davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27
ARE LICE EATING UP YOUR MONEY /?

Not long ago in looking over a
bunch of hogs in Western Illinois. we
observed that most Of the animals
were afflicted with little sores, red
spots, on the thin places in their
skins.
These eruptions were particularly
noticeable back Of the ear and on the
tanks. The farmer complained that
his hogs were not eating well and he
could not understand what caused the
sores to break out.
This bunch of hogs of all ages, from
three-months-ol pigs to three-year-
old sows, ran on a pasture during the
day but at night slept in houses which
were used for the winter quarters.
I suggested that the trouble might
be caused by lice, and the farmer
them almost alive with parasites. He
was astonished and admitted that he
had never examined one of his animals
before.
Many farmers do not realize that
lice are a source Of tremendous loss
in the raising Of hogs. They worry
the animals and prevent their feed
ing well. and in many cases produce
sores or eruptions which naturally
retard growth.
It is not difficult to rid the pig of
lice by dipping or spraying, but these
remedies are Of no use unless the
pens and sleeping quarters are rid of
the lice as we'll.
The best dip to use is some of the
tar solutions as they are harmless.
We do not believe in kerosene emul-
sion because unless great care is taken
to keep the solution very weak the
animals will blister If allowed to run
in the hot sun after being sprayed.
When bunch Of hogs is badly
infested the animals should be dipped,
although spraying may be used. pro-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27
CONTRACTED FEET.

Owing to bad shoeing and also
many other causes many horses suner
with contracted feet.
The heels are narrowed and the
horse steps gingerly with q desire to
extend himself when forced to trot or
gallop.
The writer il now using p horse Il
years old and when he drove him FOR
the first time in December last saw
that he experienced great difficulty IN
extending himself and especially on
rough or stony roads.
He was shod with heel calks on the
front a. we'll as the hind feet and 1t
was. very perceptible that the heels OF
his front feet were too narrow.
After three unsuccessful trials with
regular blacksmiths the horse was ex-
amined by competent veterinary sur
geon who pronounced his trouble to
be contracted heels.
He has them shod perfectly level IN
front. springs we're placed in between
the back Of his shoes to keep the heels
spread and a piece Of sole leather was
tackled across the hollows Of the hoof
below the hoof and shoes to protect
the sole Of the foot and break the jar
Of travelling on rough and stony
places.
About once or twice week hoof
ointment consisting Of one pint OF
Meats foot oil with two tablespoon
fuls Of oil Of tar was applied on the
outside Of the front feet with soft
rag and then, raising the edge OF the
leather, little is poured over the
sole OF the foot and few drops in the
heel cleft.
Since the last shoeing and following
the treatment above described the
horse has improved wonderfully in his
road work and rarely flinches. even
going at q 12-mile-an-hour clip.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

is more than offset by tho injury It
does to the seed bed by making It too
light and dry.
When tho blowing is not done early
1t Is better to rake up and burn this
trash before blowing.
Some humus In the soil might be
lost, but this will be moro than made
up by the increased yield of grain
secured. The stubble is always a hid
ing and breeding place for insects
that prey upon. and If gotten rid Of
either by early blowing or burning.
the crop Is more certain. -
One of the chief advantages I ind
OF early blowing Of stubble land is in
getting grain up and out of the way
before the wheat is sown. It should
be narrowed every ten days or two
weeks after blowing to pulverize
Jumps and keep down the weeds and
grass and also to compress the furrow
beneath the shallow seed bed.
On no account should this cultiva-
| ton go deeper than two, or three
inches. and perhaps an inch Of depth
might be better still. If there were
frequent rains about seeding time.
Rains help to compact the seed bed
| for wheat better even than cultiva-
ton. y
When cultivation is too deep the
seed Is apt to be put too deeply in
the ground.
| 1 never sow my wheat when the
ground is very loose. waiting for rains
to settle it. It Is better to wait past
the season for favorable seeding time
| than to cover the seed deeply in a bed
Of fine dust. which is sure to run to-
gether and compact when rains dc
come.
| Wheat sown In this manner will not
come up as we'll as it otherwise
would and 1t is sure to winter kill. T.
! w. II. Underwood
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

