davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
Durability and Permanently

blocks which have low absorption be
used for silo construction. Blocks Of
this kind are more durable, and a silo
better.
After due consideration to all other
points of merit to be found In silos,
the most desirable silo is the one that
is the most durable and will give the
longest term of service. The dura-
bility of silo depends, first upon It's
strength, and second, the durability of
the material used in its construction.
To be durable. any material must
resist the action Of the weather, the
constant wettirg and drying. freezing
and thawing In the winter season, and
any disintegrating action which may
be. due. to the silage itself. Some ma
terfal will disintegrate with age, and
other materials suffer from rapid de-
cay when subject to the warm, moist
conditions which exist in the silo.
The walls Of the Iowa silo are con-
structed of hollow, vitrified clay build
ing blocks which, as far as weather
resistance is concerned, are as durable
as any building material which can be
obtained This does not mean that all
hollow building blocks are durable. for
there are good and bad blocks on the
market. Good blocks are SO plentiful
that no one need make the mistake Of
selecting blocks of questionable merit.
The. roof Of the Iowa silo, like the
walls, Is made of durable material. A
cheaper roof may be used If desired,
but it is strongly advised that the con-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
WATERING The MILK cows
BY Isaac Notes.
BY Isaac Notes.

Milk cows need water frequently
during. hot days, just as a man does
best II he drinks few sups Of water
occasionally, before he gets very thirs-
ty, rather than drink great sluices
once or twice during the day.
A COW requires water often to prop
erly digest the food she eats, 30 it
is better to- give It to her frequently
than in large quantities once or twice
q day.
II the pasture is provided with a
stream. OF clear water running through
1t, or wind mill and well, the cows
will Of course take care of the water
problem to suit themselves, and If you
watch them long enough you will see
them drinking several times q day.
If there Is no stream or wind MILL
aud the well or spring is not In the
pasture, try the following plan Of
watering them and watch the milk
returns and see II the labor involved
is not we'll paid for.
Take number of half barrels and
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
THE HEAD OF THE FLOCK

In selecting a ram two classes Of
breeding should be avoided: The
common scrub that has no good char
acteristics to fix, and the "purebred
scrub" without individuality, whose
purity of breeding only gives him
greater power to work ruin In the
flock. Good individuality, backed by
several generations Of good ancestry.
will insure prepotency with almost un-
failing certainty, where the ewes are
suitable and the management is COR
rect.
Great attention should be paid to
the rams general contour. His struc-
ture should be firm and massive. with
a broad. capacious breast, no dispro-
portionate length of legs. and we'll
formed and fully developed quarters,
especially the hind quarters. His loin
should be stout and we'll knit, his
features bold and masculine. A firm
and muscular neck is desirable; bold
and courageous eye and carriage are
indicative Of spirit and vigor. His
head should be long, but rather small
and we'll nodded.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20

should be as durable as the walls
themselves.
The materials used in the Iowa silo
will resist decay. disintegration. the
action OF frost, and any implied or real
action Of the acidity Of the silage.
Even the steel which is placed in the
mortar joints and concrete door frame
as reinforcement. is thoroughly pro-
tected from rust. So carefully has the
matter of durability been considered
would be difficult to estimate it's life.
When carefully built it ought to last
for several generations
The doors Of the Iowa silo are de-
signed to be made of wood. They will
decay and must be replaced after sew
eral years. The convenience and low
cost Of the wooden doors, which may
be easily replaced. justifies their use,
The Iowa silo when properly con-
structed is practically free from any
expense for repair and maintenance
The only possible expense may be the
occasional washing of the inside OF the
walls at intervals Of not less than five
years, with a cement wash and the re-
placement Of the doors after they
have become rotten from use.
An ideal silo must have rigid walls.
1t must be strong enough to resist the
bursting pressure of the silage. This
acts outward in all directions as the
silage settles The friction Of the
silage against the wall, and the weight
of the wall produce crushing action
which is great near the bottom Of the
stlo. A silo when empty should be
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
HANDLING THE
MUSKMEl-O ON
w John w. Lloyd, Illinois.

