davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07
STARTING A PARK.

We notice in many of our smaller
towns attempts being made to secure
public parks, and 1t is very frequently
done by taking piece of ground COW
cred with sod and planting young trees
in holes dug In such sod. From the
very nature Of things tree so planted
can never be a success. They are al
most sure to perish. III park is de-
Sired the better way is to pillow the
whole tract deeply. and If 1t is well fer
tilted so much the better. The next
year the land should be put ia the best
possible condition, when the trees may
be planted and some crop put on the
land that would require thorough cul-
tivation. SO planted the trees will
grow healthy and thrifty, and at the
end of two years the lot may be seeded
down and good park obtained.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07
TUBERCULOSIS AMONG THE HOGS.

TUBERCULOSIS AMONG THE HOGS.
The serious question of the existence
of tuberculosis among the hogs in the
corn belt is one that is attracting
great deal of attention, as well it may,
1t has been generally supposed this dis
case has been confined to the bovine
animals and that the hog is rarely af-
ficted with il. This conclusion is who'll
~ wrong, as the slaughter tests at the
stockyards of the country show that it
is becoming a very common thing, so
common that certain of the hog produc-
ing sections of the country have be-
come blacklisted in the markets. and
buyers are instructed to refuse to take
any hogs from such blacklisted ter
ritory, owing to the large per cent of
the hogs which at the packing houses
are condemned as being affected
with tuberculosis and which are sent
to the rendering tanks. One of the
largest Of the packing houses in Chi
cago reports the loss from hogs con-
demned for this cause to have been
100000 during the past year, and a
general movement is now on foot by
the packers. TO make the growers of
these infected hogs stand the loss which
accrues from this source. 1t is of in
terest to note in this connection that
this blacklisted section of the county
represents the dairy sections where the
hogs are largely raised on the biprod-
ucts Of the dairy-skmmed milk, but
termilk. etc.-showing conclusively a
very close relation between the tuber-
cular COW and the tubercular hog. IT.,
as it is generally admitted, the use OF
milk from tubercular COW will en-
gender the disease in the human being
1t is easy to account for the spread Of
the disease among the hogs and, further,
easy to see how the use of q meat prod
uct so infected may become a prolific
source Of still further infection So
serious has this matter become not
only from its possible danger to human
life, but as affecting the profits of the
hog business ut large, that the matter
demands the prompt and united atten-
ton Of our government and state au-
thorities. 1t is almost useless to take
action to use sanitation for the treat
ment OF persons suffering from tuber-
culosis while such provoking causes of
the great white plague are permitted
/ to exist.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

We saw man this fall carefully
covering up lot of Gamma roots in the
garden, where they grew last summer
III latitude where the earth usually
freezes to the depth of two feet. He
ignorantly made mistake, for nei'
tier the Gamma nor dahlia roots and tn
bcrs will stand any degree of frost. be
ing just like potatoes in this respect
TO keep them they must be dug before
the ground freezes and be stored in a
dry cellar packed in sand.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

A German farmer living In western
state makes practice of blowing his
land for a corn crop twice during the
fall previous to planting, once just as
soon as the grain crop is removed and
again just before the winter sets In.
He claims that this treatment of the
soil insures him an increased yield OF
corn of ten or fifteen bushels per acre.
II this be true-and we have no reason
to doubt tit is a plan worth consid-
ering.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The tendency to grow types of corn
altogether too large is very noticeable
all through the northern limit of the
corn belt. 1t is very difficult for men
to get rid Of the idea that the largest
ear Of corn Is the best one. North OF
latitude AZ degrees no variety OF corn
should be planted which requires more
than 1O5 days to mature. If man
must raise the big corn, he should go
to the big corn country in Missouri and
Kansas, for it is entirely out Of place
in any other part of the corn belt.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

We have never come across stock
man who built silo and filed it who
was not enthusiastic over the results
obtained. We regard the advent of the
silo ON all corn belt farms as the COM
ing great Improvement. Recent exper-
iments prove conclusively that ensilage
can be most advantageously used In
the feeding of beef cattle, and, so far
as the dairy is concerned, it is simply
Indispensable.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The average quarter section farm
should he equipped with team OF
three horses, weighing not less than
1000 pounds each, and this team should
do all the blowing, seeding, dragging,
hauling Il in fact, furnish the motive
power for all the farm machinery-and
preferably they should be three well
bred draft mares to raise a good colt
apiece each year, in addition to fur
nishing the power needed for the farm.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The mole is one of the most difficult
Of the burrOwing rodents to contend
with. Its work il done almost alto
gether at night. Occasionally one can
be detected making it's burrOw dur
ing the day in the very early morn
ing, when it is an easy matter to catch
it by showing spade down behind it
and then digging 1t out. The best way
we know of is to use the mole trap,
which can be obtained at any hardware
store
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

