davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
p o U L 7 RY
and its care

This house accommodates 1875 or $50
chicks from the time brooding cont-
mences until they are moved into win
ter quarters. They are large enough
SO the necessary work car be done
comfortably in them. During rainy
days. when the birds must be kept in
doors. there is room for them. and
they will not suffer seriously If the
floors are generously covered with cut
clover or chaff. The birds in them are
safe at night from storms, and all
thieves that walk on four feet, crawl.
or fly.
Such houses are almost fndispen-
sable to the person who raises a few
or many chickens. Their use removes
many Of the obstacles that tend to an
noy and defeat the chicken raisers.
Each house is twelve feet long and
seven feet wide. The front wall is six
feet two inches high, and the back
four feet two inches high from floor
to roof, inside. This allows a full
grown person to stand erect in the
front part of the house. The two
shoes on which 1t is built are four by
six inches in size and lie fiat. Their
ends are chamfered on the under side
so as to give them a sled runner turn.
They are fourteen feet long, and ex-
tend a foot outside of each end of the
building. An inch auger hole slanting
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

and outward, Is bored
through each end Of the shoes. Fol
in moving the houses. a
short chain with an eye bolt in each
end, which can be slipped through the
auger holes and keyed, Is used.
The floors are Of two thicknesses OF
boards. breaking joints SO as to pre-
vent the air from drawing through.
The walls and ROOT are boarded and
the walls covered with Red Rope
and the roofs with No. 2
Paroid roofing material. A door two
feet wide and six feet high Is placed
in the center Of the front wall with a
window on each side Of it. Each win
dow contains six lights Of 10x12 glass
in one sash. 1t is hinged at the top
and turns out, like an ordinary storm
window. 1t is either closely buttoned
down or held open at different spaces,
by hooks Of various lengths. The
longest opening is a foot, which leaves
the window slanting out at an angle
sufficient to give plenty of fresh air in
warm weather when both windows are
open and the house full of birds. The
advantages of hinged W. sliding win
dows are, hat in stormy weather rains
and winds do not beat in to annoy the
birds, and free ventilation is not inter-
fered with. The windows are covered
with wire netting on the inside. A
slide door, a foot square, is made down
at the floor near each end at the front
of the building, for the chicks to pass
through. A temporary board partition
about fifteen inches high divides the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
AGE LIMITS OF DAIRY COWS.

A bulletin from the Wisconsin Sta
ton states that a COW is at her best
during her fifth n sixth years. up to
which time the production &c milk and
butter-fat by cows in normal condition
increases each ear. The length Of
time the COW will maintain her maxi
mum production depends on her con-
stitutional strength and the care with
which she is fed and managed. A
good dairy COW should not show any
marked falling off until after ten years
of age. Many excellent records have
been made by cows older than this.
The quality of the milk produced by
heifers is somewhat better than that of
older cows, for a decrease has been
noted of one to two-tenths Of / per
cent in the average fat content for
each year until the COWS have reached
the full age. This is caused by the in
Grease in the weight of the cows with
advancing age. At any rate, there
seems to be a parallelism between the
two sets of figures for the same cows.
Young animals use a portion of their
food for the formation of body tissue,
and it is to be expected, therefore, that
heifers will require a larger portion OF
nutrients for the production Of milk
or butter-fat than do other cows. AT
ter a certain g has been reached, on
the average seven years of age, the
food required for the production of
unit of milk or butter-fat again In.
creases both as regards dry matter ant
the digestible components of the food
A good mich COW of exceptiona
strength, kept under favorable con.
ditions, whose digestive system has no
been impaired by overlooking o.
crowding for high results, should con,
tinue to be a profitable producer til
her twelfth year, although the econ,
omy of her production is apt to b.
somewhat reduced before this age il
reached.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
BILL OF FARE FOR HENS.

