davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
OUR FARM ANIMALS.

Reports of the Bureau Of Statistics
of the United States Departm ent Of
indicate that tho general
condition in regard to healthfulness OF
farm animals on April l was very
nearly tho average: horses and sheep
were slightly lower in condition than
a year ago and than their ten-year
average condition. On April 1, cattle
were slightly lower than a year ago
but above tho average, and swine
were above both year ago and the
ten-year average.
The losses Of horses from disease
during the year were 20 per 1000. as
compared with Is the preceding year,
and ls, the average annual loss per
1000 in che past ten years.
The losses Of cattle from disease
were II per 1000 head In the past
year, compared with 10 the preceding
year. and 81, the ten-year average;
the losses from exposure were II per
1000 in the past year compared with
15 the preceding year. and II. the
ten-year average.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
NICE AND MOLES.
BY Prof. Nj. f. Miller.

Moles are not vegetarfans as Is COM
monty supposed, but feed almost en-
.tirely on earth. worms and insects.
They are beneficial to certain extent
hin destroying the larvae of various in
sects that are Injurious to crops. The
injury to plants commonly attributed
to them is usually done by mice which
follow the runs. Meadow mice are
especially harmful in this respect. The
mole Is therefore only indirectly re-
sponsible for the injury.
The mice may be readily killed by
the use Of poisoned grains placed in
the runs. To certain extent. moles
will eat fresh soft kernels OF sweet
corn In the roasting ear stage, and II
such kernels are soaked for half an
hour in strychine syrup and placed
in the runs, this is partially success
full in killing them.
Strychnine syrup for poisoning
either dry grain or grains of corn
from roasting ears Is made as follows:
Dissolve one-half ounce Of strychnine
sulphate In a pint of boiling water;
add a pint of thick sugar syrup and
stir thoroughly A smaller quantity
may Of course be prepared with pro-
portional quantities of these materials.
Dry grains, such as wheat, which 10
commonly poisoned for mice or rats,
should be soaked over night In this
strychnine syrup. Dry grains Of corn
may be poisoned In the Same way.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07

Prof. washburn Of the Entomolog-
ical Division of the Agricultural De-
partment of the University of Mime
sofa is now in Europe studying the
habits of the Brown Tail and Gypsy
moths, the discovery of the former
having been made in st. Paul recent
ly, in 4 shipment of shrubbery from
France, but careful inspection by the
division. working in unison with tho
government at Washington, has thus
far failed to find any of the latter.
While the Brown Tail is very dan
gerous pest, attacking most varieties
of shrubbery, and particularly oak,
maple. elm, apple, pear, plum and
cherry trees, and through the she'd
ding OF hair causing serious ailments
to tho human family. It Is not regard
ed Of quite SO serious a menace to the
growth of trees as the Gypsy, at pres
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
IRRIGATION.

e. H. Libby, president of the Wash
ington Conservation Association, says
that irrigation is the greatest of the
forces now in action for the conserva-
ton OF our natural resources, and per-
haps the greatest Of any yet to be
utilized. In the last six or seven
years irrigation has changed poor
sheep pastures into fruit land actually
selling at 5000 to $1,000 an acre with
out improvements. Right use Of this
wealth is the true meaning of con-
servation Of natural resources. Right
use prohibits monopoly and prevents
waste. Right use Of the forest cuts
the timber In it's prime, saves the
young growth. and protects it from
fires and overgrazing, and stores the
flood waters for irrigation. power and
navigation"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
sweet CLOVER AS A FORAGE CROP
Extensive Experiments Show That This Once Despsed
Crop May Be Made Very Valuable as Stock Feed.

BY Prof. Bunum. wyoming.


