davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21

We must get down to the bottom of
the trouble. and that is the breeding
Of seed corn.
The seed for one plot was taken
from field that yielded possibly so
bushels per acre. The acre plot yielded
81 bushels OF weighed corn.
The second year, the plot was
planted with ears from the best rows
Of the year before which averaged 95
bushels per acre, and the acre plot
that year yielded 102 bushels.
Now I have seed ears with a still
higher average yield with which to
plant the plot the coming season.
There were twelve rows in the second
year that averaged above 10 bushels.
and % rows that were above 100 BUSH
els. In tho year previous there were but
two rows that averaged above 100
bushels
Is this not sufficient proof that tho
yield can be increased by the proper
selection Of seed?
II we could eliminate the ears that
grow the nubbins and plant In their
place good ears, we would thereby
Increase the yield. That is true In
a much greater measure than we have
suspected. You, have only to grow
seed plot and Plant each row from
single ear to find out how true that is.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21
BY c. D. Smith, illinois.

one. We must know whether thefl
powers of transmission are strong OF
weak.
In my breeding plot row 81 and row
%, growing side by side. had equal
chances, and yet one produced 81
bushels and the other 1913 bushels to
the acre. No man would suspect that
difference between the seed ears to
look at them.
Row 81 produced at the rate of
81 bushels per acre, while rows 3S and
SO on either side of it produced at the
rate OF 95 bushels per acre. You
would not have any use for seed ear
like number 81 simply because You
can see that 1t Is weak in the power
Of transmission; 1t cannot grow corn
like the other two.
In the first plot, ear 1 weighed EOS
ounces: ear 2. Is ounces, and ear 81.
20 ounces. Ears and "a were very
large, fine ears, both show ears.
Ear would not meet any Of tho
requirements of the score card ex-
cept In length; it was not show ear
yet It was the best yielder OF the three
producing at the rate OF 49, bushels
per acre, while tho other two yielded
respectively So and 1875 bushels per
acre.
Ear "a, while a good locker and one
that any person would choose for seed
If he were picking the ears from the
crib, proved to be a very weak grower
throughout the whole season.
At husking time the stalks in this
row were from / 8 to "a inches shorter
than the stalks In the adjoining rows.
Ear / while fraction heavier than
"a was a strong grower and good
yielder 80 we cannot say that all big
ears are poor seed ears.
Then we must not conclude from the
big yield of ear that we should pick
only 15-ounce ears for seed. for ear
Is of the second plot, Weighing a lit
tie less than Is ounces, yielded only
50 bushels per acre. Ear rs weighed
only a fraction over IL ounces, but
made a yield of 1867 bushels to the
acre.
This row came the nearest to an
row Of any that ever
saw Almost every stalk In 1t grow
as straight as a plumb line; the leaves
were broad and very dark green, it
was remarkably strong grower.
So we are forced to the conclusion
that the size Of the seed ear, or the
looks of the ear. or the shape Of the
ear, has but very little to do with tho
yield Of the corn. Blu: this fact must
lot deter us from picking cookbook
ng ears, for some Of them are splen-
lid yielders.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21
HSQUATTERS' RIGHTS RECOGNIZED By
Government.
An Order Just Issued by Secretary Wilson Provides For
More Liberal Treatment of Settlers Upon
f. Lands Within National Forests.

"A person who has settled upon
and continuously occupied unsurveyed
lands within a National Forest before
it's creation and is at the present time
occupying such lands in good faith
and Is In all respects complying with
the homestead law, has the right to
include within the lines of his home
stead 1e0 acres after the land IS sur
veyed. Therefore, If the land is &C.
cupied for agricultural purposes and
is not more valuable for its timber
than for such purposes, and there are
no circumstances which would in the
opinion of the District Forester tend
to dlscredit the bonaf1des Of the claim
ant he should be allowed to make
application for the patentins of such
lands under the Act Of June II, 1905.
and the examination for listing should
be made with view Of listing 80
acres of land where possible. The
tracts as listed should conform 50 far
as practicable to the form of the pub
lie land surveys. The listing of lands
as above should not in any way govern
the determination Of the total area
or amount of non cultivable land
listed for applicants under the Act of
June II. 1906. who we're not residing
upon the land before the creation of
the Forest.
"In cases where less than $50 acres
of land has been listed to a person
who settled upon the land prior to the
creation Of the Forest an additional
area sufficient to complete the home
stead ontry may be allowed upon pro-
per application"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21

