davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
ITO be c~ontinued.)
PLANT THAT QUENCHEs THIRST
sSDrinE of the Desert" the bnrreA
Cactus, n Life-Snver

.ssnrins of the Desert" the bnrreA
Cactus, a Life-Snver.
Strangers left alone In the desert
often die: native animals and native
races do moi. This comes OF knoWi-
edge or the lack Of 1T. For the natlVe
animals and men know what the strah-
gers know not-that there Is water IN
| all the deserts. and that the receptacles
| for this water are plants which,. ny
means of their roots, absorb water
from the soil when the rains come ana
| store it up, like reservoirs, for use ID
time of drought. The methods by
which this absorption Is carried on are,
In many cases, wonderful. Equally 50
are the methods by which nature
works to make the plants retain water
| after it has been absorbed. An exami'
nation with the microscope shows now
this Is done, but it Is enough here tc
saw that the interior of a plant that
holds water consists of myriad water
storage cells. The amount OF water,
moreover, which such a plant as the
cactus we are describing holds In its
interior is extraordinary. A determl-
nation Of the water In a sample OF the
storage tissue has shown over 96 per
cent.
The Strand says the common name
of this veritable spring of the desert
is the barrel cactus, or bisnaga (Echl.
nocactus Emoryi), one specimen OF
which, recently kept in the eonserva-
tory of the department Of agriculture
at Washington, weighed ITO pounds.
A specimen Weighing one ton and
measuring nine feet high and three IN
diameter was once received at Kew,
but soon died owing to injuries in tran.
sit. t.l
Some years ago, when Frederick V.
Coville Of the department of agr1cul'
ture at Washington, in company with
.. T. MacDougal Of the New York 30
tanical garden, was In Mexico seeking
a location for a desert botanical Ia
boratory for the Carnegie Institute OF
Washington, he made a special study
| of the barrel cactus. The locality IN
which these Investigations took place
was in the State OF Sonora, Mexico,
about eight miles from the railway
station OF Torres, a region In which the
bisnaga abounds.
Happily for the investigations, there
was at hand, in the person of Mr.. Co
yille's guide-an intelligent Papago In
dian-one who from old-time practice
was able to show how, deity and quick
" the traveller in the desert may
quench his thirst. He first picked out
a cactus a little owe three feet high
and twenty inches in diameter. d He
then sliced OF the top and exposed the
white interior. raising the top from
| the rest Of the plant as If it were a lid
on hinges. Inside could be seen a pulpy
structure, evidently saturated with
water, although it was noticeable that
the water did not exude from the pulp
when the cut was made. The guide
| then cut a stake about three inches IN
diameter at the blunt end, and began
to mash the flesh of the cactus into a
pulp. BY this mean he made in the
top of the cactus a sort of bowl, and
soon had collected a suitable quantity
of this pulp. Then taking 1t up hand.
full by handful he squeezed out the
water into the bowl and tossed the use,
less pulp away. The flavor of the water
was slightly saltish.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Rotation of Crops.

Wheat grown at the Minnesota ex-
pertinent station continuously on the
same plot since 1894 shows IN average
yield of 1876 bushels per acre since
1900. Grown in the three-year rota-
ton since 1900, the average yield has
been 20.6 bushels per acre. No manure
being given the plot, the increase must
be charged alone to rotation, the seed
and other conditions being substan-
TALLY the same. In a ~five-year rotation
with manure well applied, covering the
same period, the yield has averaged
26.6 bushels per acre, and the conclu-
sion at the station is that more grain
can be grown in three years of rota-
ton than in four years of continuous
cropping.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
on Some Ministers.