Bokhara, or white sweet clover,
has long been considered a pest, but
1t has valuable properties II We learn
how to utilize them. It's hardness,
adaptability and growing power under
adverse conditions are we'll known,
but it is not easy to convince the
skeptic that it has any kind Of value
or that any improvem ents could pos
sibly make sweet clover one of tho
most important Of our forage crops.
Sweet clover Is one, Of the most valu-
able things we have II we can only
solve the problem of diverting its
notable qualities to useful purpose.
II we can make it palatable to live
stock, and at the same time retain Its
hardness and persistency. 1t will be-
come Of vast value.
Sweet clover Is q weed extractor
and nitrogen gatherer. Hay made
from 1t, after being sailed and al
lowed to stand q year has been fed to
lambs on my Wyoming farm with
good results. My experience with
sweet clover dates back twenty years
and the results achieved have been 80
encouraging that last season planted
twenty acres with it. I have two
varieties and am seeking means to i'm
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
REPAIRING ORCHARD TREES.
BY r. III. Ballou

An excellent practice noted in we'll
kept Ohio orchards Ia the treatmsn
Of trees which are splitting or threat
ening to split from their burden Of
fruit or as result of heavy wind.
There are purchased. what is known
to the trade as lag" or coach"
screws-large, square-headed screws
which can be gotten in various sizes.
Those preferred are six inches in
length and three-eights of an inch in
diameter. which I find are priced at
$1.2s per 100. or 20 cents per dozen.
A blacksmith turns a hook at the
head-ends of the screws. Holes are
bored in the two parts Of the tree
which are separating. in which the
screws are solidly turned connecting
them with a heavy wire cable. The
screws should be given such position
that there will be straight pull'' on
them, thus eliminating danger Of
splitting the branch. The cable is
formed by using two rounds" of
heavy, galvanized wire from hook to
hook, which is then twisted up taut
by inserting between the wires q piece
Of buggy spring or other nat piece Of
iron or wood, and turning until the
divisions Of tho tree are brought in
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
cORN AND TOMATOES EOa CAkNiNG
Supply in Middle West Hardly Sufficient to Furnish the
City Markets with the Quantities they Demand.
BY F. L. Dutton, Indiana.

live stock at this time-a most ina
portant feature from his standpoint
Is the great risk that he inc3rs in
producing our commodities II unsea-
sonable or abnormal weather cond!-
tions prevail to any extent during the
growing period, or sudden climatic
changes occur, all OF which have SER
GUS effect on the growing crops oe
sweet corn, peas and tomatoes. and
often the result Of his efforts Is w.p,d
out completely, whereas Providencs
has wisely provided commercial
grains with hardness sufficien. to
successfully Withstand these uncertain
and frequent conditions.
This one phase of the matter has a
strong influence over the farmer, and
he reasons that 1t is time enough for
him to 60 back to producing for the
canning factories when other condi-
lions are much worse than they are
today or will. be this season. The
farmer is well posted man and il
does not take him long to figure ont
the prospective results from season
to season with the amount of infor-
nation which he has at hand, and so
far as I am concerned can see but
one thing ahead Of us and that 10
higher prices on staple canned goods
at least for the coming season.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07

Gamers In the middle weet are
finding IL difficult to interest farmero
in growing contracts for sweet corn
and tomatoes. 1t takes higher prices
than last season to get acreage con-
tracts out, and the packers are in no
position to offer greatly increased pcy
for fruit apd vegetables to can; there
has been only very little profit in can
ming tomatoes and some other vege-
tables the last two seasons.
The average yield per acre in the
state of Indiana of sweet corn for can
ming purposes for the past two years
is less than two tons to the acre. This
season the packers of this state are
obliged to pay general advance OF
81 per ton or more for their sweet
corn contracts over last year. This
seemingly slight advance means an
actual increase in the cost of raw
material of cents per dozen and
acreage is being signed SO slowly that
it is questionable in my mind whether
many packers in this section will be
able to finally secure sufficient acre
age to even protect the operating ex-
penses of their plants this year.
Outside of the extra profit the
farmer or grower Is able to realize IN
growing commercial grain and raising
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
TREATMENT OF SMUT IN GRAIN
By Simple inexpensive Process Of Treating the Seed
Clean Crop of Grain May Easily Be Secured

