davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
STARTING FLOWER SEEDS

Almost all flower seeds germinate
more quickly If soaked in warm water
for a few hours before planting. In
some. instances this IS almost a
necessity. .s., .,s
The advantage Of treating sweet
peas this way Is most marked. Cypress
vine will stand quite warm water
water poured over the seeds IL hours
before planting.
Gamma seeds and those Of the other
large, hard-shelled sorts sometimes
REQUIRE careful filing to break the
tough, outer cover, but extreme care
must be taken not to injure the germ.
The finer greenhouse seeds should
be merely sprinkled on the surface
Of very fine soil and kept continually
moist. During termination glass
should be kept over the pots. After
the plants have come UP this should
be removed to admit air.
Extreme care must be taken of the
tiny seedlings, for II allowed to get dry
they will almost surely die and If kept
too moist they incline to damp off. !"
The sowing of fern spores on a
brick covered with just sprinkling
Of earth is an interesting study to the
nature lover, the necessary water be-
ing supplied by keeping the brick in
a dish of>water.
Most OF the greenhouse plants and
similar delicate ones are scarcely
profitable for the amateur to raise
as source of experimental study.
though geraniums and a number OF
the larger seeds are as easily man
aged as a pansy or an aster and one
can get good variety at small cost.
AS rule the seed should be planted
twice It's own depth and In the case OF
small seeds it is essential to have the
ground finely pulverized.-B. L. Put
nam.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
PLANT BAD SEED EXPECT POOR CROP
> sting tho Seed Is Absolutely Necessary
the Corn Crop Is Desired
If Improvement in

other irregular-shaped grains; by
hand Smelling. with careful observa-
ton to discover any ears WHOM have
undesirable grains. In making tests,
when tray has been planted it must
be thoroughly watered and kept in a
warm room where it will not be upset
or disturbed until the test Is finished
The watering is best done by laying
small piece Of paper fiat on the tray
and pouring the water carefully on
this until the sand is fully saturated
The planted tray should not be al
lowed to dry out until the young corn
plants are an inch or two above the
sand. Sometimes the corn roots are
stiff enough to push the kernels up
out of the sand. When this happens
they should be covered again by
sprinkling some damp sand on them.
This method Of terminating seed
corn has been carefully tested for a
long term Of years. 1t is one OF the
best and simplest because the neces-
sery materials can be easily procured.
the terminating seed does not need to
be uncovered or disturbed during the
test, and the conditions are artificial
only to the extent Of treating all
kernels alike, which Is necessary to
secure reliable results. Testing in soil
is much the most natural method Of
determining the probabilities Of
growth in the field.
Another very Important thing to
consider in corn planting is the depth
Of the seed. Don't plant too deep.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
THE HOUSE FLY SPREADS DISEASE
Every Precaution Should Be Taken to Prevent tn,
This Common Household Pest.

The fly OF worldwide distribution Is
perhaps the one most important insect
pest known to man. As q direct pest
1t Is source Of great annoyance.
necessitating. with the mosquito. an
estimated annual expenditure in the
United States alone of more than
$40, O00.0 for the screening Of habit
ations. But the Importance Of this ny
as an annoying pest Is insignificant
compared with Its Importance as q
menace to public health through the
dissemination of disease germs. In
the maggot stage the fly thrives in all
kinds Of filth and as adult it feeds
upon similar materials. thus ingesting
the deadly germs Of enteric diseases,
such as typhoid fever. cholera. cholera
infantum. tho tropical dysentery, to
deposit them hours. or even days, later
in fly specks, often on various articles
Of food; or these microscopic organ.
isms may be collected on the feet of
the fly and later adhere to some food
supply over which the fly may crawl
in its travels.
Typhoid fever Is one Of tho most
serious ailments to which man Is sub
ject. There are about 100000 cases
of this disease annually In America,
about $4,000 proving fatal Sixty per
cent Of the deaths in the Franco Prus-
sian war and 80 per cent of the deaths
In the Boer war were caused by this
disease. One Investigator has found
the bacilli of typhoid fever in the de-
jecta Of house flies twenty-three days
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
ORCHARD NOTES.