Monday - Morning grain, wheat.
Mash-gluten meal, shorts, ground
oats, cut clover, meat scraps, ground
charcoal. Afternoon grain, barley.
Tuesday-Morning grain, barley.
Mash-Corn meal, shorts, cut clover,
cut green bone. Afternoon grain,
b~uckwheat.
MISUNDERSTANDING grain, wheat.
Mash-Corn meal, shorts, vegetables,
ground oats, bone meal. Afternoon
grain, corn.
misunderstanding grain, scratch
ing food. Mash-Corn meal, shorts,
cut clover, u green bone, ground
charcoal. Afternoon grain, barley.
Friday - Morning grain, wheat,
Mash-Corn meal, shorts, vegetables,
cut green bone, ground charcoal. At
ternoon grain, barley.
Saturday-Morning grain, barley
Mash-Corn meal, shorts, vegetables
cut green bone, ground charcoal. At
.ternoon grain. corn.
Sunday-Morning grain. scratching
food. Mash-Gluten meal, shorts, cut
clover, ground oats, bone meal. AT.
ternoon grain, wheat.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
FEEDS AMI
ABOUT ALFALFA.

Iowa's Professor Holden, whose
practical work with corn and the dis
semination of whose doctrines con-
corning the perfection of this impor-
a n cereal has been of such benefit
to the farmer Of the central west, has
also found time to give. considerable
attention to alfalfa. He says
AS hay it has no equal.
Do moi use a nurse crop.
Do not begin on a large scale.
Have the seed bed well prepared.
Every farmer should have a small
field.
Cut before it gets into full bloom
to ave the leaves.
Disc both ways, plow, double disc
again and harrow.
1t produces more than twice as
much per acre a. clover.
August Is the best time to SOW 1t.
, Not later han the 18th.
Make the first cutting as soon as
the first blossoms appear.
The leaves are the valuable part.
Save them, by all means.
AS hay 1t should be handled like
clover, but with greater care.
Sow on the ground from which the
small grain has been harvested.
1t is adapted to all kinds of soil
except that which is wet and cold.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
sILAGE FOR HORSES? GO SLOW.

Corn silage can be best fed to horses
In the same sparing method as it is
fed to some other kinds Of live stock.
1t contains a very large per cent Of
water and when fed too freely to work.
ing horses it is somewhat liable to de-
range the digestion. although If fed in
very moderate quantities, the effect
would be the opposite. But In the case
of brooding mares and growing colts
1t may be fed with much more free
dom.
With the former it has peer found
a very fair milk-producing food and
for the latter 1t is a very cheap food,
out, of course, a considerable amount
of dry fodder, and if possible nitro
genous in character, should be fed
along with it.
1t is also important to feed silage to
horses out of doors. 1t is also import
ant to use caution in feeding horses
silage that are much out of doors in
cold weather unless they are kept NOV
ing. Green food is furnished by
nature only in warm weather, and If 1t
is to be used in cold weather, consid-
cradle care must be exercised with
reference to adjusting the conditions to
meet the requirements of such food.
Attention must also be given to the
character of the corr fed. Suppose a
man grows flint corn of some rather
early maturing variety, which does no
produce a large stock; there will be a
large proportion Of corn in the silage
for the fodder, hence 1t would be pos
sible to have a larger proportion OF
grains of corn. than might he hatte,
suited to the needs of the horse.
The fact will neve be lost sight Of
that oats Is the best grain food fol
horses that is grown for them, con
s~equently no matter what the Other
grain, the aim should be to feed alons
with it a certain proportion of oats.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
Loss THROUGH THE SEPARATOR.
Too Few Farmers Understand How to
Use 1t and Manufacturers Do
(Prof. e. H. harrington, Wisconsin

