davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florida agriculturist., 1910-06-01

lands in good condition, as it is in some
parts Of the country Neither the same
amount Of time, nor the same amount Of
labor is necessary to keep our citrus
groves in good tilth as is required by
fruit plantations in most Of the fruit
growing districts of America. Perhaps
herein lies the reason why some have
neglected cultivation altogether on lands
which would be benefited by it, while
others have, in many cases, carried the
practice too far. But if Our soils are
IN apparently good condition and roots
can easily penetrate them in all direc-
tions, then in what way does cultivation
benefit the trees, and why is the oper
alton necessary?
Cultivation is beneficial in the follow
ing ways: It increases the water holding
capacity of the soil and conserves moist
ure, both by allowing rain to sink more
freely into it and by checking evapora
ton. 1t pulverizes the soil and allows
the air to penetrate, thus supplying OK
ygen to the roots. In cultivated soils,
decomposition and nitrification go on
more readily and if the materials are
present from which nitrogen can be
formed, its formation takes place more
rapidly than if the soil be left unculti
vated
Most of the moisture in tillable soil
is held as minute film surrounding the
soil particles. 1t necessarily follows
that the more numerous the soil par
ticles in a given space, j. e., the smaller
they are, the greater will be the water
holding capacity of the soil because the
total surface area of all the particles in
creases as they are reduced in size. And
it is true, within certain limits, that the
water holding capacity Of the soil in
creases as the size of the particles dim
inishes If, however, the particles be-
come too small, they may become too
closely packed, and thus this object Of
cultivation will be defeated. This con-
dition is not likely to occur in Florida
soils as result of cultivation. The size
of the particles can be reduced by cult
vation by breaking up masses which may
have become more or less cemented to-
gether, and the water-holding capacity
thereby increased.
The opening and loosening of the soil
permits the rain to penetrate. If the
surface of the ground becomes hard and
compact, the water will run over the sur
face to collect in puddes and disappear
by evaporation. In either case the loss
will be great But if the soil is we'll
stirred and loose, the water will enter.
Once it is safely beneath the surface,
it is necessary to keep it there; it has
gained entrance by passage through
which it should uot be allowed to escape.
The water will again make its way to
the surface by capillary attraction, pass
ing upward through the minute spaces
between the particles of soil If these
minute tubes Or passages, extend right
to the surface, the water rises to the
top, comes out, and is carried away by
evaporation. Frequent, shallow cultiva
ton will prevent this escape of water, by
breaking the capillary tubes The top
inch or two of earth is stirred, it parts
The Florida agriculturist., 1910-06-01
The Cultivation of Citrus Groves
BY H. HAROLD HUME.

with it's moisture and becomes quite dry.
Then it acts as a dust blanket and the
great amount of moisture below is not
allowed to reach the surface to be car
red away by the moving air above. Thus
the moisture is conserved and held for
the use of the trees. During our rainy
season it is not necessary to conserve
the moisture, but often in April, May
and June, and sometimes even later,
week after week goes by without a
shower This is the time when water
is needed, the time for which prepar-
alton should be made before it comes.
The horse and cultivator are often a
most excellent substitute for an irri-
cation plant.
We know that a hard, compact soil
into which air does not enter, is no fit
place for the roots Of plants to grow
and live in The roots absorb water
and food in solution, only through their
newer parts, and new roots must be
formed constantly to carry on this work.
For the formation Of roots, oxygen is
necessary, and if the air cannot enter,
oxygen cannot be supplied, and the roots
suffer in consequence. The soil should
be kept loose and friable during the
period of greatest growth that the roots
may be freely supplied with air.
If, in addition to this, the rootlets
can reach and penetrate every portion Of
the soil, growing here and there at will,
they then have an opportunity to come
into contact with and absorb the plant
food in the soil. While it is true that
food materials in solution, may move
towards the roots, still in general, the
roots must search out and procure the
plant food. How can they do this i'm
portant work if the soil is hard, COM
pact and impenetrable?
The food materials in any soil are
found either in chemical substances, pres
ent in the soil, or in organic combina-
tions If the fertilizers are applied or
added to the soil, they too fall into,
either one or the other classes. Most
of these materials do not Immediately
yield UP the plant food which they con-
tain, but they must be acted upon by
certain agents before their store of food
becomes available, i. e., so that the roots
can absorb and the plants use it. A large
part, or practically all, of the plant food
in organic substances is liberated through
the agency of microscopic plants called
bacteria. That these may thrive and
multiply, plenty of air should be ad-
mitted to the soil, and the soil should at
the same time be warm and moist. Cul
tivation goes long way toward making
the conditions ideal for the growth and
development of soil bacteria. The other
class of agents is those which act chem
ically To this group belong the acids
and other substances which are capa-
bic of breaking up the food-containing
materials in the soil Some of these
disintegrators are present in the air, and
are carried to the soil in the rain. Here
again cultivation helps by admitting the
air to the soil and allowing the rain to
penetrate.
Depth of Cultivation.
1t is always preferable to prepare the
ground we'll before the trees are plant
ed. The earth should be we'll stirred
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03