Might as we'll give tho trees plenty
Of room at the start because II you
don't they will have to be cut out
later. Thirty feet apart is the right
distance for apple trees. although 40
feet would not do any harm.
II your favorite cherry tree is bad
ly decayed, clean out everything In the
cavity as carefully as your dentist
would prepare a tooth for filling then
spray thoroughly with per cent
solution of formalin, I'LL the cavity
solid with cement and paint over all.
Go over the young apple trees and
cut of every water sprout with q
sharp knife close to the trunk. Do it
early and they will heal this season.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
.FUssING WITH BEES"

We have all heard farmers say they
"don't have time to fuss with bees"
They might change their minds II they
would only stop to consider that the
crop is fully prepared one when it is
once secured. It does not have to be
stocked or baled; nor does 1t have to
be washed or pared. preserved or
picked. 1t has only to be placed
upon high. dry shelf in warm room
and it is done with. It will not fer
ment and it will not sour or mold.
Pretty good argument in favor of fuss
Ing with bees.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
TO RAISE MELONS EARLY

The following plan may be prac-
ticed in planting various kinds Of
seeds but 1t is especially adapted to
watermelons, since this fruit. when
placed on the market early Is q Won
derful profit maker.
Set small tin cans On live Goals and
heat them until the bottom may be
removed. place several cans in box
and fill them with loose. rich soil.
prepared just as you would seed
bed for any other kind Of seed.
Early in the season plant about a
dozen watermelons in each can and
keep the box where 1t is warm Gin
the house most Of the time). A
sprinkling Of sand on the surface will
help to keep down any weeds that
may spring up.
Dampen the soil daily and provide
as much sunlight as possible by set
ting the box in the window When
the day is warm and bright place the
box out Of doors. thus supplying those
two essentials to plant-production-
air and light.
When the plants are large enough
for transplanting and the danger Of
frost is over slip the soil together
with the young plants from the cans.
place them in rich hill prepared ex-
pressly for the purpose, being care
full not to remove any OF the soil from
around the roots Of the plants.
After they are all started growing
thin them out until there are five
plants in a hill.
Besides producing an early crop
and securing high price for the pro-
duct this method Is especially COM
mendable on accoant Of avoiding the
danger Of late frost and destruction by
bugs and worms, which last-named is
common occurrance at an early
stage where the plants are propagated
in the open field.
Also the plants will have secured a
growth of several inches before they
are placed In the ground ana the soil
being free from weed-pests., less labor
will be required to, keep the plants
thrifty and unobstructed in their de-
velopment.-M. Coverdell.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
RID OF CHICKEN LICE.

What I have found to be the best
means of Kidding a chicken house OF
lice learned by accident.
I had been spraying the houses with
a preparation which had purchased
and busting with patent powder and
never thought Of looking for lice as
believed the two preparations was
using were doing their work.
Going in the pen one day became
covered with chicken lice and the
more felt the lice the more thought
OF the poor chickens and 1t also gave
me enough Of the lice killer I had
been using.
Placing half gallon Of kerosene. a
bottle Of carbolic acid and quantity
Of coal tar in bucket and filling
with water, I thoroughly sprayed the
roosts, nests, cracks and crevices and
found to my delight that the lice coon
disappeared and by frequent applic-
alton of the above preparation have
never been bothered again by lice.-R.
o. Clagett.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