The damage caused by pocket goph-
ers Is difficult to estimate In dollars,
since it is both actual and apparent.
However, all agree that the injury is
sufficient to make 1t quite necessary
to wage relentless war against the
pest. The various estimates of harm
done ranges on the average. between
$1,000 and $500 per each 16O-acre
farm, and in some instances as high
as 800 per acre, and in still others
several dollars per acre where the
injury is in orchards, gardens. and
potato and alfalfa fields. 1t is there
fore quite within bounds to place the
annual damage caused by pocket
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21

II more careful planning and map
ming out of the fields were done. there
would be a great deal Of money saved
in fencing.
The end posts are the life of the
fence, and should be put in good and
deep. we'll tamped and braced.
Care in the selection of the posts,
especially the corner and end posts.
is very essential. The end or braced
nosts should be large and perfectly
sound.
If possible. the posts should be sea-
soned, as a green piece of wood when
il comes in contact With the damp
earth, forms a breeding place for bac-
terra and fungi. There are several
Dreseryative methods IN USE any one
of which will aid if properly applied
Charring or plunging in burning coal
tar IS the most satisfactory as usual
thing.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21
SELECTING AND GROWING YOUR SEED CORN.
THAT GREATLY INCREASED BY THE
PROPER SELECTION OF SEED HAS BEEN
FULLY DEMONSTRATED.
BY Smith,

Locate the plot so that the soil vii
be as nearly alike as possible in every
part. and give the whole plot the same
preparation and the same cultivation
throughout the season, letting every
row have an equal chance.
Plant each row from a single ear,
save part Of the ear. number it so that
you can know which row was planted
from it. Observe whether one row
shows moro weakness Of stalk than
others. a. evinced by the stalks fall
Ing or blowing down.
Keep q record Of these observations;
Of the number OF stalks in each row.
tho number Of stalks that fall down in
each row, the weight of the corn
hua&ed from each row, and any re-
cords that might tend to show the in
diytdrlality Of tho seed ear from which
tho row was planted.
Husk the corn from each row sepa-
Yate1ys pick out the best ears and
mark them SO you can tall which row
they came from. Then from the two
rows that show the strongest powers
Of Transmission by growing the largest
yields, select your seed ears for tho
next years trial. Discard the corn
Of the weak-growing and low-yielding
rows altogether.
have one acre in my plot that I
have triad this plan with for two
years. There are 4s rows. 81 hills
long. Tho first year I selected for
seed 43 ears, the best could ind.
The second year I selected for seed
4S ears from rows that yielded the
best the nrst year.
If two or more seed ears were taken
from one row no two Of them were
planted side by side.
When farmers pick their seed corn
from the crib or wagon box each ear
is chosen because Of tts good looks
and nothing else.
That IL the poorest way to select
seed corn, simply because the farmer
knows absolutely nothing about the
ears, except that they may be good
looking.
He knows nothing about their
power to produce a good yield. and
no more about their ability to trans
nit their good looks to their off,
spring.
Both are necessary features In good
seed corn. Because an ear is a good
locker Is no guarantee that it can
grow good-looking ears.
Tho farmer who selects his seed
from the field while the corn is still
on the stalk is following a much bet
ter plan, but not tho best plan.
We must know whether the ears we
plant have been grown from high
yielding strain Of corn or from low
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21

Under the homestead law It Is I'M
possible for any one to secure legal
title to unsurveysd public land, but
occupancy pending survey is recog-
mixed as giving prior claim to the
land after survey under what Is
known az "squatters' rights" A
squattsr who had. in good faith. taken
possession Of piece Of National For
est land before the National Forests
were created Is not dfspossessed Of his
claim by the Forest Service, and If he
lives upon 1t and cultivates 1t until the
land has been surveyed, he is able to
get his homestead just as though he
had settled on any part Of the I'M
reserved public domain. But since
the passage of the Act of June II,
1905. which permits the Secretary of
Agriculture to list for settlemen I. I'D
which he finds chiefly valuable for
agriculture, 1t has been possible for
sqUatters to apply for the listing Of
their lands under this Act, and thus
to obtain title prior to the Govern
nent survey. The object Of the new.
order of the Secretary is to provide
for the listing Of the full amount of
land which the occupant would re-
ce1ve II he exercised his action of
the Government survey, IT.
of whether or not the e.
tire area is cultivable. provided the
claim IL bonahde and the land is not
more valuable for its timber than for
agriculture.
Secretary Wilson's order is as fol-
lows:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21

