an almost impossible prize
because of its tremendous speed. 1t
was practically unmolested, and null
tiplied exceedingly in both North At
lantic and Pacific waters.
1t was the abundance Of this levi
athan, measuring ninety feet in length
and. weighing almost aa many toms
bulking larger than a whole herd Of ell
ephants-which was the inspiration OF
the modern whaling industry.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

schools and at home that manual
labor is not honorable. There is no
reason why farm life should become
monotonous to any one residing with
in the boundaries of ordinary civiliza-
ton. The rural mail carries the daily
papers and magazines to the farm
door yard; telephones place the farmer
in direct communication with the out
side world; railroads open the channels
of trade to every commercial port
yet there Is life of monotony on
many farms. The places are not i'm
proved, the owners follow the fashions
Of their forefathers. they do not
adopt new methods in any line and
their children become discouraged.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

there any corn growers who can not
produce the equivalent of at least two
such ears TO every hill? How many
grow so bushels of shelled corn per
acre?
The time required to test individual
ears for vitality is very small when it
is considered that II or Is ears will
furnish enough seed to plant one acre.
Experiments have shown that if a few
kernels preferably six are taken
and all are found to terminate we'll
that is, to produce good healthy sprouts
practically all of the kernels on that
ear will likewise show strong vitality
On the other hand, if the part of all of
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04
BICYCLES ON THE WANR.
Over Three Times as TIany Fac
tories. In 1000 as at Present.

Statistics furnished by the Census
Bureau at Washington show a marked
decrease in the manufacture of BIZ
cycles. Since 1900 the business has fall
len off 65 per cent, the number of
establishments being reduced from S12
to 81.
Formerly there were 2,034 salaried
officials and employees Of the facto-
ries where now there are only $50. The
falling off in the number of wage earn
ers was 81 per cent, The capital in.
vested in 1900 was SOS, 1888, $50, where
as in 1905 it was $5,S47. 500.
The production in 1900 amounted to
nearly 100000 bicycles and was re-
duced in the five years to little over
100000.
In contrast with these figures, the
motor cycle factories increased from
159 to 2,2S9
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04
TESTING RACK.

It. seems incredible of realization,
that the average yield of corn in the
United States in 1905, when the total
production was the largest in our his
tory, was only 2S.S bushels of shelled
corn per acre. 1t is still more sur
prising to know that the average pro-
luction per acre is practically the
same to-day as it was forty years ago.
In fact, the average yield per acre for
the ten years from 1866 to 1875 was
2607 bushels as compared with 25,2
bushels for the ten years from 1896 to
1905. While there are several rea-
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04
Remarkable Results of Government
Tests.

The Department of Agriculture re-
Gently made tests of seed corn fur
nished by farmers in the corn produce
ing States, and of the 1922 ears tested,
1,906, or the startling percentage of
more than one-half, were unfit for seed.
These samples were taken from ears
picked for seed by good, careful far
mers, and are evidently much above
the average. The average termination
Of the 1906 poor ears was only TIT
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04
Better Now Than Not at All.

termination tests should be made
five or six weeks before planting time
but even if it is necessary to stop the
pillow in the field, it is far more prof.
table to have a good stand of corn on
19 acres than it is to have poor stand
on 20 acres, thereby saving the time
and labor necessary to prepare the
ground and to plant and cultivate the
additional acre. Yet many farmers are
every year planting and cultivating 3
or acres in every 90, for which they
receive comparatively no returns
In making the tests it is essential
that each ear tested should be given
number and all kernels taken there
from given a corresponding number
so that after the tests the faulty ears
may be thrown out.
Many kinds of terminating boxes
and methods for testing seed corn have
been described in various publications.
but the Department of Agriculture has
designed simple box which is be-
lieved to combine most of the advan-
tages, and give good results in the
hands of almost any operator. The box
would be about IL or 2 inches deep
inside and the length and width such
as to suit the needs of the individual
farmer, but it should not be made wa
ter-tight Instead of filing the box with |
sand, soil, or sawdust, as is commonly |
the seed bed is made
Of heavy canton flannel or similar ma
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