These s.-xS came originally from
india; hence the name Indian. The
term TANNER" comes from the fact
that they literally run instead Of
waddlins IKE most ducks
The Indian Runner L. q breed of
small, utility duck noted for its egg
production, ana IL often termed the
Leghofn OF the duck family. These
ducks have been credited with records
Of more t1aan 500 eggs each in hocks
Of ten. and 1s3 esss each in focks Of
one hundred The runners" are ac-
tive in their hab3t1. are good foragers.,
and on an extensive run are able to
find q large proportion Of their food.
They are non-setters. are hardy and
easily reared, but do not stand con-
finement we'll. Their flesh Is Of a
deep yellow color and is Of fine quail
ity. but their small size is rather
against them for market purposes.
except for broilers.
The standardized indian Runner
has long, fiat, finely formed head OF
a light fawn or gray and white color.
the former being preferred. The
head should be adorned with cap ard
cheek markings Of light fawn or gray,
the cap being divided from the cheek
markings by narrow line Of white
about one-eighth Of an inch wide.
The bill Is OF unusual length, fairly
broad and strong at the base. In the
ducklings the bill is Of yellow color,
spotted with green. When fully ma
tured. the bill should be green in color
with black bean.
The eyes are Of hazel color and
set light In the head. The neck is
unusually long and slender and white
In color from head to the beginning Of
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
FIVE POINTS OF A DAIRY COW.

The five points to be observed in
selecting a good dairy COW was the
subject Of a recent address made by
o. c. Gregg at the st. Johns Farmers
Institute.
LIST. Large body and especially
middle piece. indicating capacity for
eating and digesting a lot Of food.
End. Thinly fieshed backbone and
especially back Of the shoulders. This
indicates that the food ia not made
into flesh.
srd. Large udder, as 1t is here that
the milk is made.
4th. Large milk wells. 1t Is
through these that the blood returns
to the heart from the udder. II they
are large 1t indicates that large
amount Of blood passes through the
udder.
9TH. Large clear eyes. This in
dicates good nerves. and they drive the
organs of digestion and milk making.
He said that a sixth point could be
added-the scales and the Babcock
test,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

No. 4, Sand tray showing corn sevcn
days after planting.
No. 2, Sand tray showing corn
twelve days after planting.
closely associated with weight Of ear
than any other quality.
Select ears of bright, healthy color.
Ears Of dull or pale color are usually
immature or have been exposed to the
weather; their seed condition Is apt to
be poor and the vitality Of the plants
low.
Select ears with grains Of uniform
size and shape. Aside from It's indica-
Of grain Is Of considerable Importance
In getting an even distribution Of seed
and a uniform stand.
To test seed corn for termination
Is essential to modern methods Of
corn-production. The poor stand of
corn is largely responsible for the low
average yield, and 1t is impossible to
get q good stand without good, strong
seed.
No one can identify and discard ell
the ears Of poor terminating qualities
without the aid Of a terminating test.
A hand made germinator which has
proven very satisfactory may be made
of box 2x20x90. inches inside meas
urc. Fill nearly full of moist sand
and mark into squares two inches
across by cord which Is passed
around the nails driven in the sides
of the box.
The checks In the first row. be-
ginning at one end are numbered from
l to 10, the second II to 20, etc.
After placing six grains from each ear
in their respective checks, another
half inch Of moist sand is used to
cover the corn. If in any check all
Of the grains do not grow. the CORE
spending ear should be discarded.
The seed corn should be further pre-
pared for planting by Smelling off the
butt and tip grains: by taking out ell
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

ried close to the body. the SHOULDERS
and top part Of the wings being OF
the same color as the breast. The
tail is composed Of hard, stn feathers.
the six feathers Of the drake being
we'll curled. The color OF the tall IS
light faWn or gray. Tho legs should
be of medium length and set we'll
apart: the toes straight and connected
by web. The shanks and toes should
be Of a deep. bright yellow.
The standard weight of the drake Is
AZ pounds and of the duck pounds.
George e. Howard.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