There Is considera BILE difference of
opinion as to the exact stage of ma
turity at which melons should be
picked for shipment. IF allowed to
become too ripe before picking, they
become soft by the time they have
reached the market, and often must
be sacrificed in order to effect an i'm
mediate sale.
II picked too green, the melons
reach the market In firm condition
but are lacking In flavor, and not
desired by the best trade. It Is nice
point to pick melons at such degree
of ripeness that they will reach the
market in firm condition, and yet pos
sess the requisite flavor.
The rapidly of softening after pick
Ing varies with the temperature to
which the melons are subjected. The
cooler they can be kept cfter picking,
the longer they can be allowed to re-
main on the vines and the better fla
vor they will have. It is, therefore,
essential that the melons be placed In
the shade as soon as possible after
picking, and be kept shaded until they
are loaded into the car.
For the same reason. ripper melons
can be shipped under refrigeration
than in ventilated cars.
The condition of the vines and the
rapidity Of ripening Of the melons in
the field will also have a bearing upon
the stage of maturity at which they
should be picked.
While it is true that no rule can be
given for picking melons that will
apply under all conditions, and that
the grower must exercise judgment in
reference to each days picking, the
ideal Will be attained when, the con-
ditions are such that the melons will
reach the market in tho best condition
If picked as soon as the fruit will part
readily from the stem when the latter
Is pressed with the thumb and finger.
There is a tendency among growers
TO pick considerably before this point
has been reached, in order to run no
risk Of the melons becoming soft in
transit.
That proper grading results In the
securing Of better prices than indis-
criminate packing is evidenced by the
experience of certain growers who
have departed from the usual custom,
and practice regular system OF grad
Ing whereby three distinct grades Of
marketable melons are made and
,shipred under three different brands.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
COLLECTING FLOWER SEEDS
BY W. H. Gilbert.
BY W. II. Gilbert.

the required must be pulled out as
soon as they show themselves.
Some seed pods open with a jerk as
soon as ripe and scatter the contents
for distance. Some open by hole
or crack and as the plant is fswayed
by the wind the seeds are gradually
sifted out. In other cases there Is
no provision for the scattering Of tho
seeds. but the fruit Of seed vessel
must decay before they can be lib
Grated. t
It is not necessary to wait until
seeds are dead ripe before collecting
them. A little experience teaches one
to know the point at which 1T is safe
to gather. Those seed vessels. which
In breaking scatter the seed, should
be gathered Just. before they open
and be allowed to pop under SONS
convenient cover. AS soon as seeds
are gathered put label with. them
and when they are thoroughly dry.
clean and store them away.
The manner of cleaning seed 10
varied according to circumstances.
sitting, gently winnowing, rubbing be-
tween the hands being resorted to ac-
cording to the kind OF seed. A series
Of small sizes of mesh will accom-
plish most of the work.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
TO HAVE FINE AsToRs

Keep watch OF your asters, for 'in
such an hour as yo know not" the
maggot may attack them. 1t Is bet
ter. however. to act on the belief that
this enemy IS sure to come, and take
m easures to head him OF. Work wood
ashes into the soil about the plants,
and remove little soil Immediately
about the base OF each plant
and scatter tobacco dust there
literally. This will not injure
the plant. but 1t may discourage
the pest in HIS effort 4. get at the
stalk Of it. OF late. M ~ collections
Of Astcrs IN the West have been
ruined by this grub. The plant will
look perfectly healthy today: tomor-
row It will have withered appear
ance and the next. day It will be yell
low and II you take hold OF It's top and
give slight pull of it will come close
to the ground. Examination will
show that It has. been eaten into at
that point. Wood ashes are the best
preventant Of It's attacks Of anything
I have used, and would change the
location OF tho bed yearly. b. T.. E.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20

