davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17
THE RUNT PIG.

1t used to be saying that the runt
pig would make the largest hog. and
yet ii person would be given the
choice OF the litter he always rejected
the runt
The runt may be SO from different
causes. If it Is from lack of vitality
the pig is pretty sure to be source
of loss to his owner, but II 1t Is from
q disposition to eat slowly and thus
not get full share Of the feed, II he
is separated from the others and given
chance the runt often outgrows the
rest of the litter.
A few years ago I took the runt
pig Of a litter OF full-blooded Chester
White pigs and put It by itself.
Weight, June 1, when separated was
twenty pounds. When slaughtered on
the 21st Of the next November the
dressed weight was 1877 pounds.
This pig was fed butte:milk and
middlings until corn was ready to feed
and then 1t was fed corn, three ears
lat feed. three times day at first.
gradually increasing to eight ears at
q feed. 1t was fed Fights ears at a
K I'd only short time before slaugh-
ltering.-A. ]. LesE.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17
INTENSIVE FRUIT CULTURE.

In the West five acres of orchard.
without small fruit or vegetables, are
considered enough to call for all of
one mans activity.
Intensive fruit growing means the
cultivation of comparatively small
areas and the application OF such
labor as will produce a maximum OF
fruit by the exercise of scientific meth
DDS and careful attention to details.
1t Is system much more satisfactory
and profitable to the grower than the
old extensive one.
Dwarf pears may be set quite close
together. They can be planted even
in hedge rows. not over three feet
apart, with advantage and profit.
Such a row presents beautiful sight
when In full bloom and the close
planting, with its consequent check to
a too rapid growth. Is preventive OF
blight.
currants are appEeprlate in tree
rows because they rather like partial
shade, and the Strawberries receive
enough sun while the trees are young
to not be injured.
There are two essentials In this sys.
tenn Of thick planting: One is efficient
labor intelligently directed. and the
other is heavy fertilizing. A grower
in the east is said to produce $4,000
worth of fruit on FIVE acres of ground
but these acres are so we'll kept that
they have the appearance of huge
garden. More hand labor is called
because the horse cannot be employed
SO generally and because more atten.
ton must be paid to particulars.
Weeds must be crowded out; there
is literally no room for them. There
are rows Of trees and between then
In the row are the smaller fruits O.
all kinds. The middles between tn,
trees are closely occupied by grapel
and other fruits, and to sustain thi
dense growth the soil must be highly
enriched with fertilizers expressl,
adapted to the fruit and to the soil.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17
HORSES AND MULES.

The big demand in Europe for army
horses has developed in certain parts
of this country hunter type of horse
that has good size and conformation
and great endurance, with more sub
stance than thoroughbred Such
horses readily bring from $500 to
$500.
The German Government has re-
Gently bought number of fine horses
for the army and has established a
stock farm in Kentucky where an eff
fort will be made to breed an all
around cavalry horse that will meet
the German standard.
The farmer who fools around with
trotting horses makes mistake.
Breeding trotters is distinct branch
of the business and man must spend
years in learning it.
horses on the farm. They are always
salable and bring good prices.
INTERESTED oats cut just before the
grains are hard make the finest feed
imaginable for horses.
Numerous attempts have been made
to use heavy mules for trucking pur-
poses In large cities. but without
success. Their feet are not built to
stand the rough usage they get from
the cobbiestones.
Trotting horse breeding is like fancy
farming, gentleman's game.
The Morgan horse Is slowly coming
| into his own again. AS breed he
has more brains and bottom than an,
other horse.
Bad digestion, a rough coat and q
poorly nourished body are always the
result of improperly balanced food.
The all-corn horse is sure to get Out
of condition sooner or later.
Ground barley, wheat, and oats, q
quart at a time, is to a Horse wha,
pudding is to boy.
The advent of auto trucks in big
cities has not hurt the demand 70,
heavy draft horses In the slightes,
ldegraA-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17