= Every farmer knows what smut In
bats, or wheat means. He knows how
field of wheat which gives promise
of 40 bushels per acre Of grain will
produce. infected with smut, only Is
bushels or less, and inferior smutted
grain at that. Every farmer ought to
know that such smutted grain II not
treated before seeding will again pro-
duce smut-more smut than before.
Every farmer ought to know that even
II his seed looks clean. it may still
have smut on it. unless he is sure that
1t comes from q field without smut
and that 1t has not been contaminat-
Cd with smut in the separator. in the
bin. sacks or seeder. Finally every
farmer ought to know that by q
simple, inexpensive seed treatment he
can be absolutely sure that he will
have q clean crop-he can buy in
surance against smut at q very low
cost by treating his seed.
Several methods can be used on the
farm, but the Minnesota Experiment
station recommends one that is ex-
cellent for cheapness, efficiency and
simplioity--one that any farmer can
use very easily. It is as follows:
Buy from reliable druggist stand
ard formalin' Of guaranteed strength
(namely Of 20 per cent solution Of
formaldehyde). Mix pound Il pint)
In Is gallons Of water In an ordinary
wooden barrel and stir it. Two ways
of applying this solution to the grain
can be used:
I. Dipping Method: Put the grain
IN clean sacks that have been first
placed in boiling water for few min
utss; take each sack OF grain and
dip it in tho solution in the barrel
raise it and lower until each seed is
wet; set the sack on q clean floor
and lot 1t stand over night. Tho grain
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07

can then be dumped out ON Z clean
floor or left in the sacks until It dries
enough to let 1t run through tho drill.
CA floor is clean when it Is washed
with boiling hot water). Be sure not
to let tho swollen grain stand SO long
that it will sprout. II 1t cannot be
sown Immediately, Il should be thor
oughly dried and may then be kept
indefinitely. When dry enough to run
through tho drill, sow it. Be sure the
drill Is clean. Sow more seed per
acre II the grain is swollen.
2. Sprinkling Method: Make the
solution the same as In the dipping
method. Put the grain on clean
floor, spread It out and with sprink-
ling can sprinkle the solution on 1t.
Shovel the grain and sprinkle again.
Repeat until each kernel is moist but
not too wet. Shovel into pile and
cover with sacks or canvass over
night. Then spread 1t out and shovel
occasionally until dry enough to SOW.
Follow tho precautions for drying and
sowing given under the dipping
method.
This treatment will prevent the fol-
lowing common smuts:
Oat Smut.
Sinking smut Cor common smut)
Of wheat tbut not tho loose smut or
black head').
Covered smut Of barley (but not
the early or loose smut).
Grain smut Cor common smut) Of
sorghum Cor 'cane').
II 1t does not prevent these smuts
you have not followed directions. It
must be rem emb ered that this treat
ment Will not prevent corn smut,
black heads (early smut) Of wheat,
nor the early or loose smut Zone Of
the common smuts Of barley)."
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
FUNGI CHOKE OUT CROPS.

1t has been announced that after
experiments lasting thirteen years,
Prof. H. l.. Boley Of the agricultural
college of the University of North
Dakota, discoverer of the fax sickness
and cure which has rejuvenated the
fields Of Russia and older parts Of the
United States, has discovered the five
distinct types Of parasites which cause
he various varieties of wheat sick
ness.
This sickness has made lands SEEM
lngly barren throughout the world
and is gradually choking the pro rata
Of crops in the present wheat growing
countries. The experiments have been
conducted on u plot Of land reserved
for years at the site Of the agricultural
college, half mile west Of Fargo.
Prof. Boley says the fungi resemble
IN shape and In reaction on plant life
the tuberculosis germs which afflict
human life, but that the cure Is far
easier, being nothing less than a cor
rect rotation of crops. being chiefly
clover, corn, and potatoes, until tests
Of land show the absence Of the para
sitical fungi
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07

Brown Tail being in web Of leaves
lined with silk. at the end of the
twigs, while the Gypsy moth comes In
eggs, generally in clusters, on the bark
OF trees or shrubbery, and are of a
light yellowish color. The fully de-
veloped caterpillar is of dark color,
with double row of FIVE blue spots on
back anteriorly; posteriorly six pair
of red spots. The female moth is Of
whitish color with wings imperfectly
streaked with black, and spread Of
wings about two inches. Although the
female moth has wings 1t never flies.
Purchasers of foreign importations
are requested to examine all stock
with care and report the finding Of
webs or eggs of each respectively. as
described, to the Division of Ento-
mology of their state experiment sta
ton.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
OF THE IRISH POTATO.