place them at convenient spots In the
pasture, sinking them into the ground
six or eight inches, under trees If
there is such shade.
If there are no trees then build on
the sunny side of each barrel lean
to shed to make a shade. high enough
to permit the COWS to come under and
drink.
Twice g day fill barrel or two with
water from your we'll or spring, place
them on sled and fill up the pasture
barrels. See that the barrels are Kept
clean, and do not allow the water to
remain in any Of them long enough
to got stagnant.
This makes extra work, but II you
have no running water in your pas
ture you will find 1t better to do this
than water your cows once or twice
a day, possibly at milking time: You
will get good returns for the extra
work in the increased quantity of
milk, and in the contented, placid
disposition Of your cows.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
FABRICS FROM NETTLE FIBER.

Consul Augustus. e. ingram. Of
Bradford. quotes from Yorkshire
paper an interesting statement that
Vienna firm had apparently succeeded
In obtaining from nettles a snowwhite
plant bulk Of fiber, with merits half
way between those OF cotton and linen,
with the further great merit that 1t
should be cheaper than either because
of the limitless quantity Of nettles
that can be grown, with slight en-
enlargement, in many regions. Fabric
made OF nettle fiber is nothing new
indeed 1t is stated that formerly
housewives made their best sheets out
OF it-but hitherto no way has been
found Of separating the valuable fiber
from the accompanying gums and
waste ON a commercial scale. It is
said, that the Austrian Government Is
undertaking the supervision Of investi-
cations and experiments On a decisive
scale.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
OVER
HEATED HORSES
ny A. s. Alexander. Wisconsin.

When during the hot weather the
hard worked horse suddenly stops
sweating, lags, weakens, pants and has
hot dry skin and extremely Redeemed
membranes OF the eyes, nose and
mouth he is suffering from heat ex.
haustion and by using the thermonls.
ter 1t would be found that his tenn.
pc 'ature is over LOG degrees.
Unless a horse in this condition Is
Immediately rested, put in cool.
shady. breezy place and there cooled
off he will be likely to fall ind die OF
heat apoplexy or sun stroke"
1t therefore is well to know and
look out for the symptoms here OUT
lined and then be able to treat them
intelligently. In the first place 1t Is
important to remember that heat ex-
haustion may be largely prevented:
BY keeping the Horses stable clean.
airy, perfectly ventilated. darkene0
and screened in summer time.
Feeding the best Of foods In ade-
quate but not extreme quantities.
Making no sudden changes of food.
Allowing plenty of cool. pure drink
ing water.
Permitting ample time for rest at
noon.
Removing the harness during such
rest periods.
Not overworking any horse and al
ways changing frequently the middle
horse OF a three horse team. as he
suffers fearfully from the direct rays
Of the sun. Also shade the polls of
horses at work and In such a way THAI
air can pass under the shading hat
or other cover.
When horse shows symptoms OF
heat exhaustion stop work, stand him
under tree where there Is breeze.
show his body with cold water from
a sprilll1ling can, keep cold wet packs
to the poll of his hea-. and give him
large, frequent doses vf stimulants
such as whiskey In strong cold coffee.
Do not bleed him or give him aco-
mite or other poisonous drugs. Re-
peat the dose Of stimulant every halt
hour at first and every hour or two
as he gair S strength and the fever
abatei.
A good stimulant is prepared by
mixing together one part of aromatic
spirits Of amonia all two parts each
OF alcohol and sweet spirits of nitre
OF this give two ounces in a pint Of
water or cold coffee as one t7css J..
Dissolve an ounce of salt petefASn
half pailful Of water and allow hiYses
to drink little Of it often. IA
II he Is bloated give four ounces OIL
hyposulphite Of soda dissolved lin
water and inject soapy cold water and
glycerfne into the rectum once an
hour until relieved. In case Of sun
stroke call in the graduate veterinar-
ian as soon as possible.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
WORTH THINKING OVER.