Get the wet acres-the acres which
were broken up during the dry seasons
and which in the wet seasons bring
nothing but weeds-into timothy and
aisike clover as soon as possible and
keep the pillow out of them until they
can be properly tile drained.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

1t is rather surprising fact that a
very large part of all the corn exhibit
ed at the corn contests through the
corn belt this winter in competition
for premiums is deficient in germinat-
ing power and simply will not grow
when planted. This results from the
effort to exhibit the largest ears, usu-
ally the product of type of corn which
is unsuited to the localities. We have
come to the opinion that no matter how
large. and fine sample Of corn may be
when entered for premium it should
be disqualified If it lacks in germinat-
ing power.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The most satisfactory method OF leas
ing farms is where owner and tenant
are working partners-when the lease
is for term of years, five or more, and
where the landlord stocks the farm
with well bred animals of all kinds
Given a good tenant and sensible
landlord, both prosper under such condi.
tons. No plan is so altogether bad as
TO rent land from year to year for ten
ants to skin. This plan is death to
land, without profit to either party.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The state of Iowa has recently COM
pleted what is said to be the very finest
dairy building in the world at its state
agricultural college at Ames. A herd
Of hundred cows will be used in con-
nectiOn with this building. and labora-
tory and experimental work will be
carried on which will be Of the great
est benefit to the dairy interests OF the
country ut large.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

Some of the largest salaries paid to
experts in this country are paid to the
men who know how to buy stock on the
hoof and others who know how to cure
such meat for the market There are
several $4,000 men engaged in this
business. and none of them ever had a
college education either.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The sea is getting to be farmed just
las is the land, especially in the raising
of oysters. An acre of well kept oyster
water will bring in a gross return Of
$500 per year, which beats most crops
which the land can produce.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

We have never known a season when
il was easier to secure a perfect quail
ty of seed corn than the present one.
All corn everywhere no matter when
planted, ripened perfectly and natural
ly. Because 1t is so good the tempta-
ton will be very great for men to de-
pend upon their cribs for seed corn
next year and run the risk of the de-
structive action Of the frost upon the
vitality Of the corn. Millions OF acres
of corn land were this year cultivated
only to grow 90 per cent stand OF
corn, when with proper care II should
have been 80 per cent This difference
OF one-third represents the difference
between profit and loss in the growing
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

December blue grass is a forage
proposition worth more consideration
than many give it. Allowed to grow
,~unfed from July till winter 1t makes
an admirable winter pasture, especial
~ for sheep and horses.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

We passed farm the other day
upon which was fifteen acre marsh
located in a pasture. On this marsh
were as many as 400 rat houses. II
we assume that each one of these houses
was the home Of five muskrats, which
is probably true. the owner Of this
marsh, provided he had caught the rats
could have secured an income of $500
from this seemingly worthless piece
Of land, and then if he had worked II
for frogs during the summer it would
have proved the most productive piece
of land he has on his farm.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

A darky down in oklahoma claims to
have made the interesting discovery
that If cotton is topped or pruned back
In the dark Of the moon in August 1t
will increase the yield Of the staple
from one-half bale to one bale per
acre, and he has found some people
who believe what he says.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The bushel box package for apples is
coming more and more into favor. 1t
costs little if any more than do the
barrels; il insures lower freight rate,
as the car space is more economically
used. Then the box of apples is very
much better adapted for the use of the
average family than is the barrel.
Nearly all the choice apples Of the Pa
cific coast and of Colorado are now
packed and shipped in boxes.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

1t is rather a singular fact that bees
seldom or never lay up store of honey
in warm countries. 1t is only in the
cold countries, where their food supply
is entirely cut off during the winter,
that their instinct teaches them to store
a supply of honey In the summer Tor
winter USE
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The Chinaman may wear pigtail
and his shirt outside of his pants and
be altogether an unlikable human prop
hsition, but there is this to be said for
him, that no weeds are ever allowed to
grow ON any land which he cultivates.
lie would have a fit if he could see
some of the cornfields of Iowa.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

Irrigation brings about the same con-
fiict with individual and private rights
that drainage does. They are neither
one possible save as result Of CO.
operative effort and merging Of pri-
vate interests for the public good.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

We decidedly favor the placing OF q
tax on all dogs in order to create q
fund to pay damages done by them.
This applies especially to all sections
of the country where sheep are kept.
The dog should be made to pay his
way
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