space for exercising, for sunshine and
air; but their feed would have to be
obtained from some other source, for
they would scarcely let a spring of
grass grow within the acre limit. The
ground would, Of necessity, have to be
fenced and sub-fenced and houses
erected at certain distances apart.
An acre Of ground is about two
hundred feet square, and in preparing
1t for the fowls 1t should be divided
into thirty-two yards, each twenty-five
feet wide by fifty feet in length. This
would make four rows of yards, and
necessitate two rows Of houses Each
house should be at junction point Of
four yards. which would call for but
Ieight houses for the thirty-two yards
four compartments in each house. An
open pass way should extend from end
to end of the grounds, in line with
each row of houses, and another pass
way midway from the upper to lower
center Of the yarded space, SO as to
make all Of the houses easy of APP
proach.
In each yard Of twenty-five by fifty,
twenty hens and a cock should be
placed, which would give total OF
$40 females. to the acre, and some
thirty odd roosters. In connection
with each house there should be an
open shed for the purpose of feeding
and scratching, so that the fowls
could exercise according to their nat
ural instincts.
/ Hens SO yarded. with their grain
thrown In straw and leaves, to work
out, and fed green cut bone ration
three times weekly, should average q
dozen and half eggs month per
hen during the first six months of the
year.
RMS average in laying would make
la total yield of $50 dozen OF eggs g
Imonth, worth at least 10 cents a
dozen. or $4,000. From this gross in.
Icome we would average Z cents pei
hen each monitor total of $4,000
which would leave net profit pei
Iacre for the hens enclosed OF $500.
i If one should start early in the yea,
and become established by the middle
Iof April, it should be possible to get 8
Il good revenue for three months, or un.
It'll the middle of July. After that date
the yarded hens should cease to la,
probably. and should be sold
Il With experience, and sufficient help
4 several acres OF hens might be kept II
this way. and a much larger revenue
derived than is possible from only on,
acre. Fifty dollars a month income
for six months would mean 5000. OF
per acre for the season. rs there an,
other crop that would pay as well?
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17
ODD TALES OF FARMIN-
Yarns That NIislead City People ana
Cause Them to Make Serious
Mistakes.

COME of the big daily papers on I
o magazines are trying to ma.ia
sensations out of plain farm.ny-,
and some of the stories printed aro
not only misleading. but absolutely
harmful,
Farming is not governed by any
fairy wand. Comfortable living and
even moderate profits are of course to
be made In any branch of agriculture.
out experience, patience, a love of
nature and some capital are requisites
that cannot be ignored If success Is to
be attained.
Such misleading stories ars bad
enough when printed in daily news
papers, but when agricultural maya
zines regale their readers with such
stuff 1T is infinitely worse. Ina recent
number of an Eastern magazine.
which lays claim to being prime aus
thority on all subjects relating to high-
class agriculture, there was printed q
four-page article describing "Whrt
Harrison Did, in which the Chicago
reporter is laid in the shade.
In all soberness and with numerous
beautiful Illustrations this magazira
tells story OF how New York
lawyer made $500 a year on ten
acre farm in Eastern New York, He
leased the place, which had been Inn
proved by wealthy faddist at an
/ expense OF thousands Of dollars, for
$500 a year. On this bit of grounC,
without previous experience as far-
mer, Harrison performed some mirac-
ulous feats. Here are his operations
for the first year:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17
GRASS PAYS FOR MANURING.

At the present time when stock
farming is the main source OF profit
to the farmer there is no crop that
the farmer grows which will pay him
better for manuring than his grass
Now that artificial manures are sc
common and their uses better under
stood, there 10 no reason for the old
supposition that 1t took a generation
to make a permanent grass field.
We frequently come across farms
where, by the judicious use Of arti-
fetal and farmyard manure, pastures
in their third, fourth and fifth years
look like the most luxuriant and
ancient pastures. No one would ex-
pect his barley to grow year after year
on the same land without manure
Why, therefore, should he expect his
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17
ToLLED AWAY HIS GEESE.

!
A Virginia farmer lost a flock of
sixteen geese in peculiar manner.
The geese were confined in a large lot
containing pond and were appar-
emily happy and contented until one
day two wild geese appeared and spent
several hours apparently In earnest
conversation with the tame ones. This
performances was repeated for two or
three days, the tame geese showing
great uneasiness. The two wild geese
would stand on the banks of the pond,
flap their wings and utter loud cries.
Finally, one evening just at dusk, the
farmer saw the entire flock rise from
the pond and start northward, led by
the wild geese, all uttering loud cries.
The farmers believed that the wild
geese were flying delegates from some
wild goose union that was opposed to
restrictions.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17

available plant food that may be
wasted on account of the trees not
being able to consume 1t at that time.
This may be saved by the cover crop
and held until such a time as 1T is
desired to have 1t give it UP or when
the cover crop decays in the following
spring.
The ideal system Of managing or
chard lands in the Northern and
Middle States is perhaps most nearly
approached when the soil Is stirred
in the spring as early as practicable
ard as deep as 1t can be and not in
jure the roots, cultivated in this man
ner until the trees are budded, then
seeded with a cover crop which will
grow until autumn and be turned un-
der the following spring and the same
method practiced again.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17
In some sections If the apple coun-

In some sections # the apple coun-
try cover crop is used the year that
the trees are due to produce a large
crop, SO as to form bed for the
APPLES to fall upon and keep them
clean and free from mud. The next
year when the trees are not expected
to produce a large crop the orchard is
MANFRED or fortified and kept clean
and free from weeds until fall and
rye sowed for cover crop. and the
following spring 1t is plowed and re-
seeded to cover crop that is left on
the ground until the next spring.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17
KEEP A TALLY SHEET.