The Maryland station tested kernels
of sweet corn with regard to their
sugar content. Practically the same
sugar content vas contained in ker-
nels of deep amber color and those
more or less transparent, but the low
est percentage of sugar in the fine
wrinkled kernels was above the av-
erage percentage in the coarse
wrinkled and the highest percentage
of sugar In the individual ears hav-
ing coarse wrinkles was much less
than the average In the fine wrinkled
ones.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21
NOTES FOR THE FLOWER LOVER.

It Is useless to put most seeds into
the ground until 1t IS warmed up and
dry enough to work up light. Corn
planting time is about the average
time for most flower seeds.
The sweet pea is notable excep-
ton. The earlier 1t can be tucked into
the ground the better. Do not wait
for inc weather but in the first pleas
ant days work up the soil as well as
possible and plant the seed
If you have shady spot- try pansies
and ferns.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21
a LITTLE OF EVERYTHING.

:. is rather singular that American
fc .c-s first learned the value Of their
own cotton seed meal as cattle food
and milk producer from the more
critical feeders Of Europe.
Danish bacon, the bacon having the
highest value in English markets, on
account of its firmness and delicate
flavor, is finished for market with
American cotton meal
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21
WORLDWIDE GLEAN1NGs.

Illinois has more than million and
q half OF horses, worth a little more
than 500 each.
The worlds production Of sugar
within the last twenty years has near
" doubled. In 1889 II billion pounds
were produced, while in 1909 80 bill
lion pounds were placed on the mar
ket.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21
LABoR.sAy1NG LOG ROLLER,

The United States farmer is, col
lectively, tho most wealthy capitalist
the world has ever known. BY the
last census the farmers had invested
in agriculture in United States $780,
00O,OO0,0o0 which last year produced
$1,000, 900, 900. Such yearly income
means s5S0,00o,000 month. or $751;
100000 q S-$.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21
THE PEOPLES FLOWER.

Everybody knows the gladiolus-sn
way. 1t has been called Tho Peo-
pies Flower because moro people
can get more satisfa ction out Of II.
without special skill or facilities, than
from any other flower. AZ q cut
flower. nothing but the expensive or
chid lasts 70 hong ana no other flower
has such variety and beauty Of COL
oring.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21

Nevertheless, the modern gladiolus
is almost unknown to a LARGE ma
jority Of our people, because Of the
great improvement which has been
made in comparatively short time
G, S. Woodruff.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21
FOR HARNESS MENDING.

This stitch-horse is intended to hold
blankets and leather while one Is sew
ing upon them. Made at home from
two barrel slaves by cutting them In
two in the middle and fastening them
securely to four-inch block at this
bottom. Sit upon q chair or hold the
device between the knees and fasten
1t to a board eighteen inches wide.
Sitting upon this holds the stitch
horse sufficiently Arm to work.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21

Last year the paper pulp manu-
facturers Of the United States used
s,962,660 cords Of wood.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21

That raising live stock pays was
demonstrated recently by Minnesota
farmer, who took a bunch Of cattle.
which he had raised. to Chicago and
brought back q check for $5,232.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21

Never set a duck egg over week
old, They lose fertility quickly.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21

Sow seeds of aster. saliva, and cos
NOS in the window box.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-21

Is this not sufficient proof that tho
yield can be increased by the proper
selection Of seed?
The Sauk Centre herald., 1910-08-11

