davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-02-06
The Alligator Pear at Pomona.

Pomona is in Los Angeles county,
only one county south Of that in the
State of California The fruit called
alligator pear in the description, is
known in Florida as Avocado.
The Pomona Review says:
At the home of Abram Skinner on
West Ninth street is pear tree that
most horticulturists say cannot be
grown in these ATTITUDES and all hor-
ticu1turists say cannot be made to
produce fruit here. 1t is an alligator
pear tree. Nothing similar is known
in these parts. The fruit is so called
because of it's crinkled exterior and
tough skin, but as an eating pear the
alligator is highly priced in the large
cities 1t is grown in the tropical
parts of Mexico and in the South Sea
islands, where the growers have calls
for more fruit than they can supply.
Ten years ago Mr.. Skinner got an
alligator pear from Mexico. For Gu
riosity he planted the seed and one
seed came up and grew into a tree
Little attention was paid to the slen-
der young tree, for everyone who
knew of it expected it would not en-
dure this climate. But it kept on
growing thriftily in spite of the neg
1ect, and this year it produced about
fourteen large pears, which were Gag
er1y bought by Los Angeles dealer
for $40 with the hope that he can
get all future crops from the tree.
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-02-06
Balanced Plant Ration.

Prof. H. E. VanDeman recently
wrote an article for Farm and Ranch
on this subject which we consider will
be of interest and value to Our readers:
We all know how needful it is that
animals have balanced ration and
that their food is varied in character.
For instance, if horses are fed on corn
alone or even on different kinds OF
grain and nothing else, they cannot
thrive. They need hay or other rough
feed as we'll It is said that a hog
may be starved to death on the best
corn that ever was fed, and yet be fat.
Sameness of the ration will cause
physical Heterogeneous that are
sure to follow Death may not be the
result but there will not be the health
and vigor that are natural and des1r-
able. We know in our own expert
ence that we need and must have
mixed diet if we are sure to have good
health.
The same principle that apply to
animals are equally applicable to veg
etable life. Their ration ought to be
properly balanced. Unless they are,
there will be lack of vigor and fruit
fulness in corresponding degrees. The
questions on this point are, what are
balanced plant rations and how are
they to be provided?
There are, in all, thirteen elements,
so scientists say, that are needed as
plant foods. Nearly all OF these are
found in sufficient quantities and
available forms in most arabic soils,
such as iron, magnesia, lime and sill
icon But there are some that are not
so found in certain soils. They may
be there in improper proportions, or,
if there in sufficient quantities, they
may be SO locked up in combinations
with other elements, as to be unavail-
able In either case the plant growth
in such soils must suffer in proper
ton to the lack of available fertility
Of the latter class are nitrogen, potash
and phosphorus. 1t is usually quite
easy to tell by the native growth
whether a soil is rich or poor, that is,
whether the available quantity and
proper balance Of plant food is there
or not. A soil may be good for one
kind of growth and not for another
For instance, there are large areas Of
sandy soil, both in the northern and
southern parts of America that sup
port 1uxuriant growth of fine timber
but not of hardwood and when clear
ed we all know that these lands are
not usually good for farming. They
are deficient mainly in the three ele-
ments mentioned above, nitrogen, pot
ash and phosphorus. The reason that
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-02-06

DR.. David Y. Thomas, Professor of
History and Political Science in the
State University, is giving a course
in Augmentation and Debate which
is finding favor with the Students
Interest in the work of the literary
society has been quickened and the
debating society is now in a flourish
ing condition. The class meets the
instructor twce week and regular
work in the literary society counts
one hour.
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-02-06
The Heavens For February.
D. IT
By Berlin H. Wright.