Blackleg, bacterial disease of the
stem and tuber Of the potato, is ap-
parently becoming widely distributed
throughout some parts of the United
States. In most states it is not COM
mon enough to attract attention, and
in no region has 1t done much dam
age. although it may become seri-
Gus pest in some sections.
The attacked plants are usually un-
thrifty light green or even yellow,
and understood. The branches and
leaves have a tendency to grow up
ward forming a rather compact top.
often with the young leaves curled
and folded up along the mid-rib.
Tho most characteristic thing about
them is tho inky-black disooioration
of the stem, at or below the surface
OF the ground, but frequently running
up the stem from one to several
inches above ground. The seed-piece
from which the attacked plants spring
is invariably attacked with soft-rot
and the disease appears to start on the
stem at its junction with the diseased
seed tuber. The germs of the disease
are capable Of causing a rapid decay
OF the young tubers, and these are
sometimes attacked also.
The evidence thus far obtained in
dicates that blackleg Is largely dis
tributed by means Of germs carried in
wounds. cracks and decayed areas Of
seed tubers. On account of the readi-
ness with which tho organisms are
killed by drying there is little to fear
from sound. smooth seed stock, but
this should be treated with q disin-
fectinE solution as a matter Of precau-
ton. -:
The propagation and spread Of the
disease probably can be controlled
largely by the selection Of seed from
fields free from the disease. the re-
lection of all seed tubers which have
wounds. cracks or decayed areas and
treating the remainder with corrosive
sublimate or formaldehyde solutions
or with formaldehyde gas as it done
for potato scab. It is not known
whether or not the disease germs will
remain alive In the soil to infect flu
ture crops of potatoes, but as pre-
cautionary measure the land on which
the disease occurs should be kept in
grass. clover, or cereals for as long a
time as possible before planting it to
potatoes again.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
nearly always draughty. . condition
which is extremely bad for hogs

nearly always draughty. = condition.
which is extremely bad for hogs.
Poultry raisers are coming to learn
that the best houses for their use are
the open front style and hog raisers
will also doubtless accept the same
views in time.
In the Maryland house there ard
seven divisions, each 3 feet wide. The
feeding alley Is at the front; and down
the center Of the floor, which 10 %,
cement runs division about one foot
deep and feet wide. This separates
each pen into three divisions and int
this is swept all Of the waste beddine
and droppings.
The bedding quarters are 1t tho
back Of the house.
All slaughtering IL done In this
house. BY closing the gates and opens
ing the double doors at each end q
wagon can be driven through.
The house is supplied with running
water and the troughs are made Of
cast iron. 1t is probabI-, however,
that when the cast-iron troughs be.
come useless and rust cement troughs
will be installed In their place.
This type Of house il cool in the
summer because it is high enough To
admit Of abundance OF air and II u
not too cool In the winter.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
DESTROYING LICE ON FOWLS
Warm Weather and Dampnes Favorable to These Pests
Active Measures Should Be Taken to Keep Poul-
try Free from Them
BY and n. L.

The loss Of income due to presence
OF lice on fowls, while probably not
as large as that due to the common
chicken mite. is yet enormous Fowls
which are infested with lice can not
produce as many eggs nor as many
pounds OF flesh as can those that are
free from these vermin. Lice are es-
pecially harmful to young chicks.
Because the lice live, eat and breed
upon the body of the fowls. means of
eradication must be such as to reach
them beneath the feathers. This Is
accomplished In two ways. by tho ap-
plication Of powders which SURROGATE
tho lice. and by liquid preparations
which stif1e the lice with their fumes
or kill by coming in direct contact
with the parasites
II fowls have easy access to a dusty
earth wallow where they can work
the fine dry particles Of dust into their
feathers they will keep themselves
fairly free from lice. but eradication
will not be entirely complete In the
majority of cases. A good dust wallow
may be made of equal parts Of sifted
dry loan and coal ashes Wood ashes
should not be used as they may bleach
or burn the shanks and feathers,
For the eradication Of lice quickly
and completely, as upon show birds
and sitting hens, 1t is usually neces-
sary to work a fine dusty powder
into the feathers. The method Of ap-
plication is to hold the fowl with one
hand by the lego, head downward, and
work the powder into the fluffy feath-
ers around the vent. on the body,
under the wings and on the neck.
with the free hand
An excellent powder at low cost
may be made as follows: To mix
ture of three parts gasoline and one
part of crude carbolic acid stir in all
Of the plaster of paris 1t will moisten.
When enough plaster has been added
the powder will be dry, brownish pink
In color, and have a pronounced odor
Of carbolic acid and gasoline.
A second application of the powder
should be made at the end of one
week to catch any lice that escaped
the first busting or had Matched from
eggs in the meantime.
Sitting hens should be thoroughly
busted when eggs are placed under
them and again at the end of the
first and second weeks. This insures
them being free from lice when the
chicks are Matched.
To kill the lice upon chicks dust
the mother hen or paint the walls Of
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
the coop with some liquid lice kiliss
or disinfectant.

