davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
WORKING NOTES ON THE FARM.

This IL the best time In the year
10 Kill trses--if they must be killed.
Girdle them entirely around the trunk
while the sap IL running strong and
they will die quickly.
This IL good month in which to
row orchard grass. 1t is q good for
>ager and grows rapidly.
II you wait another week to get
the summers wood pile big enough
to last the season through you may
see your wife trying to WELD the
Ak some hot day this summer-and
then you would feel very much ash
an1ed.
Now the troubles OF the turkey
raiser begin. The birds are sure to
hide their nests and the only way to
save trouble. IL your neighbors keep
turkeys, and your own are not con-
fined. ID to put numbered leg band
on each one. This may save disputes
over outlying nests.
Shear the sheep early-just as soon
rs you feel certain there will be no
more cold rains.
Plant young, medium size trees.
Onions stand good deal Of cold.
II you have new ones earlier than
your neighbors, you must take some
chances.
Start an asparagus bed. 1t thrives
en- q sandy $50
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
GROWING HERB

~ . 3 Ia %
No garden can be considered com.
plete that does not include a xoodiy
variety OF herbs for nothing can
quite fill their place IN the house.
hold.
The seeds Of annual sorts should b
sown early, but Of the perennial VAR
ieties (and many Of the best are
that) the seeds sown IN -summey
will produce strong plants that may
be freely cut from the following wear.
Make the soil rich, mellow and f.ne
before sowing the seed When the
Seeding plants are large enough they
may be transplanted to the border
beds, or the fence-row where they
can grow undisturbed year after year.
When the roots become large they
may be divided and new plants started
II more are wanted, though two 81
three plants Of one variety will fur
nish all q good sized family will need,
as the leaves should be cut several
times during the season.
The leaves should be cut when
fully grown and before the plant
blooms. choosing. q clear dry day for
the work. Spread in cool, shady
room to dry. as. drying in the sun or
by the fre spoils both color and 10.
vor.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
BLISTER cANkER ON APPLE TREES

This disease IS usually found on the
larger limbs, and sometimes attacks
the trunk. Old cankers are often a
foot or more in length. The fungus
attacks the wood as we'll as the bark
In the early stages of the disease the
bark is brown and slightly sunken
ana usually set off frora the healthy
bark by q distinct boundary. AS the
season advances circular fungous mas
ses develop on the diseased area.
They are formed beneath the bark,
but soon break through to the sur
face, furnishing the most character
istic feature Of the disease. They
are firmly fastened to the wood by
means Of hard ring OF fungous It's
sue, 80 that they remain attached to
Il even after the bark has fallen away.
Summer spores are produced on the
surface Of the strorna. Later in the
season, numerous fiask-shaped per-
ithecia are formed within the stroma,
but opening on its surface. These
produce many club-shaped sacs, each
containing eight spherical. brown
spores.
The fungus seems to be dependent
upon wounds for entrance to the host
tissue. The best method Of treat
ment Is found in avoiding unnecessary
injuries to the tree and in the proper
care Of all wounds. All cankerad
limbs should be destroyed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
ECONOMY OF THE ROUND DAIRY BARN
THE POINTS or SUPERIORITY THAT ROUND BARN
SHOWS OVER THE RECTANGULAR FORM ARE CON
VENIENcE, STRENGTH AND CHEAPNESs
BY j Fraser

In the early days when lumber was
cheap, buildings were built Of logs,
or at least had heavy frames. Under
these conditions the rectangular barn
was the, one naturally used, and peo-
pie have followed in the footsteps Of
their forefathers in continuing this
form Of barn. The result is that the
economy and advantages of the round
barn have apparently never been con-
sidered. This is because they are not
obvious at first sight, and become
fully apparent only after O detailed
study Of the construction. For these
reasons. the rectangular form still
continues to be built. although it re-
quires much more lumber. AS the
price of lumber has advanced so mat
erially in recent years. the possible
saving in this material is a large item,
and well worth Investigating.
The difficulty with most round barns
that have been built. thus far, is that
they do not have self-supporting
roof, and consequently lose many Of
the advantages OF a properly con-
structed round barn. This is the prin-
cipal reason why round barns have
49, pCSoiiiS iiCIc poPuldi. Is ~ straight
roof necessarily requires many sup
ports in the barn below These are
both costly and inconvenient, and
make the roof no stronger than a
dome-shaped, self-supporting roof
which nearly doubles the capacity of
the NOW
Many who have thus disregarded
capacity have also wasted lumber and
made a needless amount of work by
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
SPRAYS FOR FUNGUS DISEASES

