davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09

We are always eager to get tie gar
den started IN the spr;ns, but as a
rule for most things il is safe to vat
until around corn planting time " q
little before. No use TO put seed into
cold, damp ground only 70 roT.
Better start the plants In the hot
bed and taper off in the cold frame,
and then when set out in the open
they will hump themselves
It's a mighty mean man who VIA
permit his wife to spade up the garden
and do all the work on it the whole
Season through.
Never drill strong fertilizer, like sheep
or poultry n in the rows next to
the seed. Better plan is to work it in
to the ground before planting or in
the rows just after the plants appear
and not close enough SO it will touch.
Everybody grows rhubarb, but few
m know that they can grow as
parasuS just as easy. 1t is one Of the
most delicious vegetables grown and
requires no special care. Start with
or two year old plants.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09
THE AUTO AND GOOD ROADS.

Some months ago one Of our neigh
bors purchased a good, substantial
automobile. He and another neighbor
drew an oak saw log to the mill and
had material sawed for two good road
drags. the timbers being II feet in
length, one foot wide and three inches
thick.
The edges that moved the dirt were
faced with pieces Of iron four inches
wide and three-eighths of an inch
thick.
After constructing this most effective
implement for road working our neigh
bOrs hitchedf three horses to the drag,
climbed into it INK proceeded to drag
the road, Che lives at q cross-road)
and how he does improve every high
way he traVerses.
He makes frequent trips with his
drag to town, four miles away. and
already good effect of his owning an
automobile is being observed and felt
on our roads. far and near.-M. a.
Coyerdell.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09
AGRICULTURE IN NEW ENGLAND.

The popular belief hat New Eng
land farm land is a deserted waste is
untrue, as the much-talked-of aban-
doned farms that are commonly pic
tured as lying idle with bare fields
growing up to weeds, are not to be
found. Nature has been remarkably
quick to start reforestation. In tray-
cling through the New England States
one cannot fail to note the large
area Of woodland as compared to the
improved farm land. and the census
figures of 1899 show that only 20
per cent Of New Hampshire is i'm
proved land, which means that the
other Il per cent is practically all in
forest.
A farm survey was undertaken in
1909 of four townships representative
of the areas OF e~southern portion
Of the State of New Hampshire in
which a careful study of the equip
ment, expenses, and income on the
farms in those townships was made,
the results of which are of much in
terest in connection with the general
status Of agriculture in that section
and also furnish valuable data con-
corning the relative proftableness OF
several types Of farming.
n plan Of the work was to visit
personally each farmer within the
area and obtain from him and from
opSti dION the fefatlNe condition of
the farms in the region. the prevail
ing of farming, and the profit
ableness of these types for that sec
ton; also the distribution of capital.
income insufficient to pay 5 per cent
n correct view Of the in
dustry as it now exists.
throughout the whole region sur
Feyed. and the same old true
throughout the State, the acreage of
tillable land is very small, and the
tillable land on each farm is usually
made up Of small, irregular fields.
Xxi extensive cultivation of large
areas impossible. The average farmer
Of that section has three-fourths OF
his capital in real estate. including
permanent improvements. and one
fourth in equipment. Some of the
rme We're in receipt of Very good
salaries for their work. while on the
ether hand some of them receive an
income insufficient to pay ) per cent
on the capital invested.
Dalrylng and general farming are
not so profitable in this region as
either fruit or poultry, as the farms
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09
SOME STARTLING "GOOD ROADS,
FACTS.

There are in the United States a
little more than two million n num-
dred and fifty thousand miles of roads
Of this mileage only one hundred ano
seventy-six thousand, four hundred
ut twenty-nine miles are improved,
or eight and two-tenths per cent of the
total. according to statistics gathered
by the Government office of Pubic
Roads. The improved roads are those
surfaced with gravel, stone, or with
some special material.
The most striking feature Of these
statistics in the enormous extent OF
unimproved roads in the United states.
An expenditure Of something IKE 80
GOe, 900, 900 would be required to con-
vert the common earth roads of the
country into even good gravel roads.
That this is desirable few Will ramsay.
and hat 1t is becoming necessary un-
der modern conditions and the rela-
tons now existing between producer
and is also quite generally
admitted. The increased cost of haul
ing over unimproved roads is an i'm
mense tax upon the farmer n those
who purchase his products, and is a
restriction on the crops which can be
raised and moved in certain localities.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion finds that two hundred and sixty
five million tons of agricultural, forest
and miscellaneous products Of the land
are hauled to depots for shipment in
the course Of a year. Figured on a
basis Of the veraS haul at the lowest
average rate over unimprOVed roads.
% cents per ton per mile, the cost
would be Observation-Disclosures mil
lions, four hundred thousand dollars.
II the hauling could be reduced to one
half the present average, or IL 1-2c
a ton, the resultant saving would e1-
ceef 100000, 600 a year.
That such a saving is reasonable is
indicated by the experiences in other
countries and in localities where i'm
proved roads are found. The cost of
hauling on such improved roads is
placed at from 8>to 10 cents per ton.
The introduction Of wise and equitable
road laws and good business manage.
ment would, 1t is estimated, W. forty
million dollars more in the administIa-
ton Of the country's roads or leave it
for some other use.
The rapid increase in urban pOpu-
lation has greatly multiplied the de-
lnand for the perishable products Of
the dairy. truck farm and orchard,
and the value of such products de-
Ponds to a large extent on their speedy
transportation from the country to the
city. For his and other reasons the
auto-truck n similar product-carry-
ing motors are taking the place of the
morse and cart and the farm wagon.
Public sentiment in favor of better
roads is rapidly spreading to each farm
and hamlet. AS a result of this
awakening, our 100000 miles Of
earth roads cannot much longer re-
main in their present condition.. Amer
lean farmers annOt afford to pay on
an average % cents to haul a ton a
mile When 10 cents would suffice if
the highways were improved.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09

are too small to yield satisfactorily
under those systems. Fruit growing
and poultry farming in combination
would seem to be 4 very satisfactory
solution to many of the smaller hill
armer especially il winter egg pro-
duction is made the object Of the poul-
try side of the work
The most successful m are
not as a rule following methods OF
farm practice different from those not
so successful, but are utilizing their
land and equipment to better ad-
vantage; making greater profits, not
by spending less but by taking in
more.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09
THE DOG FOR THE FARM.

We do not think Col1ies are danger
Gus with children. We have raised
two from puppies and they became
firm companions for our children and
we never knew them to snap at them
or show a disposition to harm them.
Collies are very useful on the farm.
They can very easily be taught to so
alone long distance if necessary into
the pasture or woodS for the COWS.
bringing them home night and norm
Ing fOr milking. 1t is far p~ieasanter
and cheaper to send a dog for them,
especially on a wet. stormy morning.
than to walk a mile or so for them or
to hire a man to do its. n.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09

The chicken does not refuse to Law
eggs or get fab through perverseness
Of character 1t is simply because tho
owner does not know how TO bring
about the desired results.
The sweet potato has plenty of enc
mics. The principal ones are emf
worms. leaf miner, stem borer. lea
roller and Weevils.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09

from it's home in New York. a dis
lance of 20 miles. confined in a bag
1t was imprisoned, but made it's es-
cape. and in a few days reappeared at
the home Of its former master.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09

A man a get along n doing
much If he has sense enough to know
what not to do.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09
0 PER CENT BIGGER PROFITS
POSSIBLE IN THE SOUTH.
(DR. s. A. KNAPP.l

j estimate that there is a possible
500 per cent increase in the produC-
tive power of the farm iaborers In the
average Southern State, and | dis
tribute the gain as follows:
One ndr and fifty per cent 10
a rotation of crops and better tiIlage,
Fifty per cent to better drainage
Fifty per cent to seed OF higher
vitality. thoroughbred and carefully
selected.
Fifty per cen to the use of more
economic plans for feeding stock. and
the use of legumes.
Three undre per cent to the
use of more and better mules and
farm MACHINERY, and
Two hundred per cent TO the pro-
duction of more and better stock.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09

Michigan probably ships more beans
to the Eastern markets han any other
State, and Boston is the best market
for this vegetable. as that city pays for
baked beans in a single year the price
of two of Uncle Sans modern war
ships.
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10
Hugging a Lamb"

Parson Johnson had been caught
hugging one of the finest "ewe" lambs
Of the congregation who happened to
be very popular young lady and It
created quite a stir in the church. So
"Brudder Johnson" was brought for
trial.
You have seen these great pic
lures, suppose, SO you know dat de
great Sheperd am always pictured
wild lamb in his arms" said "Brud-
der" Johnson.
Yes. sab. pahson. dat ann so." ad-
mitted Deacon Jones.
Den, Brudder Jones, what am
wrong in de sheperd of this flock
having a lamb in his arms?"
This was too much for Brudder
Jones, SO he proposed that the people
have a called meeting that afternoon.
After the point was discussed at the
afternoon meeting the following reso-
luton was made:
Resolved, Dat for the future peace
Of this congregation, dat de next
time Brudder johnson feels called on
to take lamb OBJ de flock in his
arms. that he pick out ram-lamb."
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10
THREE CURED OF ECZEMA

when a child, l suffered eight
years with eczema. l could not sleep
at night, and had sores all over my
chest We had doctors and none
could do any good, until my mother
saw the advertisement of the Cuti-
cura Remedies in the paper. We used
the Cuticura Soap, Ointment and
Resolvent. and they cured me Of
eczema also used them on my five
children. Two Of them had eczema
very badly When my children had
eczema, l was not worried at all, as
I knew the Cuticura Remedies would
do their work. They had sores all
over their heads. their hair would fall
out, and they would scratch all night
and day. They had 1t on their heads,
face, and in back of the ears SO that I
thought their ears would drop OF.
washed their heads and bodies with
Cuticura Soap and they are as clean
as the driven snow. Cuticura Soap
and Ointment also cured my children
of ringworm. l would not be without
the Cuticura Remedies. They are
wonderful" (Signed) Mrs. Violet
Cole. 26 s. Redfield St., Philadelphia,
Pa. Oct 20, 1910.
Cuticura Soap and Ointment are
sold throughout the world. Send to
Potter Drug & Chem. Corp, sole
props, Boston, for free book on skin
and scalp diseases and their treat
mept,
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10
Paris Siege Bread

collector OF curiosities In Boston shows with
pride piece of bread that baked In Paris
during the siege. or course, 1t Is now harder
than brick, and looks unpalatable.
Emile Bergerat. the sonin-law of Gauter is
writing his memors-and the first volume Sou
venirs dun Enfant de Paris Les Annees de Bo-
heme." has just been published. Recollecting
events OF the siege he has much to say about the
bread
Il think some persons must have kept theirs
for Is years afterward I saw pieces of bread In
a glass was stupefed for two reasons In
the first place. in the days and after jan
uary Is. there was FOR each month only a mouse's
ration, 800 grams. This utter starvation
The Parsian as Is we'll known, is a great bread
eater; he deprive himself Of anything else but
ordinarily he must have at least his 45O grams"
Bergerat in the second place, does not believe
that the substance could survive the armistce
Chemistry could do nothing with 1t. Berthelot as
sured Gautier that he ate the bread without un
derstandng It.
This bread was Dantesque and not to be an
alyzed. If had been Jules Favre at Ferreres
| should have simply thrown a biscuit on the table
in front of Bismarck and said: Smell it. The city
is yours"
No knew what this bread was made Of
did not dare to tell the secret The animal king.
dom supplied material after the vegetable was
exhausted, and the mineral succeeded the animal
In the bakery once kept by Bergerats father a
blacksmith forged bread Buyers broke their
teeth nails. The report was circulated that
bones from the catacombs were at last used
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10

in most every instance surround or overshadow
the space allotted to fowers-the limbs trimmed
to sufficient height from the ground to allow
the entrance Of plenty of sunshine. Such trees
are alike to the box, only to be attained as the
heritage of time and consequently they are lack
Ing in many newly established garden upon
which money has been expended without stint
All the summer houses. the trellis, etc. which
one sees in these old Virginia gardens are OF
frame construction, the wood usually being paint
ed white. and the garden walls which on some
estates supplement the hedges are OF brick. The
gardens were established too long ago to admit
OF the introduction OF the concrete products
which have done much for the establishment
OF the latter-day garden Almost without excep
ton. however. garden structures heavily
vine clad that the material Of their construction
