davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08
POTATO GROWING
IMPORTANT INFORMATION CON
CORNING THIS INDUSTRY.
BY w. w. Sproul, Noted and Scien
tific Potato Grower of Middle
brook, West Virginia.

Among the corps of speakers which
accompanied the Agricultural Special
Train, recently run by the College Of
Agriculture over the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad from Huntington to Dur
bin, was w. w. Sproul, a noted potato
grower of Middlebrook, Va. Mr.
Sprouts remarks were full of valuable
information.
BY comparing the average value per
acre to the principal crops grown IN
West Virginia, he showed that the 20
tato was by far the most valuable
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08
THE .WR ONC:WAY

Creatures led some OF our well-inten-
toned forefathers to torture one anoth-
er in Gods name, which we TODAY can
not endorse as being just or loving.
Tho Power of the Divine Law.
There is n power for good In the
Word of God which can be found no
where else. Higher Criticism has much
responsibility in connection with the
growing lawlessness of the world Tn
Higher Critics in all of our colleges
and seminaries are doing a terribly de
structive work. in comparison to which
the work of Noltaire Thomas Paine
and Robert lngersoll was as nothing.
1t Is safe to say that three fourths OF
all the graduates of all colleges within
the last thirty years have been unbe-
levers In the Bible. and that their in
fuence has been used persistentIy to
undermine the faith of others. The err
rors which led them to infdelity are II
able to influence others. The Bible
itself is Study. and only what il
teaches should be believed whether
favorable or contrary to our formnr
c:ee3s.
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

By far the most important thing is
to place the orchard under a Thorough
system of cultivation. Stirring the
soil sets free plant food that has be
fore been locked up. The old sod
which has been a drain upon the soil
should be destroyed, so that the trees
may secure all the available nourish-
ment. In normal seasons there is only
about rain enough to properly develop
a crop Of apples, and in years Of
drought the moisture has to be guard
ed as jealousy as a miser would
hoard his gold. AS long as the sur
face Of the soil is kept loosened and
mellow by working, the water below
viii not evaporate, but let crust
form over the surface and the water
will draw up and escape, as oil II
drawn through a wick.
Cover Crops.
No system of cultivation is complete
without cover crop. This should De
planted the first Of August, so that II
Will grow and form a protecting mat
over the ground during the winter II
takes up the surplus plant food in the
soil instead of allowing it to waste ID
the air; it checks the growth OF the
wood and ripens it up so that 1t WIZ
not be injured during the winter; Il
returns to the soil, when plowed undei
in the spring, the food it borrower
in the fall and returns it in the 10TH
of life-giving humus, which in turD
loosens up the soil and makes 1t mol'
mellow. Cow peas, vetch, crimson
clover, or these mixed with oats, rysI
or cowhor1 turnips, make eXceAeh'I
cover crops.
At this time young orchards are pei
Ing planted throughout West NirglnliI
by thousands of acres, but their proal
Use is only for the future, Woulu
not be wise, while waiting for tnes'l
newer paintings to come into bearIns
to pay some attention to those ola n'lr
side orchards which for time an Ia .'
invested would yield immediate
turns in fruit for home and MARKET
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

charge Of all the schools, fair exhibits.
pruning and spraying demonstrations,
special farmers meetings, ETC., and
has accompanied practically every ag.
ricultural train that has been run
While most of his work has been OF
an extensive nature, he has given con-
siderable instruction in poultry hus.
bandry, of which he has made a spe
cial study.
Professor Titlow was born on a
farm in Greene county, O., in 1874. He
received his education in the common
schools and in Antioch and Witten.
berg colleges. Previous to going to
the Ohio State university, he spent IA
years in teaching and supervising in
the public schools. He was one of the
first men of the state to introduce
agriculture into the rural schools at
a time when public sentiment was
against the new study. Now agricul
ture has been placed in every Ohio
rural school of the state legislature
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08
WINTER COURSES
Short Courses January Sd to March
27th-Farmers' Course From
February list to 18th.

