davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01

to absolutely force themselves upon
our attention. We may admire them
in a way, but it is way with which
the idea of home is not associated.
But If shrubs and perennials and
vines were planted about them their
aggressiveness would be hidden. or at
least modified, and we would soon be-
gin to think of them as homes instead
of houses.
No very tall-groWing plants should
be used anywhere about the house if
they will interfere with the outlook.
Windows are made to let in light and
sunshine and we cannot afford to
darken them with bushes or vines.
In the first illustration just enough
vines are used to soften the outlines Of
the building, it will be observed.
A vine used in this way has chance
to display it's individuality. You see
all it's charm of leaf and habit of
growth. But when trained as shown in
illustration No 2 this individuality is
lost. Here we have too much Of a
good thing" The windows are dark
ened, free outlook is interfered with
and the general effect Is monotonous.
One vine, planted at the corner and
trained along the cornice, over the
windows, with a few branches allowed
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
FORMING A DAIRY HERD
Much Care Should Be Exercised
in the Selection of the
Parent Stock

Those about to embark upon a stock
breeding enterprise should see that
before single animal is bought, the
farm is provided with suitable build
lngs for the purpose, and in the next
place procure the services of an ex-
perienced and thoroughly skilled stock
man, and every successful breeder of
farm animals will indorse the wisdom
and soundness of this advice.
Beginners should not be tempted to
buy on show yard rather than herd
book qualifications. The aspirant who
Is most likely to realize his desires is
the man who makes UP his mind as
to the particular strain or type of ami
NAL he is to produce, and, having done
this, resolutely carries out his ideas in
practice. Consequently he should not
allow himself to be tempted on any
account to buy animals not exactly of
the pedigree or class likely to improve
his herd merely because that animal
has achieved notable triumphs in the
chow yard.
In the case of bulls the need for such
exaeting discrimination is especially
necessary, as many herd has been
temporarily and some permanently de-
Perforated through injudicious intro
auctions Of this kind The would be
breeder should especially be on his
guard against the acquisition of COWS
and heifers that have been prominent
prize winners. not only for the reason
that such animals usually command
higher prices, but also on the ground
that they are less reliable breeders.
AS to the selection of bulls, especial
Na- oh N,r11 ho toll
Ing of the animals in relation to the
COWS In his herd, and it is also urged
that as far as may be practicable the
rires selected should be calculated by
their own Individual merit to correct
lny possible defect in the conformation
pf the cows.
The advantages possessed by winter
calves over those born in spring or
summer are sufficiently tangible to
warrant efforts on the part of the
breeders to have their calves arrive
before the advent of spring.
1t is allowable for pedigreed cows to
Euckle their calves, but in order to en-
courage the milking propensities of the
cow it should be insisted upon that
each animal be MIXED dry at least
once a day until such time as the cali
Is able TO take the whole of the dams
milk. . "a
This is an excellent method and II
It were strictly adhered to and no spare
milk allowed to remain in the cow.
ndder there would be fewer complaints
as to the milking qualities of our beef
producing breeds.
From about weeks old calves are
allowed to lick little finely crushed
oil cake, and by and by turnips are
also given to the earlier calves, and
then for some time before and after
weaving crushed oil cake is again
given, and later on a mixture of bran
linseed meal and ground locust beans
takes the place of the oil cake, and
later still the turnips are by degrees
introduced to form the bulky part Of
the ration.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
POULTRY RAISING HINTS

Sand cannot take the place of grit for
your fowls. What they need is some
thing sharp. The round surface of a
grain of sand is not going to do much
toward cutting the hard outside husk
of kernel of corn. wheat or other
grains.
To increase the egg yield, to cut
down expenses and to accelerate
growth do not require new breeds, but
more practical breeders.
For soft shelled eggs give hens more
exercise. Cut out corn and give veg
etables in abundance. An injection Of
oil into vent may relieve local infiam
nation.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
PLANTS ABOUT THE HOUSE
They Add Beauty and Dignity
as Well as an Air of Home.
ness and Comfort.
BY EBEN E. RExFoRD.