he said. In discussing that arrest.
why, I'd been afraid not to. l did
go around to the mayor the next morn
ing-it was the old habit OF going To
the man higher up--and began an
apology. He cut me short with:
You're hired to catch law-breakers
and keep the peace. My son Is on no
different basis than the son OF any
other man In this town. /"
For 20 years the people have been
demanding that something be done
for better water supply. Mayors got
into office by promising to do some
thing, but, somehow or other, the prop
or distribution of graft was never ar
ranged. Within 80 days the new ad-
ministration had all the machinery In
motion to get a full and complete sup
ply.
For FIVE years the people wanted
better sewers. The rake-off on bonds
was never settled. The new govern
ment started the sewer, sold the bonds
and had the work In progress in 80
days.
For 20 years people talked OF civic
beauty" and left their parks unimprov-
ed. This summer two OF the vacant
lots have been improved as parks,
with concerts each week.
Street paving W. always slow be-
cause of the sale of the bonds. The
old officials were either grafters or
honest and Indifferent" says bond
man who disposed Of the securities.
In eight months II blocks have been
paved.
Although the people had voted out
the saloons, the old method OF enforce
ment in spots had kept the city IN tur'
MOL, with its frequent raids and Its
charges OF favoritism. Today the city
is as dry as Sahara. The mayor sim
ply holds each policeman responsible
for hfs beat.
The new administration does not
believe that Grand Junction will al
ways be dry. IT does believe that
liquor, when sold again, will be sold
under conditions which majority OF
the people will approve.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03

NEW YORK, Aug. 3.-The Countess
De Beaufort and her noble consort are
spending their two weeks vacation
in manner which must prove an OBJ
ject lesson to all other wives of labor
ing men.
Although Count Jacques Alexander
Albert u. Won Mourik de Beaufort is
only a common laborer' and. goes 70
work In a pair of greasy overalls and
n caboose, his wife has economical
so wisely and SO well that when the
counts vacation time came they had
enough hid away In the family stock
ing to put up at the st. Regis, where
northumberland others-are usually
taxed about $50 day, especially IL they
want to sleep in the $4,000 bed, which
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03
Low STAGE OF RIVER STARTS
A PEARL HUNTING CRAZE
la Crosse Merchants and Manufacture
ers Are Facing Labor
Shoytauc.

Ia Crosse Merchants and Manufactur.
ers Are Facing a Labor
Shortage.
LA CROSSE. Wis, Aug. The phe-
nomenalIy low stage of the Mississippi
river has caused such a widespread
pearl hunting craze that merchants
and manufacturers declare employees
are quitting work by the score to
search for clans, and that serious en-
barrassment stares them In the face,
unless there is something done to
bring the men and boys hack to work.
The water is so low that pearl hun
ters can gather great sacks of clans
by wading into the Mississippi and
Black rivers. and several beautiful and
valuable pearls have been found here
within the past week, aggregating a
value of several thousand dollars.
Mrs. II. NJ Hoist gave up her house
work TO join in the pearl hunt. and was
rewarded by finding a gem worth $3.50.
William White found what is reported
to be a perfectly white and round
pearl, at Bay City, weighing 40 grains.
THIS Is probably the largest pearl
found this season, and II of satisfac-
tory color will net the finder a small
fortune.
Hundreds OF people line the river
banks for miles In every direction
where the clam beds are located and
the boom" is the greatest recorded
In the pearl fishing industry on the
upper river.
Steamboat traffic has been almost
entirely abandoned, the stage of seven
inches being the lowest ever recorded
here. The water Is still falling.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03
VIII Identify Body As
80
That Of Mrs. Crippen