The worst o. these here shepherds
is, my boy, that they reg'larly turns
the heads OF all the young ladies'
about here. Lord bless their little
hearts, they think it's all right, and
don't know no better; but they're the
victims 6 CANNON, Saniivei, they're
the victims o CANNON. Nothin' else,
and wot aggregates me, Samivel. Is
to see EN- awastin' all their time and
labor in making clothes for copper-col-
ored people as don't want 'em and tax
Ing no notice Of ~fiesh-colored Chris
tians as do. II I'd my way, Samivel,
I'd just stick some of these here lazy
shepherds behind a heavy wheelbar-
row, and run 'em up and down a
14-inch plank all day. That I'D shake
the nonsense out of 'em, II anythin'
vould.-Mr. Weller, Quoted by Charles
Dickens.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Curing : Cramp,

Il it In the leg? Does it come In
the night? 1t may be easily relieved.
Simply have a good strong cord. Then
you are ready for the cramp. When it
comes wind the cord around the place.
Wind 1t rather tight, then give each
end a sharp pull. That will relieve the
cramp, which will not come on again
the same night. For a permanent cure
Of these spasms one, should go to a
Observation-Disclosures Record.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
selfish Youth.

youth is apt to be selfish" said
Mrs. Mary II. Wilkins-Freeman, the
distinguished novelist. at a Matuchen
picnic.
Woman In her youth" she went on,
.is especially apt to be selfish. I
never forget the story Of the young
man from Boston who stood in the
center OF Boston common in q down.
pour Of %torrential rain.
"As he stood there, soaked to the
ssins . little boy In macintosh &C.
cOsted him.
Excuse me. STR said the boy, but
are you the gentleman who Is waiting
for Miss Endicott?
"sYes,, the young man answered.
Well said the boy. she asked me
to tell YOU she'd be here just as soon
~ It clears up"
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Staging Bracket.

time to erect scaffolds hat it does to
do the work on small jobs. A very
convenient movable bracket is made
of 2 by 4 inch scantling, nailed to
form a right angle and braced with
boards. A 2 by 4 is then inserted and
the bracket slid up the side of the
building with the staging boards on it.
The foot of the 2 by 4 is then staked
to prevent slipping. Often there are
odds and ends about the farm build
ings that may be substituted for the
2 by As, using the above plan for the
staging bracket.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Land for Gardens,

1t may pay to go to considerable ex-
pense in preparing land for extensive
garden work. A highly successful
grower of celery, near Boston, spent
$500 per acre in hauling sand. The
expenditure was fully justified, for his
gross annual returns must be double
this amount per acre. The plants,
whether fer early or late market, are
always set five inches apart in rows IS
inches apart. At these distances 69, 635
plants are required for an acre. The
plants are started in the greenhouse.
making one shift before setting in the
field. Boards are used FOR blanching.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26

Clean cultivation is half the battle.
Cauli1ower seed are still brought
from Denmark.
Intensive farming means more than
double cropping.
The present day farmer is a spe-
cialist in the true sense of the word.
Potatoes are continuing to absorb
quite a good deal of the truckers at
tention.
Leaving plant root exposed to the
sun and wind is like leaving a fish out
of water.
Old. stale vegetables will hurt your
trade. Feed them to the pigs, cows
or poultry
The three important leaf troubles of
cucumbers are powdery mildew,
downy mildew and anthracnose.
In applying manure with a spreadeI
it is put on uniformly, and all parts
of the field are equally benefited.
It is seldom, if ever, necessary tc
inoculate land for alfalfa when 1t has
been well enriched with manure
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Zelda Cameron
m. MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright. 1904. ~ The Bobh-Msril Co.

looked into-and / don't want any non
sense about 1t. You remember l fixed
all hat with my company to please
you-merely to get that option. My
own hands are clean, you understand.
IL anything happens. Good day, Mr..
Cameron"
But walt can't do it; I must
have that option" began Cameron,
and there was Il pitiful whine in his
voice; but Balcomb went out and
slammed the door.
j. Arthur Balcomb had enjoyed a
successful year. Things were running
smoothly with him; he had no doubt
in the world that he could enforce his
option on the creek strip of Ian
whenever he wished. He knew Zelda
Cameron. and he was quite convinced
that h was not a girl to avoid oblisa-
lions incurred by her father.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Faults in American Character.

In an address on botanical educa-
ton in America, Prof. w. F. Ganong
remarks that "~disregard Of particulars
and a tendency to easy generalities
are fundamental faults in American
character" and he insists upon the
necessity of laboratory and expert
mental work in all scientific study.
Books lease the Wits but i%ndepend-
ent observation is the source of sound
knowledge in science.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
4ELRGG HAkSn
Better Than a Druo,

The late Senator Platt," said an
Albany legislator, had a cynical wit.
Talking about a politician who had
changed his party, lie once said to
me:
circumstances alter everything
political views, religion, ever health.
why, I've got a friend who is af-
f1icted with insomnia in it's worst
form, and yet every morning that
man sleeps as sweet and sound as a
newborn babe when his wife crawls
over him to start the fire."
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Clearing Gardens.