To the writer, house with exposed
foundation always seems unfinished.
1t needs the grace of growing plants
to take away the bare look which is
never pleasant no matter how expen-
sive the foundation may be. There is
beauty in leaf and flower that cannot
be put into stone and mortar.
Illustration No. 1 makes clearer the
idea l have in mind about hiding the
foundation walls than any verbal one
can. In it the house seems to be less
prominent than it would be If no
plants grew there, and it therefore
lacks that aggressive tone which char
acterizes the house whose walls are
not relieved by growing plants.
Perhaps I may be allowed to use
this eXpression-the use of plants close
to the house. while not detracting in
the least from the dignity and impor-
lance of 1T, prevents us from looking
upon it as something that boldly
challenges the attention-an idea moi
in keeping with the home sense which
ought to characterize the building in
which those live who care less fol-
show and admiration than for beauty,
All Of us have seen houses which seem
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
PROPER CARE OF HORSES


Many horses are ruined by being
brought into the barn too hot and left
to stand in cold draft or hitched to
a post to stand.
A good currying occasionally does
not make sleek horse. 1t takes
everyday grooming to open the pores,
soften the skin and produce a good,
healthy, sleek coat
The colts training must begin
shortly after BIRTH A halter should
be put on SO he can be caught and
handled every day. Never tease him.
Regularity of work counts in every
thing, and especially in the handling
of animals.
The horse that is worked regularly
acquires strong muscles and tough
shoulders.
Many farmers allow their work
horses to remain idle for several days
or weeks at time, and then immedi-
ately put them into hard service.
A horse that has been idle for sew
eral days should be given very light
and moderate work for the first day OF
two, so that the muscles and skin will
regain their strength and toughness.
| 1t is a better plan to arrange some
work for the horses daily. In this way
their bodies never become soft ant
weak, hence they seldom become il
or injured and are always in training
for efficient service.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
USE FOR HOUSE Stops

Any house Stops that are free from
grease or acids may be poured around
the roots of plants to their advantage,
pushing aside the mulch for this pur-
pose, and replacing when done. Water
the ground literally, always watering
in the evening. Or have rubbish cor
ner in which to dump everything that
will make plant food, and pour the
house slops-all kinds-on it, forking
it over occasionally, and letting it de-
cay. Add to the heap any sward from
the roadside, Feelings and parings
from the kitchen.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
USEFUL DAIRY INFORMATION

If you haul your milk to the cream-
cry invest S. in cover for your
wagon. 1t will save it's cost in a week
A first class dairy cow ought to
make net profit of from $50 to $10e
per year. You can only tell what
first-class dairy COW is by keeping tai
on her.
Don't forget to salt the cows. They
need it now as much as in the winter
time.
oliver Gridley, az Iowa dairyman
uses a gasoline engine, a milking ma.
chine and lights the barn with cleo.
tricity. He began with few cows.
A Wisconsin man fed one of his cow
$50 worth of feed last year, and heI
pasture, feeding, milking and stablint
cost s11.50 more. making her total cost
s71.50, but she produced $50 worth o.
butter, s17.7o worth of manure, 81
worth of skim milk and calf woru
! SIS, making her total income STA.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01

altogether two barrels of mixture or enough
to fill O0gallon tank.
Caution-The lime is added to the blue vtriol water
principally to prevent the blue vitrio from injurng
foliage If the mixture is made according the
directions damage to the foliage will result, but
of doubt the following test To the barrel of
Bordeaux mixture add few drops of potassium
cyanide solution. deep brown dscoloration pre-
cpitate is produced the mixture needs lime The
potassium crystals be purchased
any drug store.
1t is necessary also that all grit and unsaked
particles of lime strained from the mixture before
1t is poured into the spray tank This will prevent
of time from the cloggng of the nozzles Several
portant details should be observed in applying the
to the vines. the vines large double nozzles
should be used The pipes and nozzes should be
fully adjusted as to all the requires
about one-half hour empty gallon tank where
ten taken at each round Twenty should
be during ten-hour day when the provisions
stated above observed.
An abundant water supply is very desirable where
large fields to be sprayed Many growers err in not
providing sufficient barrels and pals for mixing
pairing the stock solutions. The concentrated lime and
vitrol stock solutions poured directly to-
gether but diluted directed above Hence the neces-
sity for providing the barrels the mixture on
large scale.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01