TO increase the profits from our
herds or decrease the profits Of pro-
duction we must eliminate the cows
which individually run US into debt.
In the second place we must feed
our cows more intelligently. The feed
ing Of dairy herd to produce pronts
more economically is q hard propo-
sition to put to man at the present
time. Under the present, conditions
the only way to produce butter fat at
less cost than we did last year - by
increasing the efficiency Of our home
grown dairy foods.
The feeding value Of our home
grown foods will depend largely upon
their palatability. BY feeding 9
variety Of feeds we mako our. rationi
more appetizing and palatable than q
few foods.
Ensilage and roots are more pala-
table than dry folders. Cows that
are fed these appetizing feeds with
clover hay will eat more hay than
when confined to clover alone.
Early cut hay is more suited to the
ration than late cut hay and the cows
will consume larger quantities OF It.
In feeding homegrown feeds we must
feed such foods in q practical way
as will induce the cows to eat more
The more easily digested the ration.
the larger the milk flow. A certain
amount of energy Is required to pre-
pare these foods for assimilation. In
feeding coarse foods we find this is
large per cent.
Tender pasture grass Is more easily
digested than dry folders. Again we
see that succulent foods are more
easily digested than dry folders; that
early cut hay is more easily digested
than late cut hay and that grain and
concentrates are more easily digested
than hay and coarse folders.
We can make a balanced ration
from corn ensilage and alfalfa hay
of coarse fiber and requires too great
an expenditure of energy to digest and
assim1late It.
Such a ration may be greatly i'm.
proved by the addition Of a few
pounds Of concentrates.
Cows that are giving milk must
have an abundance Of protein. The
more protein we feed up to a certain
point the larger the milk flow. 1t II
the amount Of food over and above
that required to maintain the body
that goes to stimulate the milk pro.
duction.
The German standard Of feeding
calls for one and one-quarter pounds
Of protein for every ten or twelve
pounds Of milk.
Another principle is that, feeding
concentrates rich in nitrogen and
mineral matter increases the value OF
the manure and much Of the profits
from high feeding must be made
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27
RAIL FENCE PHILOSOPHY.

A harsh word spoken to the wife or
children or simple act OF injustice is
often the germ which grows into a
monster which strangles affection and
starves our hungry hearts.
The man who really loves his wife
does not forget at IS how beautiful
she was at 20.
It Is all right to ask the Lord to aid
us in our work but all the same. he
expects US to do our level best.
There was never a woman whose
heart has not been touched with jeal-
ousy. If there was no jealousy there
would be no love in the world
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27
PREPARE THE WHEAT.sEED BED EARS

have had q good many years Of
experience in growing wheat and have
found that the earlier tho seed bed
can be prepared tho better.
To endure the vicissitudes Of winter
the wheat plant must have a firm
root but not too deep, spreading near
the surface. rather than striking down.
The wheat plant makes it, growth
while there Ia plenty of moisture in
the soil, 10 it does not send any Of its
top roots down into the subsoil in
search Of moisture, az does the clover
Or corn crop.
I md that early blowing gives the
best opportunity and conditions to the
seed bed in perfect condition for the
wheat crop.
II II the only way we can insure a
compact, Arm soil with the right kind
Of seed bed on top to insure a good
crop.
The seed bed should be two or three
inches deep. with well-hardened
stratum Of compact soil below that
which has been thus settled by rains
and the pressing Of the roller and
trampling Of teams.
have found that when the soil be-
low the seed bed Is open the crop Is
unsatisfactory.
A large acreage Of wheat is now
grown after crops Of spring grain, and
1t is equally as necessary to get the
planting done early as It was when
the summer fallow was the prevailing
method Of preparing for wheat seed
ing.
The stubble and weeds are in them
selves an injury to the seed bed. They
help to hold up the furrow under
which they are turned and some time
Is required to allow them to settle
down and rot. The manurial value
Of this rubbish is next to nothing and
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27
MORAL ASPECT OF GOOD ROADS
Henry Wallace Says We Must Get Practical Christianity
Into the Making of Them.