he fell into a chair, overpowered with
grief.
Seeing the emotion of his old friend,
Anatole understood that he was real
ly fated. Out he rushed like a mad
man.
A restaurant which kept open all
night was not far Off Anatole en-
tered it,
Waiter, bottle of champagne and
bottle of ink"
He drank glass of Cliquot and
looked at the paper before him, medi-
tating.
ITO whom shall | leave my income
of 5000 livres? My father and mother
are no more-harpily for them. And
among the people who interest me
see only One-Nicette.'
Nicette was distant cousin, a
charming girl of Is, with golden hair
and large brown eyes. She was, like
him, an orphan, and this common mis-
fortune had long ago established be-
tween them bond of silent sym
pathy.
His last wishes were soon set
down; all to Nicette.
When this was done, he drank a
second glass of champagne
Poor Nicette,1 though he. She was
very low-spirited the last time | saw
her. 1t is rather an unsuitable hour
for seeing people; but when | think
that | shall be dead in five hours. il is
little | care for the proprieties. Come
then! My life for Nicette,'
1t was four o'clock in the morn
ing when Anatole knocked at the door
of Nicette's guardian. Mons Bou-
ward himself, much startled. came
down in his night-cap to open the
door,
rs the house on fire."
NO, my dear Mons. Bouvard,' re-
piled Anatole. Il came to tell you
that you must give up the match be-
tween my cousin Nicette and Mons
Capdenac."
Never, sir! Never!'
you should not say either never
or always
Sir, my mind is quite made up
This marriage will take place.
1T will not take place."
1--WE will see about that. And now
that you know my answer, l will not
detain you longer
Anatole had taken up the profes-
sor's trombone, into which he was
blowing like deaf man, pushing the
grooves with all his force. Diabolical
sounds were coming from the instru-
ment.
THAT is my best trombone! Pre-
The Sauk Centre herald., 1910-08-11

kiss, and their leaves seemed made of
copper and of gold. A crimson light
flashed from all the windows of the
Tuilleries and the gray, harmonious
line of the old Louvre was bathed in
a rosy glow. A warm and dazzling
light fell obliquely upon all things,
lengthening the shadows upon the
ground, forcing the passers-by to blink
their eyes, making mirrors of the var
nished leather on the carriages and of
the horses shining backs Nature,
that great, unselfish YirtuoSo, on that
day practiced art for arts sake and
carefully elaborated the sunset, and
the lounger, who by chance witnessed
the sight, felt himself suddenly pos
sessed by high enthusiasm in the
presence of the calm and radiant
splendOr which transfigured the build
ings, the trees and the sky.
Meanwhile, among the many foot
passengers returning homeward. who
had just come over the bridge and
across the quay, several passed in
front of the cafe tables and the loung-
er caught on the wing some fragments
of talk
At first there were two serious men.
dressed all in black-lawyers heads
with eyeglasses and whiskers-laden
with heavy portfolios of dark sha-
green.
And you believe that the Lavigne
faction will vote with the conserva-
tives,' one of them said, angrily: but
that would be infamous"
What would you have?" the other
replied with an important air. That
is parliamentary tactics"
And they passed along, wholly alb
sorbed in this interesting dialogue.
without honoring the sunset with a
glance
Suddenly the thousands Of little
birds, the movement of whose wings
made the plane trees tremble, began
what people simply call their evening
prayer. After a prelude of few soli-
tary cries, the concert suddenly broke
forth and from the great trees, full
of shining bodies, wild murmur
arose, in which were blended the
whistling of the blackbirds, the twit-
tering OF the sparrows and the war
bling of the finches, united and
mingled in vast choir, which was
like The clear and continuous sound of
a torrent dashing over the stones.
Two young women of the middle
class, fairly well dressed, passed
along, gossiping. Near them walked
little boy dressed like learned dog.
and holding in his hand captive bal
loon upon which these words were
written: From the Louvre"
Il assure you, my DEAR" said one
Of the two women to her companion,
that you were wrong to buy your
Suede gloves today. On Saturday
The Sauk Centre herald., 1910-08-11
| |NICETTE
By RACHEL H. STANNARD
lCopyright. by Short Stories Co, Ltd