cliff up your eyes on high, and be-
hold who hath created these things,
that bringeth out their host by num-
Der. He calleth them all by names,
by the greatness of His might, for
that He is strong in power, not one
faileth." Isaiah 10.
Thus the ancient prophet Isaiah ex-
horted his people to contemplate the
starry heavens as a ground for con-
hdence in God.
Surely the magnificent splendor of
the heavens in February is sufficient
to inspire priest, psalnist or any per-
son who will, for time, Danish from
mind the things of earth and turn his
gaze skyward.
The following will be the situation
at:
Ten p. m. February 1st.
Nine p m February 18th.
Eight p. m. February 18th.
Looking Southwark: Directly in
front and half way from the horizon
to the zenith b1azes the brightest star
of the heavens-Sirius or the Dog
Star.
This wonderful star was believed
by the ancient Egyptians to exercise
a controlling influence upon crops,
OVERLOOKING of the Nile, etc. In those
days Sirius rise with the sun at the
time of such over-fows and when the
greatest heat was felt. Hence those
days were termed Dog Days (Dies
caniculario). Now, owing to the per-
cession of the equinoxes, the Dog
Days, if fixed by the same standard
would fall more than month earlier.
When Sirius rose with the sun on
August 24th the Dog Days ran from
Aug. 4 to Sept. IA, or 20 days before
any after the date of Synchronous
rising. Notwithstanding the shifting
of the date, people still cling to the
idea that when Sirius united his nigh
ty influence Geo times the mass of
Our SUM- with the sun, Dog Days
must come Such is the tenacity of
tradition.
1t is believed that Sirius is one mil
lion times more distant from us than
Our sun. That wonderful annex to
the telescope, the spectroscope, shows
us that many of the same elements
that are to be found in the sun are in
Sirius. One astronomer believes he
has discovered a planet revolving
about Sirius, having period of 40
years, not at all improbable, but more
than likely. Think what mighty
system this great sun must be the
center of. Yet we only see one star,
whose rays of light, travelling at the
rate Of nearly two hundred thousand
miles per second, requires p years to
reach the earth. In other words, if
Sirius were to be blotted out of the
heavens his light would continue to
shine for 22 years
To the right or west of Sirius and of
the meridian and low in the south is
the group known as the Dove and just
above it is the Hare. Still higher and
near the meridian lies Orion with his
galaxy of brilliant stars very fully de-
scribed in the Agriculturist of Jan. 2.
Jupiter is almost directly over head.
Taurus, the Pleiades and the Hvades
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-02-06

pine grows so well III lHooc ooiio 49,
that it does not require the same
amount of these plant foods that hard
wood timber does, especially potash
This is very plainly seen in the ashes
OF the two Every one knows that
pine wood ashes will not make soap.
and it is because there is almost no
potash in it. But hardwood ashes
have the necessary potash IN them to
make soap; and also the soil on which
the trees grew that made the ashes
will grow good crops Of almost any
kind suitable to the climate. The
needed amount and balance OF the
plant food is there.
The question at once arises, what
are properly balanced plant rations!
This has been answered many times
by scientists, who have given the for
mu1as for the various crops to be
grown and this is all very good. But
the farmer, fruit grower or gardener,
who is observant, can get the proper
answer, for all practical purposes
from the crops themselves. There
may be some laundering in the ask
ing, but the answers by the crops
will be plain and emphatic. From this
standpoint the solution of the ques-
ton, or questions, if not difficult.
Any soil that does not produce fair
crops of any kind that are being
grown, needs something at once. 1t
may and probably does need better
brains behind it. It is almost sure
that it needs better ti11age. The soil
and subsoi1 should be stirred more
thoroughly. This will help to unlock
the chemical combinations that hold
part of the plant foods in unavaila
bic forms. Humus is. needed and
growing and turning under 1egumi-
nous crops will not only add humus
to the soil, but it will add nitrogen as
well, and nitrogen is almost surely
needed. It gives dark color to the TO-
1iage and causes rank growth. Nitrate
of soda, cotton seed meal and slaugh-
ter house refuse, all contain nitrogen
in available forms. For some crops
they are not needed nearly as much
as for others, and the application of
any nitrogen manures should al
ways be made with good judgment,
lest too much be applied. Without
enough nitrogen the plant ration
would be unbalanced and the same
with too much Trial alone will tell
how. much can be pro6tab1y used,
but the study of that which is pub
1ished on the subject will aid in arriv
ing at wise conclusions.
There is no danger whatever from
using potash, although there may be
waste to it. The soil is sometimes
we'll supplied with it naturally, but
this is rare It is especially beneh- :
cia1 to grain, vegetable and fruit
crops. It gives vigor to the growth
of stem and leaf, and fills out the
fruits wonderfully The sources of
potash are various, but generally
speaking, muriate and sulphate of
potash are the most economical; they
are about half potash. Do not be
afraid to use them literally.
Phosphorus is also very beneficial
in invigorating the growth of all kinds
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01
THE LADIES