lin labor which would otherwise be
, wasted to keep his half-mile road
smooth each year. The simple uues-
, ton is whether he will forget about
his road taxes and sdo this without
. asking anybody for any pay but as a
service done to the public. or whether
he will sit back and say: IL
IT have paid somebody else for do
ing it, and let them do 1t or let 1t go
undone." AS a matter Of fact, it will
go undone unless the farmer or land
owner has this public spirit that will
induce him to do it without remuner-
alton.
The railroads. the elevator men, and
tho town merchants are quick to SEQ
the value Of these good roads. They
know very well that there is Just
certain amount Of business to be done
in any community; in other words
just a certain amount OF farmers
wants to be supplied. 50 much grain
and live stock to market. and so many
goods to be bought.
They see perfectly clearly that
while the farmer may be Indifferent
about tho road in front OF his farm,
he IL not Indifferent about tho roads
Where. for example. there are two
towns ten miles apart which are COM
peting for the farmers trade, the
merchants SEQ that If they can get the
roads put In nrst-class shape the
farmers who are nearest the next
town will haul their stuff a mile
further In order that they have the
advantage of the good road
h A0r g.
as much as possible and they see very
quickly that the best way they oan
do 1t is to make the roads leading to
their town the very best possible.
Tho towns that start In now will
have tho advance Of tho towns that
have not awakened to tho situation,
the right treatment they will hold and
maintain this trade for some time to |
come.
II tho farmer were wise he would
SEQ that 1t Is to his interest to have
the roads good to both towns so that /
ne could go to one quite az we'll as |
the other and stay with the one that |
treats him best.
It Is quite possible to make in ono
pear good beginning at the solution
OF this problem which has vexed US
over since the west was opened up,
but the greatest obstacle in tho way
Of 1t II this feeling on the part. Of |
that they have paid for doing
the thing and why should they now
turn around and do 1t themselves.
They do not seem to understand
that II they would adopt this simple |
method Of keeping tho roads smooth
one year without money and without
price 1t would not be necessary to
levy road taxes In the future except
Tor drainage. bridges and culvertsL
and this in many counties In tho west
would cut the road tax somewhere in
two and save, q two-mill levy.
Turn the question around and look
At It from this way. and If you will
not look at 1t from the standpoint Of
public spirit and applied Christianity,
take good square look at it from tho
point of future savings.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

vided the hogs are tied and thrown
F., SO that the spray may cover evers
portion of the body. It Is no use L.
spray the upper part Of hog an
leave the under side untouched. be
cause every louise will multiply an
soon spread all over the animal.
body.
After the hogs have been dipped
sprayed they should be turned into
clean lot that has never been used fos
hogs and the old quarters should BE-
abandoned, or If this Is not practir-
able. every particle Of bedding anil
litter in the yards must be raked
swept up and burned, and every foo,
of ground in the yards and the fences
and sleeping quarters. as we'll. thor
oughly sprayed with strong dis
infectant.
Kerosene emulsion, which Is cheap p.
can be used in this way to advantage.
The hogs should not be returned to
second spraying or even a third be-
fore the hogs are turned In Is adj
visable.
| If the hogs are allowed to occupy
the same pens and sleeping quarters
year after year. which are not fire.
quently cleaned and sprayed as above
suggested. lice Will. surely get into
the herd.
AS this parasite multiplies with tre-
mendous rapidly 1t only takes short
time to thoroughly infest hogs SO that
their thrift will be impeded.
The hog louise affects no other
animal, but devotes his entire time
and attention to the swine. While he
is quite tenacious In his efforts to live.
still a moderate application of. dir
and sprays and the burning OF OLD
bedding and withdrawing OF the in
teriors Of sleeping quarters will quick
ly put him out Of business
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27
RATIONAL CARE OF DAIRY HERDS
Cows Must Have Good Care and Comfortable Surround
ngs if They Are to Give the Best Results.