One single swearing, vile-minded
hired man will soon corrupt the boys
Of an entire neighborhood.
The city boy whose eyes open every
morning on the blank wall of q fiat
building and who has never seen the
sun rise or the clouds gather and the
storm break as the country boy does
cannot know the sense of free dom and
joy and power which they convey.
If we would help ourselves we can
do no better than to be helping others.
Maybe one reason why boys leave
the farm is because their; standpoint
Of work is set at that of a full grown
man-let up on the boy. 49,, -.
We cannot hew close to the line II
we have private axe to grind. {
The man who does Lis duty best
never thinks OF 1t as a duty.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
drain tile and covering up the top wi
BY Drain Tiles.

drain tile and covering up the top with
a coarse cloth or litter.
Persons contemplating growing cell
cry for the market should not attempt
to do 30 until they have visited one Of
the large commercial celery gardens
and learned from observation exactly
how the work of seeding, transplant
ing, cultivating and marketing Is done.
But the farmer who simply desires to
grow enough celery for his family
use, may If he follows instructions,
grow good crops, always providing
that his soil is very rich and well
drained.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
DON'T RUIN THE COLT.

Many good horse is spoiled in the
training. Very many people still
think they must "break". colts and
thus they are ruined. Colts should be
trained, not broken. and one Of the
important, the very important, les
sons in this course OF training should
be that Of teaching them to work
with open brides. In driving strange
horses the writer never feels SO safe
as when he is behind team with
open brides. This means that the
animals have been trained. not "brok-
en-, and that their intelligence Is at
your service In doing their work.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
IN THE POULTRY YARD.

The youngsrerc should be examined
frequently now for signs of the big
head lice because unless they are di=-
pose Of they will kill the chic
The My thing necessary is to rub
tie heads and under parts very gently
with a tiny bit Of lard.
The red lice are even wo Sc than the
big eallows and must. be continually
fought TIL, Z, will quickly sap the
yit.lity of flock and SO weaken 1t
that 1t is practically useless.
The Interior of the chicken house
s. ou1i be thoroughly sprayed over
every square inch with kerosene into
a gallon Of which two tablespoonful
of carbolic cid should be mixed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
MARKETING POTATOES.

Potatoes, although one Of the most
important of our truck crops, are
usually badly handled by the average
grower. Instead Of being sent to
market In bulk by the wagon load, po-
tatoes should be graded and packed in
barrels. The packing should be done
as soon as possible after they are dug,
for If exposed too much to the sun
they will become soft and the skin will
turn green.
It is very good plan to grade and
pack potatoes in the field as they are
lifted, although when very large crops
are grown and it is desirable to grade
them moro carefully, this can be done
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
BRANCHING CELERY.

Branching is very important part
of producing good celery; because, un-
less the plants are white, firm, and
tender, they are not only unpalatable
for the farmers family, but are Of
course unstable. Excluding the light
induces a solid growth In the heart Of
the plant and this growth is very
rapid. It also turns plant from
green to pure white. =
Some growers blanch their celery by
pla cling over the plants a section Of
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
SlL0S or HOLLOW CLAY Bull DING BLOCKS
The Thus Pleasing of Soil
Appearance of Solidity,

heavy enough to stand against heavy
winds. The inside of silo wall
should be reasonably smooth to per-
init the silage to settle freely. II the
wall Is not smooth or II there are
shoulders or offsets on the inside sur
face air pockets will be formed and a
considerable loss OF silage win result.
The Iowa silo Ia rigid enough and
heavy enough so that II Is not effected
by wind. Enough steel reinforcement
is laid in the mortar Joints to carry
the entire bursting pressure OF the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
"A GOOD CORN RECIPE.