All through the stock sections Of the
west hay is so plentiful and cheap that
the letting of the stock feed from the
stack is the rule rather than the excep-
ton. This plan saves lots of work, IL
il is wasteful.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The application Of lime to the soil
should not be regarded as a method
Of fertilizing. The benefit derived from
lime is in correcting the acidity of the
soil and the making of the plant food
which II contains more available.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

What seems TO US like far fetched
scheme is the proposition being ex-
plotted to make railroad ties out Of
cornstalks. While such ties may pos
sibly be made, the material would be
such as to make them of necessity very
short lived unless chemically treated.
There seems TO be much more of prom
Use in a railway tie made out Of a COM
blnation of steel and cement. We fully
realize the enormous waste connected
with leaving the cornstalks practically
unutilized. We look to see this waste
partially stopped in the use OF these
stalks for making common grades OF
paper. This seems entirely practical
and feasible and is line Of work
which should receive the active atten-
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

An interesting fact associated with
the loose hills of the Missouri river
valley is that the soil Of these hills is
just as fertile at depth of $50 feet
as il is at the surface.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

We know Of several farmers who.
finding that they had poor seed corn
and a worthless stand. and some who
lost their corn by the worms, replanted
their fields as late as the middle OF
June with early types OF corn and Sc
cured crops running from forty to fifty
bushels per acre. Their experience has
convinced them that ii will pay to
plant some of this early corn as early
in the spring as possible and thus Sc
cure plenty of good feed for their hogs
long before the ordinary field corn Is
maturel. This is good plan.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The uniform irregularity Of the sea-
sons is the only regular thing there is
about the weather No two seasons are
lust alike, either as to rainfall,
droughts, frosts or hours of sunshine.
1t is this uncertain factor in all farm
operations which upsets all calcula-
tons and makes farming more or less
of lottery.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The state of Kansas produced lasx
year 100000 pounds of good butter
and 100000 pounds of poor butter
which had to be renovated.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

Make as warm and nice a place as
possible for the sparrows to go into in
winter, and when they get nicely set
tied kill them all Off.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

The western states should all unite
and put an end to the spring shooting
of wild fowl. AS II is now in many
states the birds are subjected to mer-
CHESS slaughter not only in their breed
ing haunts in the north during the fall,
but all through the winter In the south,
and then again are uselessly and waste
fully slaughtered In the spring during
their migrations to their northern homes.
Modern firearms have been brought
to such a degree of proficiency that the
birds literally have no chance for their
lives, and it does seem a great pity for
the law to permit the entire extermina-
ton of all wild fowl of the country, for
that is the certain result unless this
spring shooting is to be stopped
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

Every load of manure put on the land
to be in corn next year means at least
two bushels more corn. and it will add
that much to the crop the second year.
In other words. when n man hauls out
a load of manure Oh to his cornfield he
has earned dollar. and we know OF
many men who cannot make dollar
any easier.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

We want to suggest an idea to the
nlan whose income is limited to about
$500 year-the laborer, mechanic, the
poorly paid minister and schoolteacher
and it is that such men take up in
diligently the study of what small
piece of land can be made to produce
10 add to their very limited income.
1t is not at all impossible to make
an acre add 90 per cent to their in
come. More people are studying over
this problem than ever before, and
many are meeting with most pleasing
results. The land holds rich reward
for the man who knows how to intel.
ligently work it,
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

There seems to be scarcely any limit
to the possible production of wheat In
the Canadian northwest. In fact, II
may be safely assumed that in the near
future that section of the country will
produce larger amount Of wheat than
the states have ever done. There are
certain unrivaled conditions for wheat
culture in that territory-first, a very
rich soil, then climatic condition
which insures the production Of a very
high quality of grain. The present year
is likely to witness a tremendous influx
of American farmers Into that territory
When land which will produce from
thirty to forty bushels OF the best
wheat in the world per acre can be had
for $40 or $40 per acre the problem OF
how the poor man cap get start IL
very much sImplified, for his first croT
- A.. -.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

We saw 5000 sheep finishing up a
sixty acre cornfield lately. The sheep
were turned into the field in September
and had cleaned up everything-c
stalks, weeds and all. The owner told
Us that he got a gain of twenty-seven
pounds per head in three months feed
ing by this method-$1.70 per head.
This way of using the corn crop is be-
coming quite common and is in much
favor, as it saves the work of picking
the corn, cleans the land and gives it
q good fertilizing. Others are using
steers and hogs instead of sheep, with
equally satisfactory results.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