~ Bordeaux mixture is by far the most
generally useful fungicide we have.
The copper sulfate or blue vitriol is
the active fungicidal agent, while the
lime IL added to prevent the burning
Of the foliage, which would result
from pure copper sulfate solution.
The usual formula is: pounds cop
per sulfate. s pounds lime, so gallons
Of water.
Many prefer to modify this formula
BY reducing the quantity of blue stone
to one pound and Increasing the lime
one pound.
Certain precautions must be oh.
served in making Bordeaux, in order
to obtain the most efficient mixture.
The secret OF success is to put to-
gether AZ dilute solutions as possible.
The copper sulfate may be convenient
" made up into stock solution by
dissolving 1t at the rate Of one pound
to one gallon OF water. The amount
needed at any time can then be read
lily obtained By stirring UP the solu-
ton and measuring out as many gall
Ions as there are pounds required.
The lime can likewise be slaked IN
quantity and Kept till needed as a
stock solution of known strength. The
blue-stone may be dissolved quickly
III hot water, or, more slowly, In cold
water by suspending near the top of
the water In 4 burlap or coarse bask-
ct over night. Good stone lime should
be used. Air-slaked lime il not sat
isfactory. Hydrated or process lime
Of good quality may be used II the
proportion Of lime to copper snlfate
II increased from one-fourth to one
half. Il . barrel ESQ gallons) OF the
Bordeaux is to be made, it Is easy
to secure the required dilution of mat
erial By the use Of three vessels. Put
rs gallons OF water in the barrel.
Dilute the blue-stone solution con-
tanning I'VE pounds to IL 1-2 gallons.
Dilute nve pounds slaked lime like
wise. then dip alternately from each
solution into the 80 gallon barrel.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
GROWING PEANUTS IN THE SOUTH

TO most persons the peanut sug-
gests only the article as 1t appears
for sale. whole, shelled or salted. but
during recent years the uses OF pea
nuts have become numerous, and In
clude a wide range of utility. The
demand for peanuts for use in the
manufacture Of food preparations Is
constantly increasing. By-products
of the peanut are now being en-
ployed extensively in the manufacture
OF feeds for farm stock and dairy
COWS.
The peanut is rapidly becoming an
important farm crop throughout the
Southern States. It's vines are val
liable as forage and the peas that are
not marketable can be used for feed
ing purposes. Throughout the boil
weevil district Of the cotton belt the
peanut Is rapidly becoming of i'm
portance as q money crop, and special
varieties will doubtless
assist in keeping the oil mills Of the
Southern States supplied with raw
materials. The peanut plant. in COM
mon with other leguminous plants, has
the power OF collecting the free nit
rogen Of the atmosphere and storing
It in little nodules upon its roots. For
this reason the peanut Is one Of the
more desirable Of our soil-renovating
ana soil-improving plants It should
be borne In mind, however. that in
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
BY e. Russell.

sense will command the boy to learn
the trade of stone mason.
Why then should farmer decide
that his son who has exhibited taste
for mechanics, spoil his whole life
by ordering him to stick to the farm :?
If boy who wanted to learn the
carpenters trade is made to learn
to be harness maker and thereby
become botch workman, why should
not farmers son who ought to be
an architect, make a poor farmer?
He certainly will, figure It as you
may. Let the farmer seek to dis
cover what his sons taste runs to.
II to agriculture, he should be given
fair show. He should have the best
OF agricultural papers and every
chance to improve the system his
father has worked under.
Some Of the land and the live stock
should be his and he should be to
a certain extent partner. No man
will dig and delve for you without
pay as an incentive.
A boy who is expected to put In his
best efforts on the farm because the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
BY WILDER j. Fraser.