alton. But 1t will also breed in human
excrement, barnyard refuse Of all
kinds. dirty bedding Of piggeries. de-
caying animal and vegetable subs
stances. garbage, sputum in spittoons.
or other filth, provided there Is suffl-
cient amount Of moisture and moder-
ately high temperature. A single res
fuse heap will supply whole neigh-
borrood with flies. It Is not uncom-
mon to ind manure heap literally
alive with wriggling magots.
The adult flies feed greedily upon
all kinds Of filth and offensive offal.
attack sores on all kinds of animals.
swarm around the sputum and excreta
of persons afflicted with loathsome
and dangerous diseases. and then.
whenever q chance offers. crawl eager
.ly over food, oftentimes leaving behind
a trail of sickness and death.
AS palliative measures.-screen all
doors and windows Of DWELLINGS. cover
all milk. fruit and other food with
netting and use poison ana sticky NJ
paper literally. To drive them from
the house, darken all windows, open
q door, and then burn some pyrethrum
powder, or evaporate teaspoonful %
carbolic acid over a lamp. III
|. Permanent preventive measures are.
however far less expensive In the end
and much more affective than the use s
of temporary methods. Where horses
are stabbed. closet to receive manure
can be built at small cost. Such
closet must be kept closed. The effec-
tiyeness Of fy-tight manure recep-
tacles has been demonstrated beyond
question.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

Of this disease may be in the system
several weeks before diagnosis Is pos
sible, continue in numbers six or eight
weeks after apparent recovery. and in
exceptional cases may be discharged
from the system during q period Of
several years. There are authentic
records Of patient distributing these
germs for seventeen years and being
the incipent cause Of Is cases during
fourteen years Of that period. Other
diseases conveyed by this fly are tuber-
culosis. anthrax. plague. trachoma,
septicemia, erysipelas. leprosy. yaws.
and perhaps smallpox.
In an investigation Of the sources OF
bacteria In milk. the Connecticut Elk
pertinent Station studied the bacterial
population of 414 flies and concludes
that the domestic fly is dangerous
enemy to human health.
The numbers OF bacteria on a sinele
fly may range all the way from $50 to
6,60o,o00. Early in the fly season the
numbers Of bacteria on flies are COM
paratively small, while later tho Num-
bers are comparatively very large. The
place where flies live also determines
largely the number that they carry.
The average for the IA flies was
about one and one-fourth millions
bacteria on each. 1t hardly seems
possible for 80 small a bit of life to
carry 50 large a number Of organisms
AS flies cannot bite, they do not In
oculate individuals with disease as 90
rome mosquitoes but they act az
mechanical carriers conveying the
germs either upon thelr bodies, or
within the alimentary canal. TO Dc
AaposftsA with the excr enent. me
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
INDIAN RUNNER DUCK

the breast markings. The back is
long and narrow and Of light fawn
or gray color. The breast Is round
and full and Of light fawn or gray
color, evenly divided about halfway
between the point Of the breast bone
and the legs. The body Is long. mar
row and carried erect, with no ifdica-
ton of keel somewhat resembling
that Of a Penguin in shape, and IS Of
light fawn or gray color. The
wings are Of mediua. length and car
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

n IS now too fateNto talk about how
this springs seed-corn should have
been saved, but taking the seed we
have we may select the best Of it in
this way. The corn should be placed
on tables in a light room and studied
on bright day. Never attempt to
pick out your seed-corn except In the
best light Examine the ears careful-
ly as to weight and color.
Take some OF the grains from each
ear and notice the shape and the
depth. Go back and forth over the
ears until you know each one.
Reject the poorer corn and work
the best ears over to one end Of the
table Save only the best for plant
ing; or Il %utts q little is needed, make
two or moro grades Of corn and plant
in different parts Of the field.
The qualities that should be consid-
cred In the selection OF corn are type
>of-bred characteristics. general quail
ties regardless Of variety or type,
maturity and soe6 condition. and COM
position.
4 familiarity with these points may
be had by going ovsr the 1eed- corn
several times and studying one qual..y
at 2 time. Notice how great variation
may b found n each quality and de-
eide what types should DO used as
practical standard.
Ar means Of selecting tho best
esed-corn. doubtless the adaptability,
maturity. sesd CONDITION. amount Of
Grain and unifoEzniy Of grain are
among tho Important qualities, but the
enact relative Importance Of each has
not been determined.
A. matter Of fact, tho Importance
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
NOTES ON HOG RAISING.

If you are quite sure that alfalfa
will not grow on your land try Essex
rape. It makes fine hog pasture
some farmers even going SO far as to
say that it beats clover which Of
course 1t does not.
A lousy pig is a sure sign, Of a poor
farmer Once thoroughly infested the
only way to get rid Of the vermin Is
to dip the pig with some good olsen
fectant.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
A COOP ALL-,RoUNp BREED.