We noticed row Of catalpa trees
Ately which man had planted adjoin-
ing the line fence Of his farm about ten
years ago. He had planted them thick
ly and not more than two feet apart
The trees today would furnish one good
fence post each. worth about 20 cents.
and Oh the eighty rods so planted he
had $40 fence posts at small trouble
and expense, as one-half of the root
system of the trees was In the public
highway. In five years more these
trees will give him three fence posts
each. and we commend this method to
men in all ATTITUDES where the catalpa
Is hardy.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

Bookkeeping always proftably follows
ne growing of alfalfa, as this plant -
rich in bee food.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

Ii is said there are in the air over
each acre Of land 75,OO0,O00 pounds Of
nitrogen. the most valuable OF all land
fertilizers, and that II such acre Is put
into crop Of any Of the legumes.
clover, cowpcas or alfalfa, such crop
will steal from the air and put into the
soil 200 pounds Of nitrogen In year.
Commercial nitrogen bought In the
markets costs u cents pound, 80 that
on this basis crop Of clover will add
$50 worth Of fertility to each acre.
Anyway, any man can see from actual
experience that clover very greatly en-
riches the soil, and, realizing this fact,
he should make business of sowing 1t
literally.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07

A boy shot hawk and thought he
had done a smart thing. He Dragged
about il, and his father praised him for
doing ii. Had he known just what
composed the food of this hawk he
probably would not have done 1t. These
hawks very rarely visit the poultry
yard-in fact. in spite Of their name.
not In forty years have we ever known
a hen hawk to modest the hens. Its
food consists almost entirely Of rab-
bits and gophers. two of the worst
pests with which the farmer has to
contend When hungry we have known
them to catch snakes three feet in
length. The hawk should be let alone.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-07


1t rather singular fact that bees , ,.- ,, -, - o.
is individual gf
countries They nef
that their teaches them to
supply honey the public good
winter USE salaries all. .s,i paid
stock experts this country are paid to
who know how to buy stock on
results and others who know how to Gu
obtained market There
so on an corn @ Rt business and none Of them ever had
prove ensiage college education either
the feeding oklahoma claims
81 indisnensable hat fcotton is topped ba
!, In the dark of the n August
will the yield of the sta
and % from nsh na ,ss found se bale
barrels; freight rate who believe what he says
used Then the apples Every
family than the barrel bushels and will
the choice as, Of the PA that c the se eSn an
shipped in boxes his conhed
is has earned a and know
The average quarter many
ID should be equipped with team OF any easier
this should The uniform esaty of the
hauling in fact furnish
ALT alike
they should a three na e IL @ factor all
the farm tons and makes farming more or
s. Of lottery.
ee The mole is one of the difficult m - - b, ,v o
OF ne Du"ns S almost ato pee
with its WORK ~ aone an" % dairy building in
re making its burrow dur az na, COWS viii he ud in
n""uifS aGss building and iab
catch nom wiz @ rl vii
it by showing spade tory and governmental WORK VIII
@ sn IS TO ue the mole trap the dairy interests of
e | a at large
70 store We .nov Of several farmers v
German finding that they had poor seed
practice of blowing his and worthless stand ana %
the
fall previous to planting once Just as middle
soon the grain crop removed and
% inst before the winter sets in crops
that this treatment Of the bushels per acre ae PER- @
plant some OF this early corn as "a
d aub Se t is plan worth eonsid
Is eunr = " " ' - long before ordinary field corr
D ~ maursl This is good plan
to The tendency to grow types of corn 49, - :, , ,
altogether IS we row
limit of the AeS when n n M, @ hnt
get es rid ss a nst the sss them tn
the best North Of T today would furnish one
more n w rods SO napted
% If ha eo sen a at small ro
us' H Missouri and onehalf of the
TO the ps corn COUNT t n % Mace the in the pu
Kansas Tor II en,es ou' p IL
other part of the corn belt trees will give him
II each and we commend this meho
1t rather surprising fact h ATTITUDES where the cas
very large part Of all the corn eSnp. is hardy
corn belt this in competition boy
premiums geminat He brag
p ing power simply about
planted results from the he known just
this hawk
H we @ y @ the
be
premium it should modest the hens
a gemnat entirely
~ ing power bits and gophers Of the W
it pests with which the farmer has
The western states should al unite contend When hungry we have KIN
the spring shooting catch snakes three
it is many let al
states the subjected
ne breed in the
during
Of
Il
slaughtered In the during
their
from
a
III lives great pity
of
Of
the sola andre
The
ed north it
Of will
a
the
then ton
Of
territory Millions OF
to