(COpNrlSDI. Dy SlClt NAOi4GS Co., LlO.J
You are dead man. said the doc
tor. looking fxedly at Anatole.
Anatole trembied.
He had come in all chearfulness to
spend the evening with his old friend
DR.. Bardias. the famous scholar.
"You unfortunate 10y" continued
the doctor. what have YOU done?"
Nothing that Know Of" STAN.
mered Anato'e much agitated.
Try to remember Ge'l ne what
you have drunk-what Won have eat.
en-what have you brea l.0."
The last word came Ike a ray of
light TO Anatole. That very morning
he had received a letter from one OF
his friends who was travelling in In.
dia. In this letter was q foN er which
had been gathered by the traveller on
the banks of the Ganges. a flower of
peculiar shape and coloring, whose
fra GRANGE Anatoie now remembered
had seemed to him strangely pene
trating He drew out his portfolio
and took from it the letter and flower
which he showed 70 the wise man.
NO more doubt" cried the doctor
1t is the pyramensis Endica The
deadly flower, The flower Of blood"
Then you really believe"
Alas, am only too sure."
But il is impossible. ! am only
25 years old. l am full OF life and
health
'.At what time did you open this ia
tal letter.
This morning at nine o'clock"
Tomorrow morning, then, at the
same hour, at the same minute. in full
health. as you say, you will feel g
sharp pain at the heart, and all viii
be over
And you know of no remedy-ns
means Of
None" said the doctor
And hiding his face in his hands
The Sauk Centre herald., 1910-08-11
THE SERCEhMT'S
IDEA
Copyright, by Short Stor;,
By C. STANLEY ELLIS


I \
"A wise man said tie sergeant.
will often be a fool bat fool will
never be anytfing else. And a few
wise men are worth more Than a heap
of fools. or perhaps even tran heap
of wise men. And few fools are
worth more than heap of fools. AS
how? Thus. When we were at Par
da, up in what they call the hinter-
land. beyond Bamboo. which is on the
west coast of Africa, the lieutenant
and /, and sergeant OF the Lions
the Kings Own, and 200 of our mig
gers made reconnaissance. When
We were three days march beyond
Parda we became aware of big
crowd Of niggers, who seemed to
wish to bar our way. We judged that
by the fact that no fewer than 1000
OF them came up against us with all
the weapons they could muster-bows
ard arrows, spears and such things.
Those OF them who had trade guns,
with gallant disregard of the danger
to the men at the butt ends of the old
last the lieutenant said
Sergeant Harding. the men. for
raw blacks, have stood very well. But
they're getting bit out of hand now,
and there are at least a dozen down.
Do you think any of yours have
enough grit in them to cover the-er
retirement?
-'Well, sir, l don't feel very sure
of them Their fellow-heathens have
put the fear of God into them. But
I'll try with them
"'They stood-oh. yes, they stood
ever SO much better than I'd ever ex-
pected to see them stand. | retired
them by alternate half-sections. The
retiring half-section did its work thor
oughly and retired for all it was
worth. The covering half-section did
not seem to have it's heart in it's work
quite so much as the other had, but
when | saw a man getting nervous l
distracted his attention from the en-
emy by attacking him in the rear with
my boot When night fell the attack
dropped off bit by bit till it ceased
and We rejoined the main body
so the lieutenant and | and the
Lion took our rations together, for
when you are schooling niggers in
The Sauk Centre herald., 1910-08-11

west Africa there is more difference
between a white man and black
man than there is between an officer
and an N. c. o.
1T reminds me. sir said the Lion,
with his mouth full, of what hap
pened in ST. in the mutiny, to my IA
ther. who was then corporal in the
THANK you sergeant, said the
lieutenant. but I've often heard of
things which remind you of what hap
pened to your relations And | must
say that | never-out of the engiIi-
eers, that is-knew, in spite of the
fact that, on the surface, you appear
little heavy, a more lively imagi-
nation liz drawing parallels But
please get that Maconochie out of
your mouth before telling us any
more
"'There was newspaper man
called O'Donovap, who was always
nosing about to get information The
way he asked questions was by telling
other people tales And one tale he
told me was about man called Sko-
belief, who made a big name in the
Russo-Turkish war 1t appears that.
like ourselves. the Russian column
was once retreating-
"The lieutenant frowned | gave
the Lion a judicious kick while the
lieutenant pretended not to see The
Lion looked little fiabbergasted :;
then he understood, and went on:
"a Russian column was strategic
ally retiring, under General Trotskv.
from Namagan, because it numbered
only 500 men Skobeleff proposed a
night attack on the six thousar /
Khokandians who were in pursuit. He
carried it out with $50 COssachs an!
it was quite successful
Sergeant said the lieutenant 7i'sa
flash, that's your idea and you STALL
carry it out tonight. How many nes.
do you want?
"The Lion was knocked gallev.wes.
"I'd rather you carried it cut II
said he respectfully, when he rt
cred his moral wind Tt wants g
who is quick at the uptake a9
never was a Skobeleff myself Nov
If it had been my uncle in the bore.
gunners-'
"T must stop with the msin