II Cleopatra's nose had been shorter the
face of the world would have been
changed. Pascal.
Women are undecipherable; whether
they laugh or cry, ones explanation is
never right.-Th. Bentzon.
What mon seek in women is the opposite
of hemselves.-Ernest Renan.
Their glory is to be least spoken OF
among men, whether for praise or blame.
--Pericles.
Men and women never agree as to the
merits of another woman.-La Bruyere.
Natural beauty is not everything; there
is an art in being pretty.-Ludovic Ha-
levy.
A person in whom the perfections of
both mind and body are found together
alone deserves In my judgment the praise
of perfect beauty.
A woman's face ought to be like an
April day-susceptible of change and vari-
ety.--Lord Byron.
Laughter is the test of beauty; women
that it embellishes are of the divine race.
-Rougon.
There is an old saying that in England
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01
WHAT OF HUGHES?

TWO months ago Governor Hughes
of New York existed as presiden-
Il tial possibility in a vaguely limned
day dream only. He was too new"
"too inexperienced in public life," to be
regarded as much of a factor in the
impending national contest. But, 10!
What have few short days brought
forth?
The Hughes dream has materialized
into something dangerously akin to a
Hughes boom, Republican newspapers
of widespread interest, speakers Of
national repute, political economists
and other forces are combining to
give to the name of Hughes ring that
must have a sinister sound to the
Knox and even of Taft, the administra-
ton favorite.
Perhaps the most favorable symptom
for Hughes is the weakness of the Re-
publican party in presidential material
now that Roosevelt is coming more and
more to be regarded as out of the race
by his own declarations. Many of the
self-seeking men who are the subjects
of vociferous admiration on the part
of certain cliques will be found to be
down and out, by popular acclaim, be-
fore the assembling of the national
convention. They are featherweights.
No "stand patter' could possibly be
elected, even if he could secure NOM
ination. Does any intelligent man be-
lieve that, with the nomination of
Bryan by the Democrats foregone
conclusion, the Republican party will
dare to risk it's integrity by naming any
one of the first three men we have
named as representatives of the "stand
pat' wing of the party? Such course
would be like flying in the face of
Providence, One by one these bare
possibilities must be eliminated.
The Hughes sentiment is as yet
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01

largely local, but events move rapidly
in this country in times of tense and
exaggerated political nerve strain, and
few men will dare to predict what will
happen to the Hughes boom between
now and June. The Republican party
in the nation has seldom been so far
from unity of sentiment as now; the
independent vote has assumed tremen-
dous proportions since 1904, and ma
tional party lines are less positively
outlined than at any previous time
since the Civil var. If by any COM
bination of chances the reactionary
element in that party should control
the national convention next summer
the campaign to follow may develop
surprises that were never dreamed of
in the philosophy of the cocksure Re-
publican leaders of the present gen.
Grafton.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01
BEGIN TOMORROW

W EGIN your Christmas shopping
X tomorrow. Finish it during the
IL week, if possible. Do not make
the mistake of waiting until the wares
displayed in the stores have been clawed
over and soiled, the best of them
secured by the early birds and the
stocks so depleted that you may hunt
from one end of the town to the other
without finding what you have planned
TO give to some friend or member of
your family. Don't victimize yourself
in this manner by putting off until
tomorrow what you might just as well
do today.
It is one of the mysteries Of life why
so many persons postpone their holiday
shopping until the last possible moment
still more difficult is it to comprehend
why so many people willingly go
through the same crush year after
year. Last year, when you found you
could not get what you wanted because
YOU had let others snap up the bar
gains from beneath your very eyes, as
it were, you promised yourself that you
would never fool yourself again. But
the Christmas season of this year will
witness a repetition of the disheartening
experiences of the past in thousands of
cases, just because you, and you, and
YOU have forgotten the pledges you
made with yourselves a year ago.
Nearly every person knows whom the
recipients of the gifts he is to buy will
be. While these will try gracefully not
to 'look the gift horse in the mouth, "
vet many of them will wonder why 1t
is that year after year he receives
something or other accompanied by an
apology, spoken. written or implied.
because at is so hard to select gifts.
my dear" 1t wouldn't be hard, not a
bit, If the giver would do his purchas-
ing before the market had been ripped
to pieces.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01
Level Headed Men Most
Optimistic Over Outlook