chopping or hewing out the sill and
plate, thus requiring more labor and
lumber, besides sacrificing the great
err strength Of built-up SILL
Another reason for the scarcity Of
round barns Is the difficulty In get
ting them built. Most carpenters
hesitate to undertake the work be-
cause in the erection Of round barn
the construction should be entirely
different from that Of the rectangu-
lar form. Many new problems pre-
sent themselves, but when these are
once understood, the round barn OF
fers no more difficulties in construc-
ton than the rectangular form 1t
is, however important to have head
carpenter who is accustomed to put
ting up round barns, as q man with
ingenuity and experience can take adj
vantage of many opportunities to save
labor and material,
The first thing to consider In the
erection OF barn is q convenient
arrangement for the purpose for which
1t is to be used.
Considering that the barn on a dairy
farm is used twice every day in the
year, and that for six months each
year the cows occupy it almost con-
tinuously. and that during this time
a large amount OF the labor Of the
farm Is done inside the barn. 1t is
evident that the question Of its con-
venience is vital one. The amount
Of time and strength wasted in useless
labor in poorly arranged buildings Is
appalling. People do not stop to con-
slider the saving in q year or. a life
time, by having the barn SO convenient
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31

ly arranged that there II q saving OF
only few seconds on each task that
has to be done two or three times
every day.
The circular construction Is tho
strongest because 1t takes advantage
of the lineal, instead OF the break
ing strength OF the lumber. Each
row OF boards running around the
barn forms a, hoop that holds the
barn together. A barrel, properly
hoped and headed, is almost indest-
ructible, and much stronger than O
box. although the hoops are small.
This strength is because the stress
comes on tho hoops in lineal direc-
ton Any piece OF timber is many
times stronger on lineal pull tnan
on breaking stress.
All exposed surfaces OF round barns
are circular, as both the sides ana
roof are arcfed. which IL the strongest
form of construction to resist WIND
pressure: besides, the wind in strik-
ing 1t, glances off and can get no
direct hold on the walls or roof, as
it can on the flat sides or gable ends
of rectangular structure. II the
lum Der IL properly placed in round
barn, much OF It will perform two
or moro functions. Every row OF
siding boards running around the
building serves also as brace and
the same is true OF the roof boards
and the arched rafters. II the siding
is put on vertically and the roof built
dome shaped, no scanfolding IN requi-
red inside or out. These are points
Of great economy in the round con-
struction
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
THE SCIENCE OF FARMING.

II the worlds attention determines
the Importance of science. then the
science OF farming Is receiving des.
erved recognition. For the world il
certainly giving much attention to
the farm and tho people who work
upon It. This Is not to be wondered
at for upon the farm and Its pros
ducts depend all other industries.
Without this. science all other things
must fail, whereas the farmer could
II necessary, make fairly good shift
at doing without ell the rest.
Knowing how Is just Is valuablS
on the farm as in any other branch
of industry. The subject OF Dry
Farming is an illustration very much
In point. One man experimental un-
til he learned the secret and ~ q re-
suit many people have profitsd. WHAT
he learned does not seem very wonder
full but 1t was the thing needed I'd
be known, and in the semi -arid west.
where crops are being grown BY HIS
method, they deem 1t quite an achtve-
ment. It always pays to study ones
business.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
IN THE INTEREST OF THE HORSE

Feed molasses to the horse by mix
Ing it with hay chopped rather fine.
say about S-4 Of an inch long and
mixed with little ground feed.
bought pure bred Percheron. q
six year old Ally and when she was
twelve years old sold her In foal. She
and her colts had made me q profit
Of $3.50 and she was regular work
er on the farm: John r. Lewis. Va.
A horse that is afraid OF the cleo
trio cars can never be taught what
they are by whipping.
Many farmers imagine that they
are saving money when they breed
TO q seven or eight dollar horse, but
the truth is they are losing Ave OF
six times that amount.
We frequently see young colts fol-
lowing along the fields after their
dams, walking many miles during the
hot weather. Useless and poor bust
ness.
A very young colt. like baby,
should have great deal Of rest and
sleep.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
GIVE THE BOY HIS CHANCE