Clearing up and removing all
srowths along the margins of a gar
den n fields with thorough, continu-
Gus cultivation will give almost com
plete immunity from cut worms, grubs,
etc.
Cut the fading, bloom stalks from
the phloxes. work the soil, dig some
fertilizer about the roots, water well.
and induce new growth, when they
should bloom until frost cuts them
down.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
HANDY TABLE FOR WINDOWS
Device Arranged for Flowers, Etc,
Either Inside or Out Where
Space Is Small.

The device shown in the Illustration
makes a handy table for flowers, seed
lings, etc, either outside or interior,
where space is small, says Farm
Press. 1t is made by securing a
plank of serviceable size to the wall
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Leuumes,

Every time you plant peas or beans
your soil is made better. 1t is well
for the gardener to keep this fact in
mind. The cash return per acre may
not be large, but 1t is comforting to
know that these legumes add nitrogen
and humus to the soil, which will in
crease the yield of subsequent crops.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
csna.ity of the Toad.

The federal department OF agricul-
u,re, Investigating the toad. discovers
the startling fact that in % hours the
insect food consumed by one toad
equals in cusntity four tines the ca
nacity sof its stomach. which is practi.
cally filed and emptied four times
every "a hours.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Ron Modestx.

AN actor should be modest, and
most actors are" said James X. Hack
ett. at . luncheon In Pittsburg. But
! know q young actor who. at the be.
ginning 81 his career, carried modesty
almost too far.
This young man inserted in all the
dramatic papers . want advertise
ment that said:
Engagement w-anted--small par,
such as dead body or outside shouts
preferred, y.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
STAGING BRACKET FOR FARM
illustration Shows Plan Of Getting at
Small Jobs With Very Little
Expense.

There are many jobs on the farm
where it is necessary to have staging
or s%catfolding. Accounts kept by one
doing repair work show hat on an
average it takes double the amount of
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
a Fake Camera.

1sYonder is a beach camera fiend,'
said the hrst bathing girl. '.They are
disgusting, | think"
This mi Is particularly disgust
Ing" declared the second bathing girl
After / had posed all morning for his
benefit, he ate Ills lunch from thai
box.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26

are the warnings
natures signals for
help. Doan's Kidney
Pills should be used
at the first sign.
Mrs. w. r. Cody,
4o2 18th St., Lewis
ton. Idaho, says: II
had a bad case OF
dropsy and bloated 40
lbs. In weight. My
ankles swelled and I
had to wear shoes
two sizes larger than
usual. I was nery-
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26

Gus. restless and much run down.
After using Doan's Kidney Pills I
came down to natural weight and my
kidneys became normal"
Remember the name-Doan's. For
sale by all dealers. 80 cents a box.
Foster.Milburn Co, Buffalo. N. Y.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Rockefeller Hard Shot,

John D. Rockefeller tried a game Of
golf on the links near Augusta. On a
rather difficult shot Mr.. Rockefeller
struck too low with his iron, and as
the dust flew up he asked his caddy:
What have 1 hit?"
The boy laughed and answered.: !
"Jaw-jah, boss"
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Restiess Royalty.

"Befufs their marriage he said she
should BE- treated like a queen.
.Wen." answered Miss Cayenne. ne
has kept his word after a fashion. His
|Aoueehold 10 very like one a 49,
laeela Uuropsan monarchiea."
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Window Table.

couple Of strong hinges on the under.
side Of said plank; further support is
given by large wires held by screw
eyes to table and so on. Fl 10
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26

The Philosopher of Folly.
Kind words never die" says the
Philosopher of Folly, "and that is why
they are so seldom carried out"
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
NATURES SIGNALS.

The first indication of kidney dis
order IL often backache. Then m
pain in the hips and sides. lameness.
voreness and urinary troubles. These
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Those Cooked Hats,

Those Cooked Hats
Dilly-My salary % knocked into q
cooked hat this week.
Dauy-Why?
Dilly-My wife's chantecler VIII
take 1t alk-TOwn Topics. Il
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
Mrs. wluotn,s idea Of London.