TIME recent spectacle Of multitudes OF
people drawing their money out of
- perfectly solid banks and trust COM
panies is good illustration of the power
of fear to bring about financial panic,
even In the midst of prosperity. There
was absolutely no real cause for this
panic which, for q time, played sucn
havoc in the financial world. 1t was
started by gamblers and promoters, who
were posing as bankers; men who used
sacred trust assets to rig the stock mar
ket and to promote their own schemes
generally. This financial storm came out
of a clear sky, and when we were en-
ioying unusual prosperity. Capital was
we'll employed, comparatively lew people
were out of work in the entire country.
Almost anyone, with any sort of ability
who was willing to work, could find en-
ployment. There was no extended eco
nomic disturbance anywhere and the
business of our marvellous country was
never in better condition.
In all parts of the United States level
headed, conservative business men are
most optimistic. Representative business
men, prominent merchants and manufac-
turers in different parts of the country
have been interviewed and they say that
business was never more satisfactory,
that the volume this year Will greatly
exceed that of last year. The demand
for a better, higher class of goods Is
quite general all over the country; the
demand on wholesale houses for spot
and future goods is better than a year
ago. Collections are good and the fall
business promises to be as large as last
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01
CALIFORNIA SPORTSMEN

N ALIFORNIA' has something over
Il 115,000 sportsmen. Over 10000 of
~ these have paid their 81 license fee
and taken away an aluminium tag
which probably costs one half a cent
or less. With the money now in pos
session of the state fish and game
commission it is believed no more
appropriations win be asked of the leg
islature. With the $4,000 license fees
state legislature at the last regular ses-
sion it is believed the commissioners
have 100000 available for protection
and propagation of fish and game in
California.
With the sportsmen the license law
he's proved popular. With the ranchers
the law will also find favor when they
realize that it keeps from the field a
horde of aliens who formerly killed
innumerable song and insectiverous
birds.
There is one question constantly asked
by sportsmen who have cheerfully paid
their license tax: What are the COM
missioners going to do with the money?
A growing sentiment is found among
the sportsmen in favor of protection
for the valley quail by making the dove
season run spontaneously with the
quail season. This will keep the dove
hunter out of the coverts in midsum-
mer. Many men with gun in hand
can resist everything but temptation.
One suggestion in regard to restock-
ing that will doubtless fin1 many sup
porters in Los Angeles is that the
coverts be ref1lled with valley quail
This in preference to introducing for
eign birds, an experiment which has
proved expensive and unsuccessful in
many sections of the country.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01

year. In the west business is reported
better than ever before
If instead of giving up to his fear q
man would persist in keeping prosperity
In his mind, assume a hopeful, optimistic
attitude and conduct his business in a
systematic, economical, far-sighted man
ner actual failure would be compara-
lively rare. But when a man becomes
discouraged, when he loses heart and his
grip he is not in position to make the
effort which is absolutely necessary to
bring victory out of anything and there
is a shrinkage all along the line. Cour-
age must lead In any great undertaking.
Efficiency will only follow confidence.
Fear Is one of the most deadly jnstru-
ments for marring human lives. 1t has
deadening. para. .yzing, blighting influ-
ence upon the whole being. 1t impover-
ishes the blood, destroys health by i'm
pairing the digestion, cutting off nutri-
tion, and lowering the physical and mem
tai vitality. 1t crusnes out hope. kills
courage and SO enfeebles the minds ac
tion that 1t cannot create.
Fear kills initiative. All work done
when one is suffering from a sense Of
fear or foreboding has little efficiency.
Fear strangles originality, daring, bold
ness; it kills individuality and weakens
all the mental processes. Great things
are never done under sense of fear of
some impending danger. 1t depresses
normal mental action and renders one
incapable of acting wisely in an emer-
gency, for no one can think clearly and
act wisely when paralyzed by fear
Orison SWEET Marden In Success Maga-
zine
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01
WORSE THAN FOLLY