law says his father - entitled to his
services will certainly disappoint you.
If his taste runs to q trade or pro-
fession The father must argue the mat
ter as a reasonable man would. He
has no right to cucumber the earth
with another botch farmer He has
no right tc condemn his son TO pow
erty when he might be rich by his own
exertion. II he Is wise he will even
encourage the boy to follow out the
bent Of his inclinations.
Nine times out OF ten where you
hear OF a farmer boy being set down
as "a hard case" you find his father
to blame for 1t.
He has been too harsh and arbit-
rary. He has gone on the idea that
his son was drudge. His idea has
been to make money out OF his tired
muscles ana back aches. and give him
the least possible reward.
Ali farmers are not so, but too
many still are, no matter how much
other classes have improved. The
results have been and will ever be
disastrous.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
CHICKEN PESTS.

Chickens are attacked by number
OF parasitic insects and nits, the most
common being various species Of chic
ken lice, chicken fieas and ticks. These
pests when present in great numbers
are a great drain upon energy OF the
birds. Spray the hen house walls with
kerosene or use white wash to which
carbolic acid has been added In the
proportion Of four ounces to one gall
Ion Of whitelwash. Pyrenthrum
powder or other suitable dust insecti-
eide may be applied to- the bodies OF
the poultry.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
GARDEN NOTES.

Keep the hoe going in dry weather
and you will not need the watering
pot often.
The wheel hoe will save many
backache and do the work OF three
hand hoes.
Plant the rows all one way--north
and soutl-so the sun can strike both
sides.
Do not plant short rows but let
them run the whole length Of the
garden II need be-why not?
Wild strawberries have the most
delicious flavor. They are easily trans-
planted to the garden.
The only really successful garden
is the clean garden.
Making a good garden Is q mans
job. Do not leave the hard work to
the women folks.
Cauliflower can be grown more cas-
lily than cabbage It Ii always IN
demand and at good prices.
A handful Of grain dug into IN ast
hill will bring the chickens to It and
then goodbye to the insects.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31

Whatever the particular method en-
ployed, however, the end is the same
Put the copper sulfate and lime sol
utions together after diluting each
as much as possible. Don't mix con-
centrated solutions. If this Is done,
with the idea of diluting to spraying
strength later, the mixture curdles,
and thick, heavy precipitate is form
ed which settles 50 rapidly that 1t is
Impossible to do good Job Of spray
ing. A properly made Bordeaux should
remain for half an hour with almost
no preceptible settling. When put
ting the spray mixture into the tank.
always strain carefully. For peaches
use at not over half strength.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
BOOSTS FOR THE AsIATICs.

BOOSTS for Brahmas or Cochins
should not be more than a foot above
ground. Being very heavy birds they
cannot easily fly, and 1t is better that
they should not be compelled to.
Some breeders do not allow them
to roost at all. but instead heavily
bed the floor Of the pen and allow
the fowls to squat wherever they feel
inclined.
But in allowing them to roost on
the floor care must be taken that
there are no draughts, which often
is the case II the doors do not At
tightly.
Leaves or cut straw make good
bedding for such fowls. and IL each
morning the droppings are collected
the birds will do as we'll on the floor
as on roosts.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
WITH TILE MncK

As the summer days come on, foot
rot is likely to make its appearance.
AS soon as discovered every hoof on
the place should be treated with Z
strong solution OF bite vitrol.
First pare away with a SHARP
knife, every particle OF the hoof thAA
hides the diseased portion; then ap-
ply the blue vifrol and keep the amin.
ais on clean, dry footing
Foot disease could often be avoided
II before the sheep are turned on pas
ture in the spring. their hoot- ~re
all carefully trimmed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
IN THE ORCHARD.