The College of Agriculture of West
Virginia University has just issued an
attractive announcement of the winter
courses, which are arranged for those
who can leave the farm only during
the winter months.
The short course runs through the
winter quarter from January to
March 27. 1t is arranged to be com
pleted in two winters; the first being
devoted to general agriculture, and
the second winter being spent in spe.
cializing upon animal husbandry
dairying, or horticulture Upon com
pletion Of the two terms work a Ger.
tificate is given.
The farmers courses occur Febru.
airy l to 16, and cover general agri.
culture, horticulture and dairying. The
first three days of these courses will
be largely devoted to poultry in con
nection with the annual show of the
Monongalia County Poultry associa.
ton, which will be held in the Uni.
versity armory. Prof Jas. E. Rice
of Cornell university, and Prof. Hor.
ace Atwood will both lecture on poul
try. In addition to the regular in.
structors of the College of Agrfcul.
ture, the following experts have been
engaged to assist in these courses
Dr. II. P. Miller, of Delaware, O., on
Live Stock" Prof. f. E. Bear. OF
Ohio State university, on "Soil Fertil
ity;" Mr. ]. H. Arnold, of the United
States Department of Agriculture, on
Farm Management" and Mr.. S. w
Moore, of Elwell, w. Va, and S. H
Fulton, of Sleepy Greek, w. Va, on
Fruit Growing"
During the week of February IL to
16 the domestic science department
of the university viii give one
weeks women's course in household
economies, to which the women of the
state are invited. The work will be
given mostly by Miss Anna Barrows
instructor in household art in Column
bia university, who has a national rep
utation as an authority upon this sub
ject, who will take charge of practice
work in the preparation of foods and
will give demonstrations each after
noon.
Full information regarding these
courses may be secured by dropping q
post card TO The College of Agricul
tcc5 1t NJ -cntown.
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

had failed to keep Caused the people to
that Jov-aven IN understand the tai1."
the extent of their ability-they per-
ceived the reason why the Lord had
allowed various chastisements, captiv-
tiles. etc. to come upon them. They
perceived that such was His Cove
nant with them: that obedience on
their part was to be rewarded with
blessings and prosperity. and disobe
dience with punishment, captivity, etc
The realization of sin brought sorrow
and tears-the people wept sore.
Then Nehemiah, Ezra and others ex-
planned to the people. directly and
through the Levites. that this was not
a time for tears but, on the contrary,
n time for rejoicing. They were not
only to remember the severity Of God
in furnishing the wrongdoings Of their
fathers. but they were to remember
also His mercies now returning to
them, and especially to appreciate the
fact that He had again sent to them
the Law. and thus indicated His will
ingness to receive them back again to
His favor.
They Read the Law Distinctly.
The declaration is that they caused
the people to understand the Law"
There is evidently great need Of just
such instruction today. Nominal Spir-
itual Israel is in dilapidated condi-
ton because Of the lack in understand
ing Gods Word We seem to be in
the time referred to by tle Prophet
saying There shall he Il famine in
the land" saith the Lord. mot Il famine
for bread. neither a famine for water,
but famine for the hearing of the
Word of the Lord" tAmoS viii, III
Many imagine that they are familiar
with the teachings of the Bible, when
in reality they are familiar with one
or another of the creeds OF the darker
past, all o. which contain sn,lp truth,
with considerable error, we must all
admit. Our great mistake las been in
assuming that our confessions Of faith
and all of our creeds fully represent
the Bibles teachings. This mistake
has already been costly, Thousands
of the most generous minds have been
turned away from the Bible by the
mistaken supposition that the creeds
properly represent its teachings. AS
sured that they could no longer en-
dorse any creed as whole. these
bright minds have renowned them
and the Bible as well.
The necessary thing to be done is to
resume Bible study. and that without
our creedal spectacles. Our forefathers
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

THE OLD 0RCAI|
RENOVATION OF THE w.
ORCHARDS OF THE wrss'
VIRGINIA FARMS
Theories Advanced BY D.
Man, VIM. n. AIderms, 's .
lessor Of Horticulture. w. q
Virginia University S'

or the many causes that -
towards the downfall of An gu =
age is the one most often mar
for 1T is an elastic term and liEe e
ity, covereth multitude Of ~
matter Of fact the apparan,
an apple tree depends so ina
upon the care it has receivad ~
is impossible to say even ANN. ~
ly how many years an orch.
be handled with profit.
Close Planting.
In many cases too close pIan,inn
been the cause of.an untimalv Is
the orchard. The trees at ma,r. en
come crowded, the branches ~
the supply of air and sunJioh.
sary for existence is shut off -
lower branches die. The traos
upward towards the open Air -
forest, and more lower brapch".
until finally the orchard reqamh,
huge green canopy supported
bare poles.
This struggle for existence no,
been confined to the branches al.
for the roots, in their search for .
and water, have wandered 70,
vide, until by necessity they bava
come trespassers upon the fasa
ground of their neighbors. II is al
cult to fully rejuvenate such ~
chard, for the remedy-taking
alternate trees-should have beer
piled years before. After the braros
begin to touch, to put off the tbnni-
out OF the trees means a steady falpl
off in the orchards income.
Pruning.
The dead and decaying wood-ido
lurking places for dangerous insac
and fungi-should be cut out, as W.
as the water sprouts, crossed branch
and parallel limbs. To round the 4,
into symmetrical form and to stil
ulate growth it may be well to 9
back some of the sound brapcha
spraying.
A policy of careful and systema,
spraying should be carried out MI
first year spray the dormant tree
with a very strong solution of Gonna
sulphate--say IL pounds to 50 gallon
OF water or with commercial lime AMI
sulfur at the rate of one gallon Il
five OF water. This spray is to cleal
off the fungi and lichens that NAV NJ
on the tree and may be omitted afte)
the first year. Subsequent spraying]
for scale, scab, codling moth, etc. will
be discussed in a later article.
Fertilizers.
frequently WORKOUT orchards will
respond to fertilizers, where weIl-cul
tivated ones will not. During the frs
few years of regeneration, at least, 4
would be advisable to feed the orchard
literally with either a high-gradI
chemical fertilizer or barnyard mi
nure.
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08
Damn Of Je,otsh hope.

- SN' the privilege or
being the antitypical Levites. Thou.
sands of them responded at Pentecost
and subsequently, but not enough to
complete the fore-ordained number of
spiritual lsraelites, members of the
Body of Messiah.
Since then the selecting work has
Aeen in progress for eighteen centu-
Hes. God has been calling and draw
ing, from all nations. and as many as
respond, the great Refner has been
purifying; and IL these suffer afflic-
hons for righteousness they are shar-
hg in the sufferings of Messiah that
they may be accounted worthy also of
q share in His glories to follow. Soon
The elect" number will he completed;
Ge blood Of E e New Covenant will
De made elficaclous for Israel and for
~ the families ~ the earth, and on
@,'t basis the Messiauic Kingdom or
selgn OF righteousness will begin.
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

HIS good eXlOT- 'OW Goa shdH Hght
tations. T he Tor US.
wealthy Jews were abashed They
acknowledged the injustice of their
course and rectified matters. Here we
see the power Of noble character and
good example in it's influence upon
others. AS custom and example foster
unjust methods and usage makes right
in the minds Of many. so likewise ex-
amples of justice are powerful in op
position to wrong. Thus every Chris
tian owes 1t to himself and to God and
to the principles Of righteousness
which he represents, not only to take
the proper stand. but also to let this
stand for righteousness be known to
others as reproofs of unrighteousness
Treachery and SANDER In Opposition.
No sooner had the prevailing diff
culties been successfully combatted
than a new foe arose The outside enc
mics, perceiving that the wall was
about finished. and that only the hang
ing Of the gates remained to complete
the defenses of Jerusalem, tried new
tactics. They professed desire to re-
consider the whole matter-to meet
with Nehemiah for discussions Of their
business and fresh examination of his
papers Of authority from the King.
But he replied that his work was
great one, very important, and that he
could not take time for discussion. He
had time to discuss with his brethren;
he bad time TO show them as the peo-
pie If God the right and wrong of
each important question. but he had
no time to dispute about outside mat
tiers while his important mission was
unfinished.
There is lesson In this for Chris
tians. We should always have time
to discuss Gods Word and His love
with the brethren. We should always
have time to give to everyone that
asks reason for the hope that is in
us, But surely. while important inter
ests of Gods cause are needing our
attention. we have no time to give to
discussing outside questions which st
Paul denominates science falsely so
mind on the subject as st. Paul ex-
pressed. saying. II have determined to
know nothing amongst you save Jesus
Christ and Him crucifed." Anything
relating to Jesus as Gods anointed
Son. the Messiah. or anything relating
to His crucifixion and the hopes built
thereon, st. Paul was ready to discuss
at any time. The defense Of this cause
and subject was his special business
in life Although he was well educat
ed and well informed on topics of gen
eral interest. he acted as though BIZ
were ignorant of those things that he
might give all his influence and time
to the one paramount matter-to the
cause for which he was an ambassa
dor
Evil Speaking and SANDER.
Finally. the enemies resorted to the
usual weapons of SANDER They die
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

called them to-
gether and had a
plain but kind
talk with them
respecting t h e
brotherly obliga-
tons required by
the Law-"Thou
shalt love thy
neighbor as thy
self" He gave
them a practical
exemplifcation of
H. - L
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

VHVsV VHIngS were
commonly reported amongst all the
people-they were common gossip"
How cruel are the multimdinor,
methods of slander-how contrary they
are to everything that is right not to
mention the highest of all standards
christian love. Nevertheless. how fro.
quently Gods people are ensnared Inv
The spirit of SANDER, How rriovors
are the wrongs thus accomplished.
now unhearable is the injustice inaict
ed; how dreadful are the resnonsihiIi.
aeS incurred. Assuredly those wbn
iehd their lips to SANDER are CORE.
s'oho'ngIy opening their hearts 10 I've
Adversary.
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

who made our
creeds participant
ed more or less in
persec utions OF
each other which
we today entire
iy condemn. They
were as honest,
doubtless, as are
we. but they had
q less light h e V
lived in a darker
Age. The belief
that God is tor
turing thousands
OF millions OF His
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08
Messenger Of the Covenant.

ing and purifying
work more than
eighteen centuries
ago. He followed
the Divine rule.
ct o { he ] e W
drst." He began
to refine and puri-
fy a priestly class
for association
with Himself in
the glorious Mes
sianic work. To
the Jew first came
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

not charge direct
ly that Nehemiah
sought to make
himself king OF
the Jews, with
Jerusalem its cap
ital, and that he
was secretly EN-
ploying men to
speak favorably
for him amongst
the people. but il
an open letter
sent declared thai
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

with the people
and explained to
them the mean
ing of the various
sections.
1t was an i'm
mense Bible class
and aroused deep
interest. As the
people heard the
words Of the Di-
vine Law. and
realized that they
= n
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

~yZRA APPARENTLY returned
9uzzv 10 Babylon. there 10 prosecute
W his study of the Law and his
coIlating thereof. We next
hear Of him thirteen years after. again
prominent figure at Jerusalem. Nehe-
miah's work on the city wall and its
gates was completed week before
the Jewish new year. That week was
used for rest and refresbment. and on
that day tabout October lstl a general
conyOcation or public gathering took
place in an open square just behind
the temple. There platform or pull
pit was erected for Ezra. who was the
scribe or learned man of the occasion
and read to the people from morning
until noon out of he Book Of the Law
1t was read in sections. The priests
and Levites commingled themselves
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08


that the average farm value of the po-
tato is nearly fcur times that of any
other chop. This being the case, why
should not the potato become the lead
ing crop Of this state as well as the
most profitable? The potato may be
its quality is of the best and the local
markets can not be surpassed.
Mr. Sproul called attention to the
fact the potato requires a soil rich
in humus or organic matter He sug-
gested that the best way to incorpor-
ate this important constituent in the
soil is TO pillow under a crop of clover,
COW peas, sofa beans, or to apply lib
eral coating of barnyard manure. The
manure should be applied to the crop
Immediately preceding the potatoes,
as it will cause scab when applied d.
rectly to the potato field.
Emphasis was laid upon the neces-
sity of using good seed, free from
scab. He suggested that it would be
most profitable to the grower to de-
vote small parcel of land to the
breeding of better seed. In order to
get the best results from any seed
the tubers must be carried over, the
winter in a cool place where there is
no danger of freezing. If the seed
potatoes are allowed to sprout before
planting their vitality is greatly d.
minished and the yield will be les
sened
An excellent method of storing seed
potatoes is to dig hole about twelve
inches deep in well-drained soil; put
in the potatoes, mounding them up;
cover well with straw, then with
light coat Of earth; after the first
light freeze cover with another coat
of earth and, when this is frozen hard,
cover the whole with two feet of
straw or chaff This will keep the tn.
bers from sprouting until planting
time.
Mr.. Sproul begins cultivating his
crop before it comes up, following the
rows by the ridge they make The
first cultivation is made deep to keep
the soil between the rows loose. This
10 iclioHtu Wy sliJotllllls Hdl ION.
As the plants begin to come up
weeder is used. From this time until
the vines are too large the cultiva-
tons are frequent and thorough. 1t is
desired to keep the surface of the soil
In the form of dust much to pre-
vent the escape of moisture.
Because of the ravages of the potato
beetle and the prevalence of blight,
spraying is absolutely necessary for
best results. Bordeaux mixture of the
$3.50 formula is used, to which pa
pounds of arsenate of lead is added
as poison. The first spraying should
be applied when the vines are eight
inches high, or earlier, if the bugs
make an appearance. About four
sprayings should be applied. The
poison need not be added after the
bugs have disappeared.
The College Of Agriculture at Nor.
gantown will be glad to advise with
potato growers as to best methods for
this state and to furnish information
in regard to breeding better seed, fer
tilizers, spraying, etc, to all who
apply.
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08
STALLS FOR HORSES.

Where a number of horses are kept
in the same barn the sides of the
stalls should be low enough to allow
them to see each other, as all horses
love company.
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

result Of being
Gods people they
had been held to
a more strict ac-
count than other
nations: so that
although t b e r
nationality was
superior, II was
through repeated
and severe chas-
tisements. They
were even ques-
tioning the profit
uItn-as,u 80 1a,;.
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08
LEARNING DAIRY BUSINESS.

The man who imagines he knows
all there is to know about dairying
without attending the short courses
for dairyiag at the agricultural col
leges, or without reading a reliable
farm paper, is making a great mis-.
take, because no man can hold all
there is to know about the dairy bus
mess.
Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-08

:" FTER MANY difficulties Nehr-
f..H miah's work had almost reac!s
n ed success when a great wall
of distress went out. The
poor Jews had been giving all of their
time to the repairing of the walls and
had thus crt off their income from
other sources. In their zeal they went
into debt in mortgages on their prop
erty When the tax collectors came
and the interest became due they were
unable to meet these and so. destitu-
ton staring them in the face. great
wall went up. Disasters spread rap
Idly and food riot was barely avert
ed.
Nehemiah looked into the matter and
found that the wealthy Jews had ad-
yanced money to their poor neighbors
on mortgages at exorbitant interest
rates. and they were thus profiting by
the calamities Of their brethren. He