LONDON, Aug. 3.--"There is lit
tie doubt that we will be able to
identity the body as that of Mrs.
Crippen when the inquest is re-
sumed."
This statement was made today by
an official of the criminal investigat-
ing department OF Scotland Yard. He
declared that the proof would satisfy
any court or jury Only a few days
ago the authorities had seemingly de-
SPARED of proving the identity of the
body, but evidence has been found OF
late that apparently removes this
fear.
Scotland Yard denies any know.
ledge OF a reported confession by DR..
Crippen, now in jail In Quebec. Owing
to the wellknown secrecy OF Scot
land Yard. the denial Is received as a
matter OF course.
Arthur Newton. criminal lawyer
OF London, whose offer OF legal SER
vices Crippen Is reported to have &C
cepted. is already at work on the
case He denies that there Is the
slightest proof that the body found
In the cellar OF the Crippen home is
that Of the American dentists wife.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03
MAKE BALLOON FLIGHT.
Party OF Detroiters Go Up Into Clouds
at Jackson.

JACKSON, Mich. Aug. 3.-The bal
loon city of Cleveland" piloted by
Prof. A. Leo Stevens. and containing
four Detroit men as passengers, made
an ascension yesterday afternoon. The
four passengers were William e. Metz.
ger, William f. v. Neuman, j. W.
Dyar and 8. ID. Waldron. The big bag
was let 60 at 2:15 and assembled near
ly 1000 feet. proceeding In a south
westerly direction.
The flight was the last that Prof
Stevens will make from the Jackson
grounds for several weeks He will
return to New York. Pilot Arnold,
however, will continue making flights
with the Michigan No. /" for the
next week or ten days.
Aeronauts Stevens and Wade will
make a night trip on the evening OF
August 25. II Is planned to stay in
the air all night. Mr.. Wade is a Cleve-
land man. and has gained some no
toriety as a balloonist He is the
owner of the balloon city OF Cleve-
land"
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03
GIRL TIES UP WORK oF BIG
GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENT
Everytime She Has Eplleptic spasm
She Deprives v. s. OF Two and
Half Days Work.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-School-
master Durand who conducts the big
gest class in arithmetic that the
world ever knew, is confronting with
some OF the hardest problems today
in keeping order among his pupils
that were ever presented In any
schoolroom disciplinarian. Among
the thousands of recruits from every
quarter of the nation, are persons SUI.
fering from extreme nervousness and
various other diseases, as well az
"GidGy young fiirts and gossippins
old maids" One woman from Mis-
souri,, being subject to epilepsy
throws her department into turmoil
at indefinite intervals by undergoing
a spasm. The officials today estimat'
ed that this young woman by distract.
ing the minds of perhaps hundred
girls in her department for an hour
deprived the government OF one hun
dred hours of work, or two and one
half days, every time she had a
spasm.
The amount of gossiping among the
clerks has grown constantly as they
have become better acquainted. IL is
said. The other day farmer drove
by here with four calves In a wagon
said one of the officials. And when
one of those calves began to bawl
some of these country girls and boys
got SO homesick that they had to STOP
work and cry for the farm and
mother"
The majority of the clerks are effici
ent, but the extraordinary untitled
few, are gradually. reducing the gen
eral average until some radical action
has become necessary.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03
SHIP CRASHES
INTO LOCK At 500
Accident Similar To Ramming OF
Gates at Canadian Lock Is Mar.
rowly Averted.

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich, Aug. ;.
--tSpeciaA)-An accident almost sim
liar to the ramming OF the lower gates
OF the Canadian lock last year occurred
at the American locks early this morn
ing, luckily, however, with no such
disastrous results.
About one o'clock the steamer Lake
Shore made a landing at the lower
pier before going into the Poe lock.
AS she left the pier to enter the lock,
the captain gave backing signals to
straighten the boat around. The re-
verse engine slipped and instead OF
backing she was driven ahead full
speed. The force drove her into the
for one hundred feet
The gates being open she headed
straight up the lock, the engineer vain
ly trying to get her stopped and re-
versed She struck the upper gates
exactly where the two leaves mitre,
forcing them out two feet.
Before she had gone the full length
OF the lock the engineer had succeeded
In reversing, and as she backed up the
tremendous force of water in the up
per canal brought the gates back into
place without damage, with the excep-
ton Of a small hole In the upper
plates caused by the Lake Shores an
Choir. Had the lower gates been clos
ed the Canadian disaster would have
been duplicated.
The Lake Shore is a sister ship to
the Perry G.. Walker, which caused
damage to the Canadian lock. She Is
owned by the Gilchrist Transportation
Co., OF Cleveland. The damage sus-
tanned by her is slight, only a few
plates on her starboard side being
dented above the water line.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03
NEW coRPoRATIoNs.