Is" H. y " ASLs
(Prof. e. II. Harrington, Wisconsin
College of Agriculture.)
One of the things which some own
ers of separators do not understand is
the cause Of the variation in the rich
ness of the Most farmers have
learned that the cream screw Of the
separator may be SO adjusted as to
increase or decrease the thickness of
the cream. but they may have noticed
that sometimes the test of their ream
at the creamery will vary considerably
from week to week, even when the
cream screw has not been changed.
The farmer does not understand this
and is likely to conclude that the
cream is not being accurately tested
at the factory.
This Is a matter which has caused
considerable trouble in the past and
may in the future unless the owners
Of farm separators get q better under
standing Of the causes Of variations in
the test of cream when the cream
screw adjustment is not changed.
Nearly all creamery butter makers
are familiar with power cream separa-
tors and they, together with the agents
selling the separatofs to farmers,
ought to instruct the buyer regarding
the proper running and cleaning Of
~separators. They should also give
directions for taking care of the cream
until it is delivered to the cream
buyers.
Cream of nearly any thickness may
be obtained from a hand separator,
but under the ordinary farm condi-
tons of running these machines, var
iations in the richness of the creams
are caused by:
1. Change in the temperature Of
the milk.
2. Change in speed of the separator
bowl.
3. A variation in the amount Of
milk run through separator in a given
time.
4. The amount of skim-milk or
water used to flush the bowl when
through separating.
5. Change in the richness Of the
milk, either from morning and nights
milk or from changes in the lactation
period of the cows.
These five conditions will influence
the test of the cream ever though the
cream screw is not changed. But, on
the other hand! cream Of uniform rich
ness may be obtained from a separator
by avoiding, SO far as possible, varia-
lions in the conditions just mentioned.
A thin cream is obtained by run
ling the separator below speed, by
skimming hot milk, or by crowdins
the separator, 1. e., trying to force milk
through the separator too fast; also
by using too much skim milk or water
to flush out the bowl when through
Swimming. A thick or rich cream viii
be obtained when the opposite course
is adopted in running the separator.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
GIVE TILE COW o o

Years ago the old-fashioned stan-
chion was considered the ideal fasten-
ing for the COW; that they were se-
cure there was no doubt, but that
they were comfortable is extremely
doubtful. Then followed a number of
odd devices, all calculated to hold the
COWS securely, but none Of them in
tended to give her any freedom Of
movement. Beyond a doubt the ideal
fastening for a COW Is the one which
permits her to move her head in any
direction at will, and with a fastening
sufficiently long so that she may lie
down or step around a little. OF
curse it will not do to give her rope
enough so hat she will get in trouble
herself or get other COWS in trouble.
Arrange the feed, both the grain and
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

Spread eight or ten %spreader loads OF
barnyard n to the acre on the
field.
Leave it until about August 18th.
Disc again, harrow seed and harrow.
1t can be fed to all kinds of ami
mails and has no superior as a hog
pasture.
1t is rich in protein. The leaves
have almost as high a feeding value
as bean.
1t cannot be pastured safely by cat
tie and sheep. 1t is likely to cause
bloat.
The first cuttings come in the midst
Of corn blowing when everyone is
crowded for time.
It's lot of work, but it's absolutely
useless to get a stand of alfalfa unless
the work is done thoroughly and on
time.
If you do the work as directed,
thoroughly and on time, you will get
a good stand. If it is half done and
out of season you will surely fail.
Twelve or fifteen pounds of seed to
the acre is enough. Sow half of it n
way. Cross the field and SOW the rest.
Sowing both ways secures an even dis
tribution Of seed.
After the second year spring disc
ing the field will improve the stand.
It mulches the ground, kills the grass,
splits the crowns of the alfalfa roots
and in this way thickens it.
Do not worry about inoculating the
ground with bacteria. Prepare it as
described, putting the manure or be-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
HOW TO DISTINGUISH MUsH.
ROOMS.

The fully expanded plant, or mature
mushroom. consists of a centrally
placed stalk or stipe of two to six
inche in height, usually not more
one inch in diameter, and on the
end of this stfpe there is borne an, UNI
brella-shaped or cap-shaped portion
known as the cap or pileus.
The general color of the plant varies
in the different varieties from an al
most pure white, or cream to the
forms which are deep brown, at least
with reference to the upper surface of
the cap.
The stem is usually cream or white,
and bears on it's upper extremity near
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

the cap a ring known as the annulus.
which annulus forms a covering and a
protecting layer for the delicate under
surface of the cap, to the edges of
which 1t was attached previous to the
rapid expansion and maturity of the
latter.
The under surface of the cap Is pro-
vided with leaflike or gill-like projec-
lions, reaching for the most part
around the stem to the periphery OF
the cap. These are termed gills. They
are constantly pink in color in the
white or cr~eam-colored species up tc
the time of (and sometimes even the
day after) the separation of the ring
from the cap. Subsequently these gills
turn brown and I've deep brownist
black. In the brown variety, the gill:
are at first grayish brown, but they
,also become almost black with age.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
RIGHT GARDEN PLANTING.
Some Hints on the Distribution Of
Seeds and Plants.