During the recent visit of Mrs. Wig
gin. the American author, In London.
an interviewer called on her. With
pencil poised, the. interviewer asked:
"And what do you think OF London.
Mrs 5Wiggin ~
You remind me-" answered the au-
thor cheerfully. "of the young lady
who sat beside DR.. Gibbon at dinner.
She turned to him after the soup.
q DO, dear DIR. Gibbon,' she said. tell
me about the decline and fall of the
Roman empire"
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
4 sass,s summer.

think OF the number Of plants ]
have TO remember to water while they
9are all away for the summer" he
cried.
Herewith he doubted his title to
wisdom. N
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
EXCELLENT SPRING FOR DOOR
Spiral Hinge Makes Door Close Of Its
Own Weisht-CIears Carpets
and Rugs.

By taking advantage OF the law OF
gravity, a Washington Cd. c. man
mas invented a hinge which also acts
as a spring. Spiral strips of metal
are screwed at top and bottom and
middle Of the door casing. Other
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
ncmae%ln A~nrl4I.

DoHnestlo AmeNltIeo. sss,
Hubby. I gave your light pants to
: poor tramp"
And what am l going to wear this
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26

1 want any person who suffers with bill,
iousuess, constipation, indigestion or any
liver or blood ailment, to try my Paw-Paw
Liver Pills. I guarantee they will purify the
blood and put the liver and stomach into a
heaithful condition and will positively cure
biliousness and constipation, or / will refund
your money. - Munyon's HOMEOPATHIC Home
Remedy Co., 63rd and Jefferson Sts.. Phila., Pa.
Douglas Island news., 1910-03-30
The NOrthIand The Latest News, from Reliable Sources, Concerning the Great
 North. Condensed.
Information for Everybody.

Daylight burglaries are common in Fairbanks.
 Skondoo, a native doctor, was sent to jail at Skagway for stealing wood.
 A young man named Henry Johnson fell 100 feet down a shaft in the Panama and still lives
 A dog thief stole tbe crack team of D. W. Blue, of Nome, last month and got away with it.
 One of the prizes to be won at the Catholic carnival at Skagway is fael saver valued at S6.
 One hundred and eighty-one votes were cast in school election held at Panama on March lst
 Judge Moore has the endorsement of all of the members of the Nome bar for reappointment-excepto one.
 The Alaska Packers association an- nounces that all it's Alaska canneries will be operated this summer.
 Vaugn Taylor, of airbaDks, has been appointed d cadet to West Point from Alaska by Delegate WicEersham.
 The eoldest day in three years was experienced at Nome on January 18th, when the mercury registered B below.
 Wm. OConnor, labor candidate for delegate, opened his campaign on March 9th by public address at Chat anika.
 George B. Travis, grand chief of the Arctic Brotherhood, has returned to his home at Dawson, after visit on the Sound.
 The Fairbanks Times offers prizes amounting to S25 for complete lists of things produced or manufactured in the Panama valley.
 Ghe Columbia Packers" association will establish large eannery ct Chig- nix, to be ready for operation during the coming season.
 Arthur B. Barney was sentenced at Fairbanks to go years imprisonment for the murder of Charles J. Smith at Tanana last December.
 Work will begin next month on the branch of the White Pass & Yukon rail- road to the Pueblo copper mine. Two hundred men will be employed.
 The senate has passed bill which terminates the privileges granted to the North American Commercial con- pany of the exclusive right to take seal on Pribilof islands.
 An humble citizen of Seward is said to be edescsnded from Line of Swedish barons and direct heir of vast es- tate in Southern Sweden. In his Alas kan home he is known as "Postal Pete"
Douglas Island news., 1910-03-30
of the one he bad given the prince. St they do not change much.
LETTER SIXTH