LANSING. Mich. Aug 3.--The fol-
lowing companies have filed articles
of Incorporation with the secretary
OF state: Goodfellow Tire company
Detroit, increase from $4,000 to $3.50
900; Fire Protection company, Indian
spolis, Ind. and Detroit. $4,000: Sc
curity Safety & Collateral company
Detroit, 100000. Detroit stockholders
Emory @. Clark, William J. Gray and
James 8. Holden; Peoples Outlet com
pany, Detroit. $4,000, Detroit stock
holders, ]. B. Greenberg, s. l.. wilkins
and J. M. Harris; Manistee Glove com
pany. Manistee. 5000; S. b. Martin
company, Detroit, s225.000, Detroit
stockholders. William A. Story and
Irwin Long; Farm Produce company
Cass City. $4,000; Mack Avenue
Amusement company, Detroit, $4,000
Detroit stockholders, John Roeslnk
z. A. Bresler and Il. j. Smith.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03
ACCUSES ALDERMAN.
Salesman Says Battle Creek Official
Solicited Bride.

SOLICITED BRIDE.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich, Aug. a.
That Aid. Ralph Erskine, one OF
Mayor Bailey's Democratic constit.
uents. not only accepted $50 bride,
but solicited 1t, is the statement made
here yesterday by John b. Olney,
salesman for the Austin Western
Manufacturing company. Olney was
summoned last night to appear before
Justice Batdorff as witness In the
investigation of charges that Thomas
Bigger and A. w. Kennedy, rival
statesmen, furnished the council corn
mittee with beer and whisky In this
dry community. Olney stated that
Erskine was to receive an additional
500 is the matter went through
right" the matter being the pur-
chase of a stone crusher.
Though Mayor Bailey removed" the
special committee appointed by Acting
Mayor Howes to investigate the brib.
ing of Erskine, Howes declared that
the committee will refuseto be remoy.
ed. but will investigate the affair and
lay every detail bare.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03

the count much prefers to any other
kind.
And the most wonderful part OF II AL
is that the count only gets $2.4s day
for his labor In the Chicago Steel Tool
Co.'S mill. 1t was hard for him to
land that job, too. for his father-inlaw
only owns half of the concern. But he
did land II and is the most Democratic
fellow one sees. He works In over
alls, as has been said, and gets all dus-
ty and greasy. so that II Is the deuce
OF a job for his valet to scrape and
polish him of at night
The count wooed and won Miss Kill
gallem worth $4,000. 000) in two weeks
last spring, and has been living with
her folks" since. His titles reach
back into ancient history.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03
MAN. rs, WOMAN, 60, WE'D.

SAGINAW, Mich, Aug. 3--That
love is not found only in young hearts
was shown here yesterday in the we'd
ding OF Charles w. West, aged rs,
of Union City, and Mrs. Ellen Mimic,
aged 6S years, OF ST. Charles. The
wedding was the elimination of a
courtship extending several years
past. The groom Is a retired busi.
ness man OF Union City and the bride
is the widow of George Mimic. The
groom appears as active as man 40
years younger. After a short wed
ding trip Mr. and Mrs. West will live
in Union City. Both have children
from former ties.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03
Ieral Detreiters
Remember Dr.. Crippen