When cutting sweet corn from tho
cob cut lengthwise through the center
Of each row of kernels with sharp
knife then cut off the tips of the kerr
nelS without cutting into the cob and
scrape the milk from the cob Put
into a well buttered pan with salt,
pepper and butter and steam three
quarters Of an hour yer quick fire.
keeping plenty Of water under tho
steamer Cooked in this way the corn
retains all the juices nd will be found
delicious
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
Form For Making Concrete Founda
ton.

ailage with q reasonable amount OF
safety.
The stio built OF hollow blocks is
perfectly fireproof. It Ia hard to see
how 1t could be even slightly dam
aged by q fire. Silase was fed from
one Of the Iowa silos within twenty
four hours after all tho adjoining
buildings had been burned from
around It, leaving 1t unframed and
containing tho only feed stuff saved
from the FIRE. Hollow. vitrined clay
building blocks are widely used for
fireproofing purposes.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
Belle OF Bressay,

muscled shoulders and hind quarters
and clean, bony. flat legs.
This little mare was raised In Eng
land and took the first premium at the
Royal Show at Gloucester. The show
is equal to one of our best State fairs,
and In fact, as stock show it is on a
much larger scala
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
SHIPPING MILK IN TANKS.

why not transport milk in q sani-
tary tank? Denmark has been doing
1. for months and i.,ilk has been
shippF / long distanc I. and recently
all. the way to Berlin such cars. The
tanks areenot boi'er plate cylinders,
but wooden casks each Of 210 cubic
feet capacity, two of which are fasten-
ed to the floor Of the covered freight
car: We all know how the old-fash-
toned tin cans are cumbersome. ex-
pensive and subject to damag BY
the. use Of tank cars for milk the cost
Of handling can be greatly reduced
ard the. unsightly. and unsanitary old
milk can be ban!shed from IT, land
Scape. 9,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20

Bull thistles. common in pastures,
cannot always be killed by moving.
Moving tends to prevent maturity Of
seed. Cutting of the thistles Just be-
low the surface OF the ground, two or
three times a year, will effectually
eradicate them. Working the ground
In rotation Of grass, grain and corn is
a very sure way Of Graduating weeds.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
ABOUT HORSES.

It is pretty hard on the mare to
compel her to suckia the colt and do
he- share Of the farm work during the
hot season without flrst having pre-
pared her by good feed and extra care.
Never comb the hay from the horses
locks with a curry comb 1t makes
them nervous.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20

Don't trust to luck" too much. There
is lots Of that done on the average
farm. Have system and follow It In
farming the same as any other bust
ness.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20

The use Of hollow clay building
blocks properly reinforced for silo
construction have proven extremely
satisfactory in every particular, and
after extensive and thorough investi-
cation and the building and testing of
numerous silos, the Agricultural En-
cheering Department of the Iowa ex-
pertinent station, heartily recommend
their use,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
Poorly Packed Potatoes.

better by first sending them to the
packing shed, where they can be run
through graders and the work done
more rapidly. It Is just as important
to grade potatoes as fruit or any other
vegetables.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20

Science has discovered that this
white ant lays 10000 eggs q month
A fortune awaits the genius who can
cross the white ant with the Plymouth
Eock hen.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20

En- gland raises twice as much whea.
per acre as the United States and ST,
Horace Plunkett declares that this
country could increase the value OF
its corn and wheat crops by hundreds
Of millions of dollars yearly by scien.
tif1c farming.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20

The farmer who keeps taking fer
tility from the soil without putting
anything back will soon PIT his farm
in such condition that it will not raise
even a mortgage
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
KILL THE WEEDS.

Weeds take up moisture tt, crops
need and prevent the circulation OF air
thus encouraging the spread of plant
diseases. They shade the ground and
keep the soil from absorbing heat
an important factor in corn growth.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20

The farmer who deposits his profits
in his soil, his animals and his build
ings will DO better than the man who
leaves his money with the bank.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20

If you have more good water for
your stock than they need this hot
weather and your neighbor is running
short-well, what would you like to
have him 90 If the case were re-.
versed?
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20
A FINE PONY.

In buying a pony one should UNDER
stand the points that go to mako &
perfect animal. A study Of the pony
shown here will give you a pretty cleao
idea Of what is necessary. You will
see that she has clean head. well
held up, full. round eye and a body
almost as round as barrel. we'll
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-20

crete roof be used where possible.
One common mistake met with in
silo construction is that the door
frame is made Of material which will