through the fertility brought onto
the farm by the increased value Of
the manurial fertility.
But high feeding is not always the
most profitable. This Is Q matter that
must be worked out by the man him.
self according to his farm and con-
ditions. Conditions are not the same
on two farms. The difference In cows,
tho kinds and amount OF available
homegrown foods. the market prices
lot dairy products and dairy foods.
compel each man to work out the
ticular farm, always watching the
milk flow, increasing the foods and
protein until 4 point Is reached that
yields the most profit.
Cows must have good care and
comfortable surroundings II they are
to respond to intelligent feeding. Ths
great problem In connection with the
stable Is to keep 1t warm ana well ven
tilated at the same time. Pure air Is
just as necessary to the cow a. food.
Sunlight IL another essential. Dark
stables whore sunshine never reaches
breed disease. Sunlight IL q tonic, .
stimulator and invigorator to all
animals.
There seems to be . wide diversity
of opinion among dairymen as to how
much exercise the dairy COW should
have, and I wish to say that am
not member of the class who believe
in shutting in the COWS from October
until Juno without turning them out
for exercise.
y, ov L. a..
that must be kept up to maintain
health. With all our present day
systems OF ventilation and improved
methods Of tieing the cows, we must
give the cows some outdoor exercise
If we secure the best results Of pro-
duction and procreation.
II we look upon the COW as milk
producing machine alone and do not
place value upon her ability to bring
a strong and vigorous calf. 1t may he
more profitable for us to keep her
inside all the time where she can turn
all of her energy toward the produce
ing Of milk alone and be- discarded IN
two or three years and another COW
take her place.
Such practice may pay the milk
producer but not the man who is try
ing to build up herd Of economical
butter-makers.
If any man thinks little exercise
waste OF energy let him shut him.
self up in a close room kept at the
right temperature all winter and con-
fine himself to just such kinds of food
and see If he comes through the win
ter in condition to start hard
springs work.
II the experiment worked well by
himself why then he might be just
flied in trying it on the cows.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

Tho greatest difficulty in securing
good dirt roads Is not In the cost O.
the drag which we are recommending
Tor that IL merely nominal, nor I
time required to operate 1t, but {
moral difficulty; we came very neal
saying an immoral one. A great many
farmers look upon the subject In this
way: s
They say they have paid their taxes
In cash. as the law requires and 1t II
the business Of the trustees to see thai
II 10 expended properly. It Is the bus.
tractor to do the work under the
direction Of the trustees. and having
done this. why should they so to the
trouble Of smoothing UP the roads
along their farms7
They do not intend to do something
for nothing. The responsibility is not
on them. It Is on the men to whom
they have furnished the money to do
this work. and they do not propose
TO do II.
This is especially the case with .
retired farmer. He IL q little dis
gruntled. anyhow. Heretofore In
leasing his lands he has compelled
the renter to work out Ill the road
tax except that which is specifically
payable in cash. The new law comes
In and says 1t must all be paid in cash.
Tho renter says this is part Of the
taxes and he does not have to pay It;
It IS the part Of the landlord to pay
his taxes. and he Is not going to help
him out.
This IL tho hardest proposition We
ara Nn a0nfya$ thA nrlC NAV
which we know that II can be re-
moved IL to develop Z different code
Of ethics among farmers; in other
words, to get little practical-applied
Christianity into this road business.
Tho disciples Of Christ were a good
deal In tho position OF tho average
farmer; they wanted first to get the
most there was in It for themselves.
hence they were constantly scrappins
among themselves a. to which should
have the highest honor in tho tenn
poral kingdom which they believed
until the last that Jesus was about to |
establish.
He laid down this law for our guild
ance and by which to measure char
acter: HE that IL greatest among
you. let him do the most service"
He never said word to them about
UP for their rights. but He
had great deal to say to them
about their duties. s
Now, Il We could get the farmers
In sections where this good roads train I
has visited to quit thinking about the
money that they have paid for taxes
ana think about the duty to them
selves az we'll - to their neighbors and
the whole community OF having q
good. smooth road in front Of their
farms. We could solve this good roads
problem. in those localities ct least,
within tho short space OF ono year.
It will cost the farmer with q half
mile road from Is cents to $500 for q
drag: probably Is cents worth Of
labor whore he has log which he
can split up. or perhaps $500 in
labor and lumber whore he has to buy
the lumber.
Il Will cost him not more than $3.50 !!
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