A Good Working Plan for Successfully Spraying Ten
Acres of Potatoes.
EXTRACT FROM BULLETIN WISCONSIN AGRICULTURAL
STATION.
Provide five ify-gaon barrels, two galvanized ten
quart pals for mixing and dipping One hundred and
pounds vtriol hundred pounds of fresh
lime and cents worth of potassium ferro-cyanide
crystals.
hundred pounds of fresh lime will be suf-
fcent should be bought in small lots
at the time spraying The first application will
ouire forty pounds blue vitrol fifty pounds Of
fresh lime.
Suspend the blue vtrol in one-haf barrel Of water
twenty-five gaons) the evening before spraying Hang
vitrol we'll up from the bottom of the barrel
when possible only wooden or copper vessels
in handling the solution Iron and tin will be eaten
through by acid in the blue vitrio solution.
rinse all metal vessels containing blue vitrol
solution with lime water after using
Stake fifty pounds of fresh lime in barrel the
ing spraying Then in the morning the stock
luton lime and vitrol will be ready mixing.
Place blue vtriol stock solution, pre-
pared as above empty barrel and fill with
Place of the lime in another empty barrel
fill with water. Stir thoroughly. Then with men
dipping strain of the two barrels through
a gunny sack into third and fourth barrel, making
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
The EGG-A-DAY LAYING hen
Experiments Show the Egg Yield
May Be Greatly Increased by
Scientific Selection.
BY B. E. LARA.

BY B. E. LARA.
Poultry raisers in the United States
are greatly indebted to the thorough
ness of the tests made at our expert
mental stations for great many i'm
portant improvements in every branch
of the poultry industry
These experimental farms have
proved beyond doubt that by syste-
matte feeding and scientific breeding of
hens the latter can be made to greatly
increase their number of eggs and also
improve the richness and weight of the
same, thereby raising their market
value.
The gratifying success thus far at
tanned by experiments in the way OF
increasing the reproducing qualities
of certain breeds of hens has made
breeders hopeful of securing still
greater achievements along the same
line in the near future.
Perhaps to no state in the union is
due greater credit than to Maine fol-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
RYE AND RAPE AS CATCH CROPS

OF the crops which I sowed ahead
Of the cultivator at the last cultiva-
ton Of corn and potatoes to get a
growth to turn under in the spring
and to protect the land from winter
washing, rye and Dwarf Essex rape
were most satisfactory.
Rye was sown one year when the
potatoes were taken out in Septem-
Der, and a heavy sod it made to turn
under for oats in April.
Another year rye was sown on corn
stubble after the corn was cut at the
rate of one and one-quarter bushels
per acre, and it made a fair cover
crop, which 1 know prevented wash
| ing, though the ground was narrowed
only twice before drilling in the seed.
Dwarf rape I have always sown at
| the rate of ten pounds of seed per
acre just before cultivating the corn
the last time in July, and have had
good growth until late in the fall,
which would have made excellent pas
ture, but cover crop was desired, SO
it was left till spring and turned under
for oats to enrich and make humus
in the soil.
should judge its value as fer
tilizer is about Sc per acre. and the
seed costs only cents per pound
Some of the rape was green all winter
and persons seeing the growth it had
made in the standing corn were sur
prised, while the growth of COW peas
in the same field was not encouraging
Crimson clover is a good catch crop, il
one can secure stand, and it lives
through the winter. Rape is the best
crop for me, considering the cost OF
seed and it's fertilizing value, and rye
is very good, especially when it is tt
be turned under for potatoes, or one
wishes to pasture it In the fall. N
Clover Pennsylvania.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
RULES FOR RIGHT LIVING
Proper Cooking and Personal
Cleanliness Are Necessary
to Good Health.