Tn the Shba park is the Seregakuji temple or tomb of the forty seven ronins. In the old days each noble had a crowd of retainers whom he SUD- ported and who fought for him when he needed them. Sometimes man left his master for some reason and he was then known as masterless man or ronin. A noble named Asano had been killed by another noble named Kira in TOP. Forty seven of Asano's men be- came lOuins, so that nobody would be responsible for them and they attacked and killed Kira. They cut off his head, brought it to the tomb of Asano. Tbere is little we'll pear the tomb where they washed the head of Kira be- fore putting it on the tomb of Asano. The tom of Asano is still there aud all around it are the tombs of the 41 ronius. As soon as they had placed the head ou the tomb they all killed them elves. There are statues of all Of tbem in the temple, with their swords, armor, clothing, etc. The peo- pie still burn incense at their graves.
 l went up to Nikko, where the finest temples in Japan are. They are simply gorgeous, but 1 cannot describe them any more than could sunset. There are a great many of them all up in d thick forest of cryptomerias which were planted years ago. One tree fell last fall and sold for three hundred and seventy. five dollars. Nikko is pretty place, but it was too cold when 1 was there. The houses are too cold. NIkko is about 100 miles from Tokio. 1 went back to Yokohama aud my next break was for the hot springs in the HaBone district beside Mount Fujiama or Fuji- san. robably three .fourths of all the pictures of Japan that you have seen have had picture of Fuji. It is about 13,OO0 feet high; is conical and top is covered with snow most of the time. The baths were very fine; there were about 100 girls for five or six guests. They were as good to us as they could be, but it was too cold even for Charlie Young. The temperature was about above zero and we both had to go out side to strip for the baths. We were there about five days.
 fn miles off. The castle there is interest ing. It is built like pagoda and has two dolphins on the top. For scales they used Jap five and ten dollar gold pieces and the scales of the two dol- phins cost S1, ,800,0O0. They are getting ready for an exposition in Nagoya, and 1 saw many Americans.
 Next we went to Kyoto, the capital for over thousand years. visited the kings palace, but was not much inn pressed. The houses here are too bare. A room has no chairs, no tables, one picture, a vase of flowers and little altar or image of some ancestor. You have always to remove your shoes be- fore entering private house. Every thing is so cold. have not had com- fortable hour outside of bed since | came.
 LETTER SEVENTH
 There is an interesting castle at Kyoto and 800 temples besides several
 
 Shinto shrines. Fred lille will tell you
Douglas Island news., 1910-03-30
Dr.. Simpson
 Visits Japan
Continued from last weekly
LETTER FIFTH

LETTER FIFTH
 We spent few days in Tokio, the capital. We visited Shiba park, where there are many temples and where several shoguns are buried-each twenty feet underground. We went also to Uyeno park, where we visited he Zoo and the museum There they showed us swords that could cut through three dead bodies at stroke or could cut through pile of copper pieces. A soldier would not buy sword unless it answered this test. There are more tombs and more tenn ples in Uyeno park. We saw also the emperor's palace. It is surrounded by moat and Qualifications.
 There are many fine buildings in Tokjo. All the new streets are wide. They cannot build very high on ac- count of the earthquakes Most of the Eew buildings are brick.
 We visited the licensed quarter where there are miles and miles of streets with nothing but sporting girls. They are in sort of cages-about a dozen to cage. X We went to see the Geisha girls dance, but there is nothing to it. In Kyoto they danced one dance which they told US they had learned from Jacob Rice.
 1 visited the principal hospitals, of which the Red Cross is the best. They have 300 beds and 200 nurses and novices. They are taking on another 100 uovices this month. The hospital was good and two of the operating rooms were as good as ever saw, but they have little initiation. They simply adapt or adopt; rarely invent. Their X.Ray apparatus was good and their work was good. They wanted my criti- cism about everything. 1 thought their beds were too wide, but they showed me that two women or girls al- ways make a bed. Labor is cheaper with them than with us. They showed me their instruments, all made in Japan, and they were very good. Their cutting instruments were excellent. This is not to be wondered at since it is not surprising that the people who hundreds of years ago could make a sword that could cut through three bodies at one stroke; it is not surpris- ing, I say, that they can now make a knife that will cut an arm or leg in dozen strokes. They used the same antiseptics and prepared themselves and the patient for operation exactly as we did in the Simpson hospital which showed me that they were very intelligent people. They buy knife or instrument or half dozen of them. They examine it and set to work to make one. They buy their next instru- ments in Japan. l was reading where Pinto $50 years ago landed here and gave young prince gun such as was then in use. He was away two or three years and when he came back the Japs had Soo,000 guns made from the model