Apple pickers should remem Der
that the least puncture to the skin
Of an apple results sooner or later
In rotten spot.
The bruise on an apple may not
at once develop into rot but it will
make a brown spot which disfigures
and lessons the value Of the fruit.
The Oregon Experiment Station has
decided that the scab on the prunes
which is more or less troublesome to
them is caused by the weather and not
by fungus growth.
It does not pay to plant crops in
the peach orchard. Some people do
1t but we believe it is bad practice.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31

A kansas farmer with $1,000 in
tho bank. land. horses, and cattle,
worth many thousands more, returned
his household furniture at $25, for
assessment purposes. He proved that
this sum was all 1t was worth as he
had made most Of It out of drygoods
boxes. His wife said she was proud
of the furniture. which supplied all
the needs OF the family and those of
the weekly bible class which met at
her home.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31

Up in Dakota and Minnesota, some
orchardists claim that the trees which
carry sap late In the fall produce the
best results. This. Is doubtless be-
cause unless the moisture is preserved
the ground dries out early and cracks
open allowing the roots to dry out
In this climate mulching has been
found to be highly beneficial.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
It IL said that a Louisiana man \

It IL said that a Louisiana man has
invented machine that catches and
destroys the cotton boil weevil. The
machine can be made at a cost Of
$500 and two boys can operate one.
1t is made principally Of cotton cloth
and is drawn over the plant, when the
seevils and all injured bolls are sha-
ken off. The bottom Of the machine
> coated with tar which prevents the
.sects from flying away.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31

(. The Forestry Department has turned
800 Angora goats on the mountain
slopes in the west in the hope that
they will keep the weeds from grow
ing on the firebreaks. This work has
been q serious expense and the goats
are an experiment.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
SELECTION OF the BRooD sow

The sire IL often considered half
the herd but the females are very
Important also. The typical sire will
transmit his qualities of excellence
to his set. but the best results will
only be had when he il mated with
proper dams. The dam should have
the same combination of size and
quality requisite in the sire.
In conformation she may not need
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31

A man who was asked where he
would rather have boil replied: ION
one Of my wife's relatives" We feel
that way about most OF our troubles
in spite Of our protested willingness
to bear them with fortitude.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
MAKING A GOOD SEED BED.

In planting alfalfa and many other
grains. the seed bed must be made
fine enough to allow the particles Of
soil to come directly in contact with
the seed. This work can be accomp.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
Disc Harrow Win Discourage weeds.

lished by an ordinary float or roller
to compact the soil, followed by a
disc harrow and then With a smooth
ing harrow % that q light surface
mulch may be formed for the con-
servation Of the soil moisture. The
disc harrow may be used to very
good advantage on fields where
small weeds and grass get q start.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31

order to beneft the soil the nitrogen
so gathered should not be removed,
but that the main portion OF the roots
should be left in the soil.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31

A bad memory is one which causes
you to remember onlv disagreeabl.
things.
The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1910-09-10
mo FRlllS"
Just Sensible Food Cured Him.

Sometimes good, healthy CONNER
cial traveller suffers from poorly SO
lected food and is lucky II he learns
that Grape-Nuts food will put him
right.
A Cincinnati traveller says: About
a year ago my stomach got In bad
way. | had headache most of the
time and suffered misery. For several
months ran down until | lost about
40 pounds in weight and finally had to
give up good position and go home.
Any food that might use seemed to
nauseate me.
MY wife, hardly knowing what to
do, one day brought home a package
Of Grape-Nuts. food and coaxed me to
try 1t. told her 1t was no use but
finally to humor her | tried a little,
and they just struck my taste. 1t
was the first food | had eaten in near
y year that did not cause any suffer
ing.
We'll, to make a long story short, l
began to improve and stuck to Grape
Nuts. | went up from 1876 pounds In
December to 1914 pounds the following
October.
my brain is clear, blood all
light and appetite too much for any
mans pocketbook. In fact, am thor
Oughly made over, and owe 1t all to
5rape-Nuts. ! talk SO much about what
irape-Nuts will do that some OF the
men on the road have niclInamed me
Grape-Nuts,' but | stand today a
healthy, rosy-cheeked mana pretty
good example of what the right kind
If food will do
you can publish this If you want to.
L is a true statement without any
srills."
Read the little book. "The Road to
MELVILLE" In pkgs. There's Reason.
Ever read the above Ietters A new
one appears from time 10 time. They
are genuine, true, and full OF human
interest.