| iHHE jamestown exposition Of yester-
day is the jamestown failure, If
= not. the folly, of today. A worlds
fair" which appealed to the nation at
the start as an institution eminently
worthy of the support Of all patriotic
American citizens, commemorating, as
it has, the first permanent English set
tlement on the soil of the New World,
Is now generally regarded as having
been a cheat and a fraud from it's
inception.
The end of the exposition is at hand.
Now that the promoters have come face
to face with their day of reckoning
with too generous government they
admit that they never have entertained
any great hope that they would be able
to return to the nation the money lent
to them in order that their bunko show
might be financially successful-for
them. The deficit will be in the neigh
borhood of three millions of dollars.
Barely more than one-tenth Of the gov
ernment's loan of a million has been
repaid, the remainder standing. in the
words of a Washington dispatch, "as
a charge against an utterly insolvent
concern"
The dispatch which conveyed this dis
gusting information also states that
now that comment can work no injury
1t may be said that the affair was
almost hopeless from its beginning"
What cowardly, contemplate ad-
mission for anybody connected with the
fair to make! The promoters, though
realizing from almost the very begin
ming that they would not be able to
repay the moneys advanced by a kindly
government, still asked for and accepted
the governments bounty. A rougher
term than unfair should characterize
this deal. Probably In the case of no
other similar "show" in the history of
the United States have the promoters
sought government cooperation until
assured that the chances for success
were bright.
The admission Is far from being cred
liable to those who had the financing
and management of the jamestown fiz-
zle in hand. Men have been sent to
states prison for offenses of lesser
degree. If it can be proven that the
promoters of this fasco took money
from the government knowing that 1t
would be practically impossible to
return the principal, let alone the inter-
est, which doubtless would be waived.
the whole country will rejoice to see
them brought sharply to task for TAX
ing money under false pretenses. The
of a rigid investigation into
the whole affair will have salutary
effect upon prospective fioaters of future
worlds fairs" in America.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01
GIVE 1T EIGHT ARMS

A TEXAS admirer Of John D. Rookie
IL feller, who declares that his hero
IA is "the greatest man in the world"
is erecting monument to the financial
monarch. His name is A. G. Lee, and
he is hotel proprietor of Denton. For
months his teams have been hauling
stones of all sizes to a farm two miles
from Denton, where the memorial is
being erected. These stones range in
size from pebbles to great boulders,
and they are being piled in heap for
the foundation for the monument. The
builder declares that every stone
''stands for noble deed Mr.. Rookie
feller has done"
The office of this admirer of Rookie
feller is Uttered with plans for the work
and suggestions for the tablets which
are to stand at the base of the shaft.
Testers have had plenty of fun in send
ing in suggestions as to the inscriptions
which should be placed on the stone,
border lines of dollar marks being
favorite decorations.
just what form this monument will
take is not stated in the dispatches
from Denton. If it is perfectly to typ
ify the distinguished competition de-
stroyer of America we would suggest
to Mr.. Lee that he order the stone to
be carved so as to take the shape of a
certain species of cephaloids having
eight arms furnished with suckers
About SO,OOO,OOO of the latter would be
an appropriate number-one to each
tentacle.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01
senator Foraker who is a member

Senator Foraker, who is a member of
the committee of the United States sem
ate which investigated the Brownsville
incident, will make minority-of-one
report in which he will hold that the
evidence did not justify the president
in his wholesale dismissal OF soldiers
accused of INSTRUMENTATION. If Foraker
were a really keen politician he would
leave this live coal alone, particularly
at this juncture. There are altogether
too many persons in the United States
who will regard his slap at the presi-
dent as indicating i'm him too small a
stature for presidential material.