davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
COMM RCIAL FERTILIZERS

To the Editor: / own 100 acres of
fairly good upland, but am obliged to
use more or less fertilizers. The fer
tilizer companies advise me to use
special brand for corn, another for
hay, and so on, and, in fact, have
fertilizer for everything grown on the
farm. Our fertilizer bills are becom-
ing a serious question. Can you give
us advice on this subject?-J. B. L.,
Virginia.
There is a disposition with the ma
jority of farmers to make the imme-
diate results the main point for con-
sideration rather than look to the up
building of the soil.
This has led many into the special
fertilizer fallacy, so we have special
corn fertilizer, a special wheat fertil-
izer and special for almost all crops
grown.
This is all mistake since the spe-
cial mixture suited to certain crops
under all circumstances exists in name
only and the farmer has the privilege
of spending many hard-earned dollars
for name only.
The chief object in the use of com
mercial fertilizer is. or should be, to
aid in the permanent Improvement OF
the soil. BY means Of the judicious
use of fertilizer, the systematic rotation
of crops and the growing of legumes
| this can be done by using only a phos-
phate or phosphate and potash with
out going to the expense of buying
nitrogen at a high price.
| Vegetable humus is one of the mair
things in a soil and the fertilizer should
be used to increase this humus. OF
course the immediate increase of crops
is an important consideration, and this
can be obtained by the judicious use o.
the less costly fertilizers.
A phosphate viii show good result:
on sod land. It will grow almost i
not as much wheat as the specia
wheat mixtures, and do it at a far les!
cost besides leaving the soil in quite
| as good condition.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
KEEP COWS IN OPEN SHEDS
This Saves the Farmer a Great
Deal of Labor-Cows More
Healthy and Vigorous.
BY PROFESSOR W. ]. FRASER.

Cows that are allowed to run INTO
open sheds with managers do better
than when kept in stables. During an
experiment twenty-five were cared LOT
in this way in shed 80 by 6S 1eet'
having managers on each side and pull
pens in two corners, and the results
were considered most satisfactory.
The COWS keep much cleaner than
when stabbed and the milking stable is
in a more sanitary condition, conse-
uuently it is easier to produce clean
milk. BY this method there is less dr.
ficulty in providing cows with an album
dance of fresh air, and they are more
vigorous and healthy and have better
appetites than when kept in the stable
Labor is saved, as the shed can be
bedded much more easily and quickly
than stalls. There is little stable clean
ing to be done, and the manure is
hauled directly from the shed to the
field at any time most convenient and
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
when least damage is done the land by

when least damage is done the land by
tramping.
Another advantage is the saving of
fertility much more completely. Many
barns do not have cement floor, and
so there is more or less waste Of the
liquid portion of the manure. Since
land is becoming so high-pr1ced no
farmer can afford to allow any fertil-
.ity to be wasted, and by this method
all the liquid is saved, as it is absorb9d
by the bedding.
If only enough bedding is used to
keep the cows clean they tramp the
manure so thoroughly that it does not
heat to make the air impure. If ma
nure is hauled directly from the stable
to the field there is considerable por-
ton of the year when it must be al
lowed to accumulate in the yard, where
it will leach badly, or it must be hauled
on to the land when it is so wet anc
soft that much injury is done by
tramping. This is especially true or
clay soil.
On many dairy farms the question o.
getting sufficient help is becoming sucf
a problem as to interfere seriousl!
with this branch of agriculture. AS i
seems to be the opinion of the major
ity of people who have practiced thi
method that it saves labor, this is on
of the strong points in it's favor.
The information at hand is not suf
ficient from which to draw definite con
clusions for all sections of the countr,
and all conditions. The system ha
been a marked success wherever W
can find that it has been tried.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
ONE BOYS ACRE OF LAND

Last year papa gave me about an
acre of land First I plowed it and
then covered it with cow manure.
pulverized it twice, dragged it and
sowed half to wheat and then dragged
it twice more.
One-f fourth of the acre I set out into
tomatoes and the rest l planted with
potatoes. The seeds cost me $3.50. AL
summer I kept it clean and after every
rain / hoed it. When / had sold every
thing but the wheat I had 5000, so
cleared $50.
/ also had 20 chickens. I set all the
hens that wanted to set. I fed the lit.
tie chickens. I raised 1853 chickens ant
all that l fed was four bushels o
wheat and 141a bushels of corn. sole
them for $50.-Alvie Mathisen, Lock
port, Ill
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27

can farmer. The gospel is being rap
idly spread through these agencies, but
it should be taught day in and day out
by every agricultural writer and pub
Usher in the country.
The lesson Of the Nile is to be taught
in America. Potash, nitrogen and
phosphorus are the plant foods most
necessary Nitrogen is the most ex-
pensive when bought in commercial
form, but it can be produced for prac-
tically nothing by growing clover and
other leguminous crops. Legumes have
a peculiar way which even the scient-
lists cannot explain of reaching up into
the air and gathering nitrogen and re-
storing it to the soil through the agen-
cy of bacteria These bacteria cause
the production of small nodules on the
roots through which nitrogen is assim-
Hated from the air in contact with the
roots. An examination Of many plant:
like clover and alfalfa will show these
nodules in large numbers.
The discoveries made by agricultural
scientists during the past few year.
show the superiority of leguminou
over non-leguminous crops to produce
soil fertility. Both enrich the soil will
humus and plant food but the plan
food deposited by the n-lcguminou
crop is wholly obtained from the sol
while the nitrogen contained in tn
leguminous is gathered from the al
and costs nothing.
In southern Illinois, Indiana an
some of the eastern states. soil whic
has been worn OUT through success
sive crops of corn for even thirty year
has been brought back to almost It
original fertility in three or four years
simply by the system of green manur
ing. Professor Cyril G. Hopkins ma
produced some remarkable results
his own land and that of neighborin
farmers in southern Illinois.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
LATE MARCH WORK
Spray, spray, spray!

spray, spray, spray!
We are beginning to pillow in the
south, but do not turn over the ground
when it is sticky. Wait day or two.
Sorry you did not fix UP a house for
the lambing ewes? May lose enough
to pay for good one.
The spring pigs are coming along
now. Thousands die every year from
too much March wind.
Get into the grape vines with the
knife and pruning shears-if you know
how to prune. Otherwise keep out.
Now is the time when the lice get
busy in the chicken house. At 'ern
with the kerosene can and whitewash
brush.
What pity to let the baby chicks
perish in the cold March wind for lack
of shelter!
The spring crop of calves is coming
now. Dehorn them by using bit OF
caustic instead of saving them off a
year later.
Do not give the sow's nest too much
litter at narrowing time. Many pigs
are destroyed by full nest.
No nest ever made for hen beats
a half barrel laid on it's side, particu-
| larly for March weather.
The bees will be taking a spring
flight Examine them after they come
back to ascertain if they have enough
| food to last till the blossoms come.
A strong March wind will dry all the
moisture out of the tree roots if left
exposed long while planting.
The climbing cutworm is working
| away on the newly set trees and vines
these nights. Keeps out of sight II
daytime Keep him away by strip OF
stiff paper put around the plant anc
pushed an inch into the soil
Make fair written contract with tho
hired man. Saves MISUNDERSTANDING
An hour in the workshop repairing
now and then will save time later wher
it Is more valuable.
The heavy rains and strong March
winds will push over the fence posts
Straighten them up.
Potatoes will sprout now if not giver
light and air.
The seed catalogues are mighty at
tractive, but study them carefully be
fore plunging.
Get the onions in the ground just a
soon as it is fit.
Many good team has been ruine'
by straining at heavy loads while sof
in the early spring days.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27

thirds of its area, the remainder with
an earth floor being used as black
smith shop.
The floored portion was provided on
the one side with a woodworking
bench, over which were placed several
shelves for the reception Of tools. on
the opposite side there was provided a
heavy plank bench with a wise and
other equipment for working iron.
Below the iron working bench there
should be provided a rack upon which
! to store the stock of various sizes OF
square and round iron required for
making repairs. Above the iron work.
ing bench there should be a few shelves
| for the storage Of tools; also numerous
pigeonhole boxes for the accommodate
ton of the stock of bolts, nuts and
washers.
This shop was constructed of cheap
lumber, the siding being put on up and
down with cracks battened, and it has
a simple gable roof. By this type OF
construction ample space is secured
overhead for the storage of materials
especially seasoned timber for use II
making repairs.
An abundance of light is essential tt
good work, and as much of the repair
work will be done during dark ant
cloudy weather the windows should bt
, numerous and so distributed as to pro
, vide for uniform lighting. The win
dows should be protected on the insid
by wire netting.
The large doors in the end of tn
shop are made to cover the entire spac
J between the workbenches, SO tina
; the larger farm implements may b
brought upon the floor for repairing
Where the climate is cold, provision
5 should be made for heating stove, i
, order that the shop may be comforta
? BILE for work during winter weather.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27

In planting young trees, no matter
what the variety, give clean cut ends
to all roots which may have been
bruised in taking up. This is too sell
dom done, and owing to the fact that
the work Is covered from sight when
the roots are under the ground the
grower seldom knows the real cause of
lack of thrift which is sometimes in
dictated in young trees, which may be
traced directly to this habit of bury
ing mangled and broken roots, which
are susceptible to fungous and other
diseases. The ends should be CLAN
cut. The best tool for this is a sharp
knife which does not mangle the bark
at all. The ordinary pruning shears il
very sharp do very satisfactory work
but the knife is preferable
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
A VERY VALUABLE TREE

There is tree in Cheapside, Lon
don, that may literally be described
as the most expensive of it's kind on
earth.
If IS gold pieces filed the entire
trunk and IS bills nuttered in the place
of it's leaves it would not buy the
ground it occupies, for the land on
which it stands Is worth S4500.O00 an
acre The tree has stood on the spot
for 200 years.
There have been several hard fought
lawsuits over this plot of ground, the
fight having been carried even to the
house of lords, but so far the lawyers
have never been able to break through
the legal enactments which preserve
the tree
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
GOOD TYPE OF BRONZE GoBBLER

GOOD TYPE OF BRONZE GoBBLER.
fined in the yard they pine and droop
for lack of the necessary insect food.
If her coop is placed on the edge of
the field they soon have the adjacent
ground depopulated of insect life, and
wandering beyond reach of her voice
leads to rambling if not a prey to
hawks.
The most satisfactory plan, however,
since the turkeys time is SO valuable
in the early spring for laying, is to give
the first clutch to hens, striving to
overcome their defects as much as pos
sible.
She will soon commence laying again
and should be allowed to mother the
second brood herself. Many turkeys
will even raise the third clutch, sc
managed, and have the youngest birds
! ready for the holiday market.-Bessit
J. Putnam.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
TRAP NESTS MAKE RECORDS

trap nest Is a simple device to
catch the hen when she enters to lay.
AS she passes into the nest she presses
against trigger which holds up the
door and it falls down behind her.
When she has laid the egg it is num-
bered to correspond with the number
on the hens leg band. This enables
the breeder to keep each hens eggs
separate with perfect accuracy.
Attempts to improve the egg-pro-
ducing qualities of the hen date to the
domestication of the hen, but it has
only been within the last few years
that rapid progress has been possible
in this work. The inability to deter
mine the good layers has been the
difficulty.
With the perfection of the trap nest
this difficulty has been removed and
many poultry breeders are now en-
gagged in the production of egg-laying
strains of fowls.
The great majority of people make
no selection of hens from which to
hatch their stock. The eggs of the
when eggs are desired for Matching
they are selected from general bas-
ket.
1t has been assumed and is shown
by trap nest records that eggs thus
selected in the spring of the year are
from the poorer rather than from the
better layers.
This is because the hens that have
not been laying during the winter will
lay very heavily during the spring sea-
son.
Trap nests devised to catch the her
that lays the egg are numerous in the
market A trap nest to be successful
must not only catch the hen that lays
but must prevent the entrance of Other
+ hens.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27

OF course there are some trees which
require the minimum of pruning But
even such trees require most careful
attention during their younger earlier
years.
One point which should be more
strongly impressed upon all planters is
to give greater care to young trees by
doing thumb pruning" and taking of
more twigs with small knife. This
would save the use of the saw and con-
sequent serious wounds and sometimes
ruined trees by taking off large limbs
later.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
WATERING HOUSE PLANTS

Plants in pots should never be al
lowed to become very dry. Neglect of
this kind, just once even, may cause
more damage to the roots Of the plants
than can be repaired in a month.
The ends of the roots are supplied
with mouths, or ducts, through which
moisture or nutriment is absorbed II
these are destroyed by drying out or
decayed by overwhelming, the source Of
supply is cut off and before the plant
can regain it's vigor pew roots must ha
grown.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
sHAPELY FRUlT TREES

Some people maintain that a decidu-
Gus tree properly grown should never
be touched with pruning knife. 1T is
not natures way and nature knows
best how to meet her own require
ments" is often asserted as a reason of
the nonpruner.
There is a certain degree of truth
in that statement, but followed abso-
lutely it would lead to natures way of
producing fruit when she pleases
When man takes charge of an orchard
it is to force the bearing capacity OF
the trees vastly beyond the way which
nature intended.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
SHOP FOR REPAIR WORK

A>shop or other suitable place on the
farm where repair work can be carried
on during cold or stormy weather Is
almost as important as the tools ana
materials with which to make the re-
pairs. A small building devoted ex-
clusively to shop purposes is desirable,
but where this is not available por-
ton of one of the regular farm build
ings may be utilized.
One side of a wagon shed can ire
uuently be devoted to this purpose. A
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
MONEY IN OSTRICH FARMS

One of the Oldest and largest ostrich
farms" in America is not far from
Los Angeles. 1t is the Cawston farm
and was established more than twenty
years $50.
There are hundreds of ostriches en-
this farm. The principal work on an
ostrich farm is the Matching, care of
the young ostriches and the "shearing
of the old grown birds-that is pluck
ing their long. silky, beautiful plumes
This is done at certain intervals
whenever these long feathers mature
Where there are hundreds of these
birds to care for and the plumage te
pluck, it keeps the force on the farm
pretty busy the year round.
AS these plumes are always in de.
mand all over the world and bring {
good price, the profits of ostrich farm.
ing are large. The industry has proved
a very profitable one.
The southern part of the Pacific
coast is admirably adapted to Ostrich
rearing. The climate is warm and dr..
and these bigs awkward, clumsy crea
lures grow and thrive as we'll as OF
the deserts of South Africa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27

7 y
A pair of robins have been known
to carry a thousand earthworms to
their brood in one season Woodpeck
ers destroy eggs and larvae which
would develop millions of destructive
creatures in forests and orchards The
orIole is especially fond of the canker
worm Still farmers and hunters con-
tinue to destroy the birds, remember
ing the cherries they ate and forget
ting all about the harmful insects they
disposed o.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27

FLOOR PLAN FOR WORKSHOP.
workbench can be fitted up and proV1-
sion made for the care of tools and
supplies.
A shop which meets the requirements
of the general farm is illustrated by
the floor plan here shown. The shop
from which this plan was taken con-
sists of a one-story building about "a
feet in length and 16 feet in width,
having plank floor over about two
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27

A comparison of corn and oats as
feed for work horses was made at the
Ohio station and the results indicate
that when clover and timothy hay
mixed were fed to mature geldings at
general farm work ear corn is prac-
tically as efficient pound for pound as
oats. The corn did not induce laziness
nor did the oats induce increased spirit
and endurance
The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-02-27
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Mrs. Frank G. Eastman and bah,
left Monday for Detroit, to remain
several months visiting her parents.
MRS. A. j. Gustin left Tuesday fol
Boise to join Mr.. and Mrs ]. L. Priest
Mrs Compton is here from Valentine
Neb., visiting her brother and sister
DR.. and Mrs. w. D. Donoher.
Mrs. Garrett B. Wilkin returned
Monday to Bingham, after a visit of a
few days here with the Cullen family.
Leroy A. Palmer left Wednesday
morning for a short business trip to
Mercur.
Robert E. Mark of this city was mar
ried last week in Denver to a prom
inent young lady of that city. Mr.. and
Mrs. Mark will be at home shortly in
this city.
Mr.. and Mrs. S. H. Treloar of Butte
are recent arrivals in this city.
Misses Mary and Elizabeth Shields Of
Park City were Salt Lake visitors dur
ing the past week.
Many friends here will regret to hear
of the death Of Mrs. Vallez, formerly
Miss Alice O'Donnell. of Rock Springs.
Mrs. William letters of Ogden Wis
tied Mrs. William Davidson last week
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Zeigler have
gone to their new home at McGill, New.
Mrs. S. H. Treloar was the guest of
honor at delightful bridge tea Tues
day afternoon, when Mrs. H L. Charles
entertained five tables. The rooms were
bright with spring flowers. Mrs. L. NJ.
Bailey poured, assisted by Mrs. a D.
Cleveland and w. C. Alexander. Prizes
were won by Mrs. Richard Stingley,
Mrs j. L. Franken, Mrs. Robert Glen
DINING, Mrs. A. D. Cleveland, Mrs.
Justus Jungk and the guest of honor.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Hagenbarth and
children and Mrs. ]. D. Wood left last
week for southern California to spend
several months.
The many friends of Mrs. Windsor V.
Rice will be pleased to know that after
being confined to the house for a month
she is able to be out.
Mrs W. S. Mccormick entertained
again on Thursday at a luncheon.
Mrs. E. NJ. Conroy and her sister.
Mrs. Ryan, were here from Ogden last
week for d short stay with friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. T. c. jackson Of Butte |
are recent arrivals in thi scity.
The many friends of charming Mil
lred Cuddy will regret to hear that she
S confined to the house with a severely |
'prained ankle.
The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-02-27
CATHEDRAL NOTES.

During Lent, benediction will be giver
every "Wednesday night at 7:3O, an(
Stations of the Cross on Friday at the
same time.
The members of the o'clock and 1,
o'clock choirs are expected to sing at al
the evening services during Lent AL
former members of either choir are also
invited
The members of the st. Cecilia chorus
will have rehearsal on Sunday morning
at $3.50.
Parents of the children who will ap-
pear in the st. Patricl5's day concert
are requested to read the notices of the
rehearSalS so that the little folks Will
be prompt and attentive.
The attendance at the masses on Ash
Wednesday was truly edifying Rev.
Father hiely blessed the ashes at the s
o'clock mass, and the young girls of the
81. Cecilia chorus sang. In the evening
Rev. w. x. Ryan said the rosary and
litany. There was no Benediction as
the remains of Rev. Father O'Donahue
rested before the altar
The members of the Cathedral choir
viii practice at $3.50 Friday evening
after church. For Easter, the choir will
sing PaclnTs Grand Italian Mass, Num-
Der One
and II o'clock choirs are expected to
sing at all the services.
The paper for the dresses for the st.
Patrick's concert arrived from New
York on Thursday.
Positively no more children viii be
accepted for the concert after Sunday.
The ladies of the St AIMS Sewing
society will make the dresses for the
little ones at st. AIMS. The work Will
be done under the direction of Mrs. Nc
Mahon, the tireless president of the So
ciety.
Six hundred rolls of the finest crystal
crepe paper of all the most beautiful
shades viii be used for the dresses for
the St Patricl's concert. Every one
wears paper, rich and poor alike, and
the little performers certainly look like
fairies.
The Very Rev. J. NJ. Portal. provfn-
ciaI of the Marist order in America, is
at present visiting All Hallows college
on his annual tour of inspection, All
HalloWs being one of the schools under
the charge of the Marist order. The
Very Rev. Provincial has been to the
coast and is now on his way east. The
headquarters of the order in America
IS at Boston. The entertainment given
last Monday evening by the students of
the college, will be repeated Sunday in
honor Of the provincial The entertain |
ment Will begin at S:15 and friends Of |
the college are invited. Many persons |
were unable to witness the entertain |
ment when it was first given, owing to |
the limited capacity of The hall.
A retreat Is now being conducted at |
the college by the Rev p. NJ Cushna
han of Ogden.