which they represent should be taken
for seed. There will also be cases in
which all six kernels have terminated
but will be lacking in vigor. While
these kernels might produce a good
ear of corn, the chances are that they
will never develop, or else will produce
but barren stalk. 1t is only necessary
to remember that all ears showing
dead kernels or weak and poorly devel-
oped sprouts must be discarded and
only those used for seed in which
every kernel tested has given a good
healthy sprout. The ears which have
shown a perfect termination are now
ready to be butted and tipped and
shelled for planting. In order to in
sure further uniformity in planting it
is advisable to sort the ears before
planting into two or three grades, ac-
cording to the size of the kernels.
This grading may also be done by
screening, If more convenient.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

samples tested are representative Of
the present supply Of seed corn, the
testing Of every ear and the subsequent
rejection of poor ears viii increase the
stand 1871 per cent This increased
stand would mean an increased yield
of 2yS, 40 695 bushels. with a value of
OO,7Ss,912.91 calculated on the basis
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

tom of the terminating box. The kerr
nels from ear No. are then placed,
germ side up, In square No. ! and so
on. When all of the squares have been
filed, fold the ssiier end Of the cloth
carefully over the kernels. If during
the sampling the cloths have become
dry, sprinkle them well with water
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

per cent, while the average germina-
ton Of both the good and the poor
ears, the seeds of which would ordin-
arily have been used for planting, had
not these tests been made, was S6.3
per cent. showing that 1877 per cent.
was gained by discarding ears of low
vitality Granting, however, that the
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

the kernels tested fail to terminate or
show only weak sprouts, the proper
ton will be the same for all of the kerr
nels on such ears. And the experienced
corn grower will be not a little sur
prised to find many fine looking ear
of corn among his selected seed, the
kernels of which will not sprout at all
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04
COMMON DINNER PLATE FOR SEED
TESTERS.

TESTERS.
of the average yield and price for the
last ten years.
A full description of how to make
tests is found in Farmers Bulletin No.
253, by ]. w. T. Duvel, which can be
had from Members of Congress or the
Secretary of Agriculture.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

At least one American has sue
ceeded In London Journalism. Ralph
D. Blumenfeld, late of Milwaukee. is
the editor of the London Express.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

Artificial pumice stone is now made
from a mixture of sand and clay.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

About one billion feet Of timber in
the Black Hill forest reserve has been
killed by the Black Hills beetle.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04

New Zealand exports annually &65,-
100000 worth Of kauri gum. 1t Is
used in the manufacture of varnish.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-05-04
A SIMPLE TERMINATING BOX.

terial, using two or three thiclnesses
of cloth in the bottom of the box and
one or two thicknesses of cloth for
covering the kernels after the frame
has been filed The cloth at the bot
tom should be marked off into squares
2 inches each way, and numbered, each
one of which is to be filed with kerr
nels from ears which are given num-
Der corresponding to the square used.
A Very Simple Test.
For use, first wet the cloth thorough
ly by soaking in water, and then place
the half cloth, double thickness, which
has been marked in squares, in the bot
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-11-30
ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS.
Each Part OF the Larger Ones In
Nude by speelnIista.

Each Part OF the Larger Ones In
Made by Specialists.
Artificial flowers were invented by
pious nuns. In the Italian converts
the affairs and shrines were up to the
end of the eighteenth century decorat-
ed with artificial flowers, laboriously
put together, Of paper, parchment and
other stiff materials. In a Venetian
warehouse the most wonderful pro-
ductions OF natural flowers are ex-
hiblted In glass cases, and In many
cnses, not only the richest and most
brilliant coIors. but the very scent Of
the flowers has been stolen from ma
ture, for some OF the artificial flowers
nre stepped In the perfume distilled
from the flower which It represents.
Last century Swiss invented a ma
chine for cutting out the leaves and
petals, but It can only be used for the
smaller kinds, such as are wanted for
hyaeinths, lilies Of the valley and 9th
er small flowers. In larger petals the
irregularities Of manual work are pre-
ferred to the stiff and correct forms
prodpced by machinery. This material
Of which the petals are made is woven
In special factories. The scissors and
other tools used by the girls employ
ed as we'll as the presses In which the
veins are traced on the leaves are Of a
shape specially adapted to the work.
Each part Of q flower is made By spe-
cialists. In one room, for instance,
only stalks OF flowers and leaves are
made; in another, fruits and berries Of
all kinds are cast II they are wax or
blown II made Of glass. The clever
est workers nrO employed In making
blossoms of the single petals and bou-
quets, wreaths and garlands Of the sim
gle biossoms.-Dundee Advertiser.
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-11-30
THE EYEBROWS.
Some superstitions aud odd beliefs
Concerning Them.