On our farm place there was hung
IN convenient passageway large
slate for the only purpose OF hastily
Jotting down any notable happening
occurring during the day, the words
serving as lasting reminder of that
particular days doings
Each evening the accounts were
permanently tabulated and kept for
any later day references which migh}
occur, assisting in making a decided
point.
In this simple way great deal a
the tax and responsibility of endeay.
oring to recollect his or that happen.
Ing on the farm was removed and tn,
tomorrow begun afresh-every day IN
reality new beginning with the pre-.
lceding days hard work forgotten,
cleaned off the slate and the minds OF
proprietor and helpers.
One has no idea how often sI1ch a
slate will prove the many instance.
ana transactions taking place in q
year on farm of only ten acres
| tnough at the time they seem OF very
trihing account. but later are worth
recalling for some purpose to someone
who wishes data.
1 LIE hiHu VI written record rs
freshes and proves interesting to 10, Il.
over at any time; 1t tells Of certn'a
amount of labor that has been pass !,
over. OF plumbers. successes. failure,
that have been entirely forgotten.
1t also gives history Of the he'p
employed. which is of importance 81
recommending them to Others
In the various industries of stocs
raising. poultry work, fruit CROWN,
dairying. hay and grain raising, Il,
erecting buildings, the whole sto.J
may be given from off the "slate tally"
day by day by those most interested
on the farm.--F. L. Risley.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17
GREEN ALFALFA DANGEROUS.

A short time since saw in a farm
paper q communication from farmer
in Indiana in regard to alfalfa. He
said it was a good pasture for cows
when green and growing. Such is not
the case. It Is the best hay in the
world, when properly cured, for stock,
horses or cattle. Horses will get fat
on 1t as green pasture, but cows will
bloat and die in a very few minutes.
Even with horses care should be
taken and frost-bitten alfalfa should
never be allowed them as food.
either green or cured. But frost-bit-
ten alfalfa does not hurt cows when
properly cured. But I have known
cows to bloat on third cutting alfalfa,
even when properly cured. OF course,
that Is somewhat unusual though not
rare.
For fear some farmers In the East,
who have not had experience with al
falfa, and who have a small patch,
should have a COW bloat, I will give
you few simple remedies, for quick
action is absolutely vital to save the
animal.
Take a round stick about AZ inches
thick and tie a rope around either
end. place the stick in the mouth and
rope over the head behind the horns
and fasten SO that the cow can't re-
move it. That will hold the mouth
open and allow the gas to escape from
the stomach.
You can also give the COW about
one pint Of kerosene, which will cause
her to belch. Also pour cold water
on back just in front Of hips. II the
COW is too far gone for these RENEE
dies to avail, then stick" That Is
done with common pocket knife on
the left side about seven inches in
front Of the point of the hip-bone and
about seven inches down from the
back bone. You should not have
your face in direct line while making
cut.
Horses also should be closely
watched who are not used to 1t as a
green pasture. as in some it causes
kidney trouble and death in few
minutes. at least that is our expert
ence with Eastern horses here
Colorado"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17
SORTING TABLE FOR PAcK1N,

grass to do this, especially as 1t is not
unlikely to be mown5 once or twice
and the hay removed?
The poorness Of the land does not
seem to be In any way sufficient
reason why a good pasture cannot be
obtained II treated with care and skill,
for we have repeatedly seen exceed
ingly fine grass fields upon land which
could have made but miserable arabic
land and around which were numer-
Gus fields as poor as 1t was possible to
see.
The secret Of success has been a ju-
dicious manuring which was not In any
way extravagant, and it will always be
found where artificial and farmyarG
manures are used with judgment thai
the quantity of the heritage is not only
increased, but greatly improved in 1T.
feeding quality.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17

"Harrison's'' expenses were onls
$1,s15, leaving him a net profit OF
$7,S94.90.
AS this Is set out in minute detail
and with tone OF absolute truthful-
ness It would be impolite perhaps to
express doubt as to the reliability
of the story But II 1t Is true, then
Harrison" is the greatest marvel In
the way of a green farmer that the
world has ever seen. With few
more "Harrisons" of this stripe in
New York state-they could exist in
no other-the old-fashioned farmers
who have been plodding along, earn
ing net profits of from $40 to $50 per
acre, would be compelled to take to
the woods.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17

PROFIT IN RAISING PHEAsANTs.
The agricultural department of the
Government says that pheasants can
o: raised with comparative ease, and
that there Is a great profit in the
business If properly conducted.
The demand for these birds is con-
stantly on the Increase and the rear
ing of pheasants is an occupation that
can be followed by women on farms
where there is plenty of free range.
A brushy hill side makes an ideal
place for pheasant raising. The
ground must be dry and the sitting
nests must be well protected and the
temperature kept even.
The staple diet for pheasants is
cracked corn. whole wheat and small
seeds, such as millet. They are also
fond of carrots, onions. lettuce and
the other greens.
The average price per pair is as
follows: English and Monaghan. SIS
to s10;> Golden. SIS to s25: Reeves.
$40 to $50
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17

The price of eggs is way UP. and
will remain SO during Tho next six
months. Next spring we presume that
people will begin to wonder whether
1t will not pay better to sell the eggs
at market prices rather than so to
the trouble of Matching and rearing
the chicks from them.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17

A Florida farmer who has a large
crop of Angora goats says that when
he drives among them with load oil
fodder the coats climb into the wagon
IN such numbers as to make 1t difficult
10 handle It.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-17

Total Recommendation
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-08-16
Mail Order Houses.