A great majority of farmers live as
well as anybody need to live and mucn
better than most people do. Ihey
have the best of food, we'll cooked,
observe the laws of sanitation, venu-
lation and cleanliness, and the results
are shown in mental clearness and
bodily vigor.
But there are yet many farmers VINO
have not learned these simple rules
which, unobserved, are sure roads TO
i'll health, mental distress and business
failure. Hard work on the farm does
not kill or render useless at middle age
nearly as many men and women as
does neglect of these health laws.
The scanned faces, bent bodies ana
shrunken limbs occasionally seen on
the farms are not so much evidence
of toll as ignorance or Indifference tc
the necessities of good cooking, pure
air in living rooms and frequent bath
ing.
The pride of the average farm wife
is to set a good table, but there are
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
HOG RINGING DEVICE

This is set in the opening of the gate.
The hogs are driven as though they
were to be turned out. When one puts
his head through between the levers
close them, fasten with pins, put in
the rings, open up the levers and he
will go on through.
The platform to which the levers are
fastened is for the hog to stand on
while being ringed. He is pulling or
pushing, as the case may be, against
his own weight when standing on the
platform. while if standing on the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
LITTLE HELPS FOR FARMERS WIFE

Cellars should be kept scrupulously
neat and clean, especially when under
living rooms and where vegetables are
stored. Vegetables should frequently
be examined and sorted over. One de-
caying potato will affect the air not
only Of the room in which it is placed
but the odor will penetrate the rooms
above and often the entire house.
Unslaked lime and a vessel of chic
ride of lime should always be kept in
a cellar that is under living room,
the unslaked lime laid loose in damp
corners and the walls of the cellar
whitewashed at least once year
Do not wrap silverware in printed
newspapers, as the chemicals in the
ink will tarnish the silver
To clean silver, mix sweet oil and
ammonia with whiting and rub with
soft cloth, washing afterward in clear
hot water. Soap is said to dim silver.
Rub the edges of the bureau or chif-
fonier drawers with soap or common
| tallow to prevent sticking.
To clean a carpet on the floor: After
sweeping thoroughly, wipe it carefully
with clean cloth wrung out of hot
water containing ammonia. This viii
brighten the colors, absorb the dust
remaining after sweeping and fresher
the carpet wonderfully.
| Place wooden chopping bowls upside
down when not in use to prevent split
| ting.
White wash-silk waists or skirts can
| be cleaned in tepid (never hot water
| in which white soap has been dis
solved. Do not rub on board, but
wash gently with the hands and hang
up by shoulders or bands without
wringing Should be ironed before per-
fectly dry and never rolled or sprin-
! kled Done carefully in this way
wrinkles may be avoided and the sill
will look almost as we'll as when new
BY placing screen in front of 6
bedroom window at night the room
may be well aired while the bed an6
sleepers are shielded from direct
draft-Aunt Emily.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
ALFALFA HARROW.

row splits and spreads the crowns of
alfalfa plants, causing them to develop
additional tops; it destroys the egg
deposits and larvae of certain injurious
insects; it destroys weeds; it breaks
up the silt b',nket resulting from the
use of muddy irrigating water. allow
ing better penetration of water and air
to the roots of the crop; it loosens up
certain dense soils, and to some ex-
tent it incorporates beneficial sedl-
ments and fallen alfalfa leaves with
the soil.-Professor r. H. Forbes.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
WATER FOR THE BEES

Give the bees plenty Of water. They
need a great deal and will fly long
distance to get it.
If there is no running stream or lake
Of pure water near it is well to place
I pail Of fresh water near the apiary
every day.
Bees use water to dilute the heavy,
thick honey left over from winter to
make it suitable for the young larvae
and also to make the cell wax pliable.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01
DISK-HARROWING ALFALFA