Some Superstitiona aud odd beliefs
Concerning Them.
Notwithstanding their lnconsrlcuous-
ness, the eyebrows have Ecen the cen
ter of q certain amount Of lore and
even superstition. But the chief point
at which superstition or folklore is
found In this Connection Is In those
cases, not lnfrcquent, where the eye
brows meet Everywhere this meeting
OF the brows has been held to be omi-
nous IN ono way or another.
In some of our southern counties
folks say that It Is good to have such
brows, for the possessor will never
have trouble; but this is a rare inter
probation. AS a rule, the meeting
brows are held to be Of evil omen.
Renders Of Charles Klngsley's 1.-TWO
Years Ago" will remember Mrs. Har-
vey's face, which had been handsome
and was still clever; but the eye
brows," continues Kingsley, "crushed
together downward above her nose
and, rising high at the outer corners,
Indicated as surely as the restless
down drop eye q character self con-
scIous, furtive. capable Of great incon-
sistencIes, possibly Of great deceits."
In the Icelandic sagns man with
meeting eyebrows is said to be one Of
the dreadful creatures known as were
wolves, and the same belief has been
traced In Denmark and Germany;
while In Greece, says Mr.. Barring
Gould, they are n sign that man is a
vampire. In horror there is little to
choose between vampires and were
wolves. A fanciful reason which has
been given for these superstitlons is
that the meeting brows resemble a but
terfly, "the familiar type OF q soul
ready to fly or and enter some other
body" This seems tolerably far
fetched.
In Hungary gypsy women and men
whose eyebrows grow together are sup
posed to have in special degree the
power to enchantment, and as iliterate
folk have q great dread of such mys-
terlous powers, especially as they may
be supposed to be directed against the
well being or happiness Of their chill
dren, 1t need hardly be said that q man
whose brows meet is not q popular
person. Even now there are parts OF
England where a belief in witehcraft
still fingers, and not so very long ago
In Northumberland there were people
who regarded n person whose eyebrows
met as a witch or warlock.
In the north Of Aberdeenshire, nc
cordlng to the late Rev. Walter Gregor,
who was a very competent authority Oh
Scottish lore and customs, "closebroot
man"-that ls, one whose eyebrows
meet-was regarded as being immoral.
Elsewhere In Scotland one with "close
hroos" was regarded as unlucky to be
met as "frst fit" while other folk went
good deal further and regarded the
unlucky possessor of ''close broos" as
one foredoomed to be hanged.-London
Globe.
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-11-30

St. Valentine, presbyter and martyr,
unlike many saints who nre specially
remembered, did nothing which could
have suggested tho manner In which
his day is celebrated. 1t was his for
tune to suffer martyrdom Che was
beaten with club and then beheaded)
at time when the heathens Of south
ern Europe were accustomed to observe
the return Of spring. The quick eyes Of
those dependent upon sunlight for
warmth learned TO note and welcome
every indication Of the approaching
season. They watched the birds, and
when they saw them mating and max
ing love they were minded to do tn
same, and 80 strong was the habi
that, as with Christmas day. the good
fathers did not attempt to root out the
custom, but to connect 1t with some
holy name, and st. Valentines day OF
martyrdom fitted very nearly to that
time.
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-11-30

If you turn TO a map Of Spain, you
will take note at its southern point and
running out into the strait Of Gibraltar
Of q promontory which from its posi-
tion is admirably adapted for com
mandlng the entrance of the Mediter-
ranedn sea ana watching the entrance
and exit Of all shipA A fortress stands
upon this promontory, called now, as It
was called In the tine Of the Moorish
domination In SPAIN Tarifa. The name
Is Of Moorish origin. It was the Gus
tom of the Meers 10 watch from this
point all merchant shia going into or
coming out OF the mi0lsnll sea and to
levy duties according b q 1xed scale
on oil merchandise couined therein.
This duty was called flon the place
where It was levied 'tarlfa,' or tariff.