the coop with some liquid lice kiliss
or disinfectant.
Especial care should be taken to
dust the male Of tho hock thoroughly.
as the quickest way to spread lice
through a flock il by means Of lousy
male bird.
Liquid lice killers are used primar-
lily to paint the roosts and dropping
boards. Their fumes rising through
the feathers Of the birds cause the
lice to drop of. The practice 10 to
paint the roosts about four o'clock In
the afternoon before tho fowls 60 to
roost. This also prevents mites from
attacking the fowls. Most OF the
liquid lice killers are coal tar products
and are sold as coal tar disinfoctants.
Some of them do cause the lice to
drop from the fowls, but whether or
not they always kill the lice Is not
certain.
It has been found that when fowl
was placed upon roost coated with
cresol soap formula, the lice would
drop in large numbers and could +,
caught upon paper spread under-
meath the roost In the majority OF
cases, however the parasites were not
killed Where this method 10 used
the droppings should be removed and
dropping boards cleaned early the fol-
lowing morning to prevent the lice
from reaching the fowls again.
The cresol soap disinfectart Cor
painting the roosts is made as fn'-
lows: Shave one ten-cent cake q:
laundry soap into one pint Of soft
water. Heat or allow to stand until
a soap paste is formed. Stir In one
pound Of commercial cresol and hea.
or allow to stand until the soap paste
is dissolved. Stir In one gallon Of
kerosene. Cresol Is coal tar prod
uct and may be obtained from any
druggist. Care should be taken not
to get any Of 1t upon tho hands or face
as It will cause intense smarting. For
use as lice paint apply undiluted.
Some poultry raisers have rid their
fowls Of lice by dipping in diluted
stock dip. This Is, however. probably
no more satisfactory than a thorough
busting and is much harder upon tho
fowls. If 1t is deemed advisable to
dip the fowls, the cresol formula
given above, diluted with SO parts ct
water, makes good solution. Dips
ping should be done in the morning
of bright. warm, sunshiny day. in
order that the birds become thorough-
ly dry before night
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
MANURE VALUES.

One of our experiment stations has
shown by careful investigation that
when the stable manure is piled up
and left exposed to the rains the loss
from teaching of the fertile elements
is very large. The New Jersey sta
ton finds that manure exposed for
100 days lost over one-half Of the
nitrogen, one-half of the phosphoric
acid, and the same proportion Of the
potassium had been lost. More than
one-half of the constituents had been
lost by an exposure of less than four
pounds. Work from other expert
ment stations confirms this.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07
WHEN TO PRUNE PLUMS
BY S. II. Marshal, Wisconsin Horti-
cultural Society.

cultural Society.
The most serious problem that cons
fronts the plum-grower today is prun-
ing. How and when to prune? I
head my trees low and the next sea-
son cut off all but three or four main
branches.
The second season there are these
three or four main branches, with a
growth of from four to eight feet, and
each variety with different shaped
head.
If the branches are let go they will
be loaded with fruit the following sea-
son, just ready to bend and break with
the first hard wind.
On the other hand, cut the branches
back and the second season, there will
be from two to four branches Of near
ly the same length, where the one
would have been had 1t been left
alone.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07

provided he is kept perfectly dry: and
we believe 1t Is better that the entire
front of the house should be open
even during the coolest weather. than
to confine the animals in tightly
built structure.
Even the best tight houses rarely
afford perfect ventilation and they are