~. Charles f. Sterling, No. 404 JET
|1bn-ave., says that Dr, Harvey
f1oy Crippen. now under arrest IN
I&bec on o charge OF numbering his
formerly Belle fillmore. the act.
N London. Eng, worked for him
"a assistant dentist for 10 months
x11o. DR.. Sterling's ONCE was IN
I365x Remick property, Lafayette
ovard and shelby-st. DIR. Sterling
oeded- DIR. d. J. Mcclure, who re-
x hecause OF ill-health. DR.. Grip.
kad been with DR.. Mcclure a
SIo or months when DIR. Sterling
np the practice. DR.. Mcclure aft.
1rd took up the chair OF opthal-
A. the University of Michigan.
- Or. Mcclure died q few years
Or. Sterling succeeded to the
Dr. Crippen left Detroit In the
r paFt OF 1856 and went to New
II e thought that he practiced
nm Arbor and Coldwater, Mich,
~ coming to Detroit.
Sterling, who has just returned
- city from Albany, N. Y, says
n1dn't at first believe that the DR.
IN suspected OF che London muir
ould be the DIR. Crippen he had
tn. DIR. Crippen was quiet and
1uming, with little forcefulness In
Personality, but had a keen intel.
Dr. Sterling says. DIR. Sterling
ndds that DIR. Crippen was a ply
-. not q dentist while here. DR..
1lne. while DR.. Crippen was with
made specially of eye and ear
k1ee.
1T. Luther B. willard. No. 4s7 Mer.
lave. also remembers DIR. Crippen.
ALSO knew his parents. His father,
20 willard says, suffered financial re-
- In Coldwater and his mother
dressmaking to help put the son
11xh college. She also says that
Crfppen and one OF her daughters
engaged to be married, but that
= Sroke on the engagement because
he youth OF her daughter. Later
Crippen, Mrs. willard says, mar
4 New York nurse, the marriage
~ place in Windsor. Ont, and that
I<nd his bride later went to Salt
*n city to reside. Mrs. Crippen, the
lInr's wife, died at Salt Lake.
<korward, IL years ago. one OF Mrs
rl's daughters met DIR. Crippen
- second wife, Belle Gilmore, In
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03

New York. The coupie appeared hap
by, and Mrs. Willard doesn't mink tne
doctor could have killed his wiie:.
While In Detroit DR.. Crippen nved
for four months with DR.. PHI Porter
a former practitioner here, who resid'
ed in the old Waterman home, Adams.
ave and witherell-st. Mrs. willard
Ia the mother of DIR. Porter.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03
Hangar, Not Shed, For AeropIanss

Hangar" Is the very latest adj
dition to the English language, and
It comes direct from England, the
tight little island whose inhabi-
tants claim to be the only
English speaking people who speak
the language correctly. Hangar"
according to the English writer's,
is the proper name for the sheds
in which acceptance are housed. II
was first used by writer's describ-
ing the recent aviation meet at
Bournemouth. England. The word
does not appear in any Of the late
dictionaries.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03

think that Ethel Leneve was
Nv 3 foolish girl, but that she is
|utoly innocep. Of any connection
the murder Of Mrs. Crippen. |
w that she did not even know
Mira. Crippen was dead until al
me left London with Crippen, and
probably not be valuable even as
Ikne6s."
Is Leneve girls physical condi-
was SO far improved yesterday
moon that she was taken back to
1itlie room in the jail. Crippen
becn there all day, amusing him
with q number of books. furnish
" the authorities. He reads vo-
Z Snsly, and today exhausted his
Snly OF reading matter, and sent
i request for more. The corri-
- 81 the Jail are crowded with Wis
10 anxious for a glimpse Of Crippen
e Miss Leneve, but the authorities
Wi issued positive orders that no
q u to be admitted to either cell.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03
Sc cANALEIAs.

standing with King Alfonso for the
manifesto allowing protestant sects to
display the insignia OF public worship
outside their churches, is preparing
for supreme battle.
Don Jaime. the pretender 10 the
throne, says he will lead the Catholics
In the battle he believes " To come.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-03

Felix Featherwate loved Agnes de-
votedly, madly. There was only one
obstacle, her brutal father The father
of Agnes dealt in hides and sole
leather. often did Felix shudder at
the thought that his future father-in-
law would come to visit them smell
ing of hides.
But this is not why he hesitated
asking him for her hand. He hesitat-
ed because the old man wore a No.
10 collar and No IL boots. Felix him
self wore a No. 13 shirt and No. "A
shoes.
But one day while under the In
fiuence of pineapple sundae he mus
tered up courage and approached the
papa of Agnes on the subject.
Once a year Agnes visits the grave
of Felix.
(The. Emo --r-- /,