Some Hints on the Distribution Of
Seeds and Plants.
When I first began gardening my
greatest trouble was in getting every
thing too close; all the seeds 1 sowed
were nearly twice as thick as they
ought to have been.
To a new beginner the seeds look so
small and you want to get all out of
the ground possible, consequently the
crop is partly, if not altogether a fail
ure, simply because there is not room
enough for them to grow, and they
cannot be cultivated as they sho lid
have been. Especially is this true with
lettuce and other small vegetables.
If you raise onions with sets get
them far enough apart to cultivate be-
tween with a two-pronged hoe.
After they have been growing sew
eral weeks, the tops as well as the
onion part will be in the way, but they
will still need some c~ultivating. You
may hoe quite close to them, but there
is no substitute for the thumb and
fingers to keep out all weeds. The
ground does not often get too rich for
onions to do well.
SuSSCSSioh n SiOPS VI SSSCldplCS
should be sown. This is an important
matter to the market gardener, as it
prolongs the season very much, but
it is much less practiced in the family
garden than it should be.
Among those things of which sue
cessive crops may be sown are beets,
onions, lettuce, radishes, turnips. and
especially cas- as they usually give
but one good picking for some weeks.
Nearly all plants are safe from frost
after the middle Of May, although
lima beans, sweet potatoes and a few
such tender plants may wait until
along the first of June for planting.
Sweet corn should be planted every
week and if managed right a fresh
supply a be had until fall.
l would advise every reader to get
a package of Tennessee sweet potato
pumpkins and plant them in with the
late potatoes. They will not be in the
way for c%ultivating or hoeing and
when the potatoes are ready to dig the
pumpkins are matured.
OF all the different squash OF
pumpkins we have tried we nave never
found anything equal to this wher
they are fried. They make an excel.
lent substitute for meat in the fall.
J. D. LYON.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
HANDLING BARNARD MANURE
TO PREVENT LOSS.

BY Prof. w. H. Beal. United States
Department Of Agriculture.
1t is a well-known fact that certain
Of the organisms which cause decom-
position Of are avoided with
the dung and m their activity
at once. In case of horses and sheep
these organisms cause a considerable
loss of ammonia in a comparatively
short time. 1t is necessary, therefore,
to adopt prompt measures in order to
reduce loss from this source to a mini
mum.
The means which are available for
this purpose are the use of absorbents
Qitter) and preservatives. The litter
takes up the liquid manure, thus pre-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
Absorptive Power of Different Litters.