Of the COW. and what she does not
clean up at once IL trampled on.
The. stanchion is not very good fol
the cow. She must stand there In
one place and is net free as in a
stall. =
In a properly built stall. when the
cow feeds. the hind feet are on the
plank floor. and when she lies down
she will get up into the stall with heI
head under the rack.
With the old style cribs 1t is re.
versed. When she feeds she must
get up, her head into the crib. and
when lying down get back into the
dirt. and If not kept well hedded she
will be dirty clear to the ears.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

Stark Bros, who own large nur-
sery near Louisiana, Mo-. gave to the
school children of nearby towns car
load of fruit trees, all Of which were
planted and yet there were not half
enough to around. The car contained
1000 apple trees. 2.6oo pear trees.
1000 cherry trees. 1000 peach trees,
II, 900 grape vines End $500 rose
bushes.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

a.-Barley leaf affected by "late
blight" b.-Barlcy leaf affected by
yellow leaf disease" c.-Blade of
corn affected by this fungus"
leaves are easily broken up and COM
pletely destroyed in some cases.
There are many species of this fun
gus on grasses, and one occurs on the
leaves Of corn. sometimes doing much
injury.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

The pepper called Paprika, which ia
In great demand can now be grown In
the Southern states profitably. The
government has conducted some vaIu-
able experiments during the past few
years, and has grown and marketed
about 1000 pounds Of the pods Of fine
quality.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

We must fight the encroachment Of
the cutters on our hillside farms as
we fight weeds. Both can be held In
check and often entirely eliminated.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

had placed in the pipe along with the
tobacco. exploded, clipping OF por-
ton Of his left ear, passing within an
inch of his granddaughter's head. and
finally burying itself In the piano.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

but the cost is not great. It is made
of galvanized wire. which will not rust
and can be raised and lowered to suit
the plant When not in use 1t can be
oiled and packed away for the next
season. 1t is very useful for train
irg tomatoes, carnations, roses or
any plant that needs support.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

vegetables and saves the hands and
time. Place the vegetables directly
under the blade, which II kept sharp.
does such work In good shape.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

! If we were always as ready to for
give the faults Of others as we are to
overlook our own, the world would
not be so awfully bad.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

Jealousy and envy are like weeds
they grow quickly and flourish on
many soils but produce nothing that
is not despised.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

in rows at intervals Of four or flve
feet in the fields. Upon these. wires
must be. stretched, and for this oper-
alton the ingenious farmers have de-
vised long stills, which are fastened
to their legs, enabling them to stand
at height Of seven or more feet from
the ground. ~
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

AS farms become smaller and our
methods more intensive, 1t will be
necessary for us to secure higher
prices for our meat production and
animal foods. Sheep are economical
producers and cans be handled pro-
fitably under intense conditions Of
farming.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

Many farmer who despises little
things" has been tided over bank
ruptcy by the savings from their
wife's chicken yards.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27

Some people always are worrying
about the troubles which may come,
forgetting that there are enough
troubles already here to keep US busy.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27
A GOOD COW-sTALL,

There are many kinds Of stall nx-
lures. The stanchions. cribs and
racks and the empty stall with no
place for hay but to throw It in front
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27
A QUIET LITTLE SMOKE.

A farmer living in Wisconsin
scraped together a pipeful Of tobacco
out of his sons pocket without notic-
ing that the young man carried re-
volver cartridges loose in the same
pocket, The old man had just fred
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27
A SIMPLE TOPPING-TOOL.

A good topping-tool can be made
from an old scythe-blade. ground
down to the size desired. This will
remove the tops of onions or other