While the discussion in regard to the
above class of houses is going on let me
tell of little personal experience in that
line. Some years ago l sent to one of
the houses for hat, coat and two sets
of underwear, wanting the goods for
winter use, sent about the first of De-
cember; in about fortnight after box
came which was SO light that l took
pains to open it in presence Of several
witnesses who saw that it had not been
tempered with; on opening hat was
all the box contained. Immediately in
formed the house and they said if they
had proof they would make good but
intimated strongly that all the goods
were in the box when received. l pro-
cured and forwarded the affidavits of
two persons who saw box opened and
they said the box contained nothing but
hat; then, house was sure the coat was
in; but did send the underwear, and
after further correspondence coat No.
AZ in size with one sleeve No. 40 and
wrong side up which l got changed, but
could not wear the garment So that
after about two months, six or eight let
tiers, and the payment of three express
bills, amounting TO about two dollars on
about ten dollars worth of goods / got
the goods and was branded as liar be-
cause l told the truth and proved my
statement trying to get what l had paid
for, while looking for a bargain. Per-
haps in justice l should say that short
time before sent to the same house and
got AIN article for S13 that its counter
part was priced to me in Middlebury at
sec and it proved to be satisfactory.
RIG.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-08-16
Ha m m ond Returns ho m e.

Attorney James B. Donoway has re-
turned from Jersey City, n. j., where he
went last Monday to act as counsel for
Charles L. Hammond the alleged bigam-
list for whom New Jersey officers had
been searching in this section for four
days before Hammond surrendered him
self at Gov F. d. Proctor's office at Proc
tor. Hammond was indicted by the New
Jersey grand jury on the charge of big
amy. He was brought before the prose-
cutting officer and placed under $500
bonds to appear at the quarter sessions of
New Jersey courts. Hammond returned
to Orwell Saturday night where his Sec
ond wife resides with their two children
Addison county court will convene
August 10 to hear the cases that were
left over from its June term. Several
important cases have developed since
the court took a recess in June which
probably will be tried at the coming
session. There are also two prisoners
in the Addison county Jail here await
ing sentence.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-08-16
FARM LABORERs' WAGES.

The British Board of Trade returns
furnish an interesting comparison of the
amount of weekly wages paid for agri-
cultural laborers in England, Scotland,
Wales and Ireland 1t appears that in
England the highest average wage is
$3.50 and the lowest So. 45, in Wales the
highest is So. 10 and the lowest 1916, in
Scotland the highest is $3.50 and the low
est 1926, while in Ireland the highest is
So. 70 and the lowest So 10. The highest
wage in Ireland is IA cents lower than
the lowest in Standardization Signal.
"Vermont. the Green Mountain State, "
written by Editor Frank l.. Greene of
the ST. Adams Messenger and pub
lished by the Vermont commission to the
jamestown Tercentennial Exposition, is
the best thing of its kind that has been
published in Vermont and the most cred
liable bit of work that has been done in
connection with Vermont's share in the
unfortunate affair at Hampton Roads.
In brief, it is the whole story of Vermont
in 70-odd pages, all that any one needs to
know of the state for purposes of hasty
estimate The book deserves a much
wider circulation than it is likely to get
and the Journal promises its readers later
a fuller review than is possible in a brief
paragraph Montpelier journal.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-08-16
Grange Work In New Jersey.

The New Jersey State grange has as
sisted in placing upon the statute books
law establishing uniform measure
for the ,buring and selling Of milk.
Dealers have been buying from the
producers by the dry measure and sell
Ing by the liquid measure, thereby gain
ing several quarts in every 100. Now
the law requires that the dealer shall
buy as well as sell by the liquid meas
ure. 1t went into effect July l. There
Is a penalty of $50 for each violation
of the act The New Jersey pure food
law was signed by the governor and
will go into effect October Of next year
The subordinate oranges of Burlington
county, New Jersey, report doing Sl6,-
600 worth Of business In cooperative
way during three months. Through the
efforts of Moorestown grange a new
fast freight to New York has been
put on by the Pennsylvania railroad
enabling farmers to reach an early
morning market This goes to show
what the grange can do when it sets
out to do II.