The figures in this table Indicate
that peat and peat moss are the best
absorbent, and the use of a mixture
largest amount of fertilizing constitu-
ents. Peaty soil is also an effective
absorbent. and the use Of a mixture
Of peaty earth with straw as litter has
been strongly recommended.
Sawdust, on the other hand, has lit
tie to recommend it except it's avail
ability and cheapness. 1t is a Door abb
sorbent, contains little fertilizing mat
ter, and decomposes very slowly in the
manure heap and in the soil. An adj
dition Of from thirty-five to forty
pounds Of loan per head daily has
been found advantageous, and where
straw is scarce 1t has been replaced to
the extent of one-fourta or one-third
by earth.
The amount of litter required for
any given animal depends largely upon
the character Of the food. Watery
foods and those containing a large
amount of nitrogen increase the secre-
ton Of urine, and so increase the
liquid and keep the animal clean.
A safe general rule is that the litter
should amount to at least one-third OF
the dry matter of the food consumed.
The following amounts per day for diff
ferent animals are recommended:
Sheep, three-fifths pound of litter; cat
tie, nine pounds, and horses six and
one-half pounds.
A small amount of gypsum Gland
plaster) sprinkled on the moist dung
or urine is commonly used as q means
of fixing the ammonia. KANT and
acid phosphate (superphosphate) have
also been recommended as preserva-
tives of manure, but recent expert
ments indicate that non of these sub
stances is of much value for prevent
ing loss of nitrogen, which is the main
object of the use of pr~eservatives.
II fact, the Investigators who have
given the most attention to the sub
ject of,the preservation of manure are
generally disposed to attach much
more Importance to the proper use OF
absorbents and to keeping the manure
heap compact and uniformly moist
than to the use of personalities. If
kainit and acid phosphate are used
they will increase the value of the ma
nure by adding potash and phosphoric
acid.
In cases where different kinds of an
imals are kept, one of the most effec-
tive means of securing moderate and
uniform fermentation of the manure
heap is to see that the moist, cold COW
and pig manure is intimately mixed
with the dry, hot horse and sheep
dung. The former makes h heap
more moist and checks the too rapid
fermentation.
1t thus appears that in order to re-
duce the loss to a minimum, manure
heaps should be made compact and
kept uniformly moist. Under cover
the last result in securing by collecting
the liquid manure and at frequent in
tervaIs sprinkiing it over the heap, OIL
when the supply Of this is deficient, by
sprinkling with water.
Where the n heap is exposed
to the rain in pits from which there i:
no drainage, it probably does not re
quire SO much attention, but still care
must be taken to prevent loss by al
ternate teaching when heavy rainfalli
occur and drying out in time o
drought.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

serving it to some extent from decom-
position, and also absorbs to a consid-
extent the amonia produced by
fermentation and prevents its escape
into the air.
sThe relative absorptive power of va
sorbents in stables is shown in the
table below. The first column gives
the amount of water retained by 100
pounds of material after t~wenty-four
hours. The second column shows the
quantity of ammonia absorbed by 100
pounds of dry matter in different ma
terials:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

could not attend the lectures and
demonstrations given on the special
trains had their interest aroused
through the press and followed the
methods advocated by the expertl It
Is believed that the scientific selection
of seed will be observed to even q
greater extent next year, with a corr
responding increase in the yield. Ad-
vanced farmers assert hat the ulti-
mate limit Of production of corn ID
still far ahead, and that with careful
seed-selection and intelligent cultiva-
ton, Maryland can astonish the world
with her production of this important
cereal..
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

fore blowing, and all the inoculating
organism necessary for the best
growth will be there.
If our readers will begin now and
SOW early next spring their possibilities
for securing a good stand are quite
equal to sowing in the fall. The main
thing is good seed on a well-prepared
seed bed. BY putting on the manure
now and blowing early and deep the
seed bed can be got in rop condi-
ton for spring seeding. BY all means
farm. After you have tested it you
won't have to be urged to Increase
your acreage of it
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

building crosswise into halves. Two
breeders are used in each house. They
are put about two inches away from
the back wall so as to allow the free
passage of air to the intake openings
in the sides of the brooders. They sit
about a foot away from each end of
the building. and this space is filled
with an elevated platform and incline,
which allows the chicks to go out
through the brooder door and down a
broad easy grade to the floor.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

crops would do well for the smother
ing out of the burs, and, being legu-
minous, would at the same time add
some nitrogen to the soil.
Both these methods combined would
be even more certain. The rye or
wheat crop could be put in in tho fall,
to be plowed down next spring. and
followed by either soy beans or hairy
vetch. This could be followed the
spring by corn. This course
would keep down the cockleburs for
two seasons in succession and would
surely be effective.
ALBERT N. HUME,
University Of Illinois.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

The government is doing a great
work in importing useful plants from
all parts Of the world. The sorghum
was introduced into this country from
China in 1864 and today produces a
crop worth $4,000, 900 per year.
About $4,000 IA expended to bring
Kaffir corr into the country for the
benefit of the semi-arid southwest.
This crop amounts to about sta--
900, 900 annually.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

the roughage, so hat she can reach II
readily. yet not so she can get at and
trample it under her feet. Any sort
of an arrangement which will enable
the GOV to live in the manner de-
scribed is an ideal arrangement,
whether it be a box stall of black wal.
nut or a fence stall with a stout rope
to tie the animal. a good manger and
a feeding rack.