An enthusiastic admirer Of the
Rhode Island Reds, states: "They are
large. like the Barred Plymouth
Rocks, with long yellow shanks and
Arm yellow skin; their flesh is as
sweet and juicy as the Langshans;
they are as good layers as the Leg
horns and Minorcas: they make good
mothers and are easy to raise
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
BUY A SEPARATOR.

: There are many things to be said
in favor OF the separator; so many In
fact that mere mention OF them all
would require much time and space.
Here are few:
No cream left in the skimmilk.
Saves two or three landings Of the
milk.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
BY v. w. shoesnith.

do not utilize the entire growing sea-
son will not produce maximum yield.
The large cared types which are SO
late that they cannot mature hard.
solid ear also fail Of maximum pro-
duction and yield product which is
inferior both for the market and home
consumption. 4
Select ears that are very heavy for
their size. The yield seems to be more
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

The orchard of c. r. Woodson, con-
sisting Of 26o acres near Agency. Mo-.
last year produced so carloads Of
marketable apples, netting nearly
$4,000. The trees were sprayed sew
eral times during the season by Gov
eminent experts sent from Washing
ton to make experiments.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

A sheep farmer near San Angelo,
Tex, has during the past two or three
years brought over several carloads
of fine French Merino sheep. He is
using them to raise the standard OF
his own flock and to improve the
breeds in his part Of the state.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
KEEP The COLT Up

be worked without any inconvenience
whatever.
II there are two or more colts, put
them in a lot together when their
mothers go to the fields, ana they Will
be more contented. &
When there Is any necessity OF shay.
ing the brood-mare away from home
ell day. the colt should be battered to
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
MAKING MACADAM RO..

Every macadam road should l.
crowned. in order that the water fall
ing upon 1t may run quickly to the
cutters 1t is also necessary that the
shoulders should have the same slore
as the macadam or perhaps little
greater.
For a road Is feet or less in width
lit will be found satisfact0C8Sha
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

Shelton Of good macsdamized road
in Massachusetts,.
the center S " inches higher thar. the
sides, forming a crown OF three-Quar-
tiers Of an inch to the foot. On roads
of create width it will be necessary
to reduce the crown to one-half inch
to the foot. or perhaps even less. The
apex SHOULD be slightly rounded.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

after feeding. while another records
the presence of this bacillus In files
during period of two weeks. The
possibilities Of transmitting typhoid
fever are appalling to the layman.
when 1t is remembered that the germs
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

1t is said that naval oranges
sprung from single tree that was
found growing on the Northern shore
of the Mediterranean Sea, nearly $50
yeaIs ago.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

fly then Is not the cause but the
"conveyer" of disease.
The fly breeds chiefly In fresh horse
manure. and shows a decided prefer
epce for that which Is wet and sloppy.
especially If 1t Is In state OF ferment.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

Do not plant trees with bunch OF
spreading roots. Trim them on to
within four or FIVE inches OF the root
stock.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

The ewes must have plenty of palat-
able food both before and after the
lambs sssl
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

her side. II on the road there win
then be no danger Of the colt running
back. or up branch roads. or Of fol-
lowing other mares.
Haltering the colt to tho mare il .
particularly wise precaution when 8
trip Is to be made to town, or any
where where railroads have tracks to
be crossed.-W. r. Purdue.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

Get ready the lamb creep so they
can get good e4AsA
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22

proper depth % plant seeds.
Of the ssveral qualities varies in the
comparison Of different ears, the seed
conditions may be practically the only
factor In deciding. since one would
show strong germlaation and the
other ian to gos1ninste: while in COM
pairing two other ears the seed condi-
tons may not b q deciding factor at
I'll. since each gsTminatas equally well.
For che use Of the beginner In pick
ing out seed-corn, psrhaps the best
rules that could - givsn are as fol-
lows:
Select ears Of medium size for your
locality. The srnAn-sared types which