The disking of alfalfa is common
practice. The ordinary disk harrow is
widely used for this purpose. but a
special machine for the cultivation OF
alfalfa has been devised on the prin-
ciple of the disk harrow, but with rows
of strong spikes or digging teeth in
place of the continuous edges of disks.
The spike tooth disk, known as the
alfalfa harrow" does excellent work
when properly adjusted, and is perhaps
better implement for this purpose
than the ordinary harrow.
At trifiing cost, varying according
to individual circumstances, this har-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01

many who set a mean one-a table
filled with food, rendered indigestible
by bad cooking and uninviting by be-
ing piled in heaps upon coarse, un-
clean dishes.
Farm folks work hurriedly and hard
IN the not season, and often meals are
OF necessity hastily eaten and at irreg-
ular intervals. Unless the food is
wholesome and properly cooked dys-
pepsia and it's long train of evils is
sure to follow.
The French, who are the most eco
nomical cooks in the world, say that
Americans spoil half as much food in
cooking as is eaten.
Then the abuse of the body in the
matter of cleanliness is often greater
than the abuse of the stomach Some
FARMERS remind us of the man who
after much persuasion bought bath
tub to be delivered in April, but re-
fused to accept it in October, because
he declared, "the bathing season was
over
Many families confine their bathing
to the summer months, when the creel,
Is not frozen over, and even in this
open season the only baths INDUCED
III are DIT Intervals Oh a week.
Think. if you can, of a man toilins
ten or twelve hours day in the fields
in hot sun, often drenched with the
rain, and the pores of his body cloggec
with sweat and CRIME of the week
taking nothing more than a hasty di,
without soap or brush only on Satur
day highland often during the stress
of harvest skipping one or more o
these periods.
We personally know farmers who's
barns and diaries are provided witt
every modern convenience for comfor
and cleanliness, but whose bathing ia
cilities for the entire family are con
fined to the hand basin or the wash
tub. No man who does not keep hi
skin clean can have much respect 70
f himself, leaving health out of tn
: question. An unclean skin is the caus
of countless disorders which in tim
2 develop into serious diseases.
j, The largest melon ever grown, s
I far as can be ascertained was raise
by Skies Young on his irrigated farl
i near North Yakima, Wash. He raise
' the specimen, which is four feet Ion
!. and three feet through and weighe
4 1876 pounds, by careful attention an
! by method which he does not care
4 disclose until he has tested it anoth,
season.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01

ground a heavy hog would be very
hard to hold
The pen sketch will give the idea
of construction, which may be altered
to suit convenience and material at
hand. This like all farm tools and
conveniences should be kept dry.
1t is the time lost when in a hurry
if you have to look about the place in
the weeds or piled-up rubbish for
some tool that counts. A place for
everything and everything in its place.
Study this; it will help you
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01

Don't condemn hens promiscuously.
Perhaps you have not the kind of hens
you like about you. Change your stock
and see how it will work.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-01

Of a a Q
C, madeb by ingm ahe lumber t In
it n D.
a
ventilation
desirable
middle barn.
fresha air may
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-06-25
To Adopt Strange Girls Baby.

On December Nth young girl. appar-
emily not more than II years Of age, who
gave her name as Elizabeth Smith and
her home as at Martinsburg. W. Va. called
at the home of Mr.. and Mrs Scott Brad
ley, at Bethesda this county. She carried
baby, about months old. which she
said was her own. Both were handsomely
dressed The young woman tarried at the
Bradley home only few hours. but ar
ranged with the Bradle 20 c8ec ar the
infant until certain gre. anfu She
would return for it. N e1gIHuati0a y
asked or given.
The strange woman tisd 90 mi lfh f1g
the child at the time agreed upon, % Ill
Bradley began to use the mails in an effort
TO locate her II was found that no such
person as she represented herself to be
was known in Martinsburg, and every
other effort to find the baby's mother was
without result, so the little one was al
lowed to remain at the Bradley home. Y
The BradIeys have no children Of their
own and they soon realized that it would
be hard to part with the little one. so they
have instituted proceedings for the adoption
of the infant, Attorney John A. Garrett APP
pearing for them. The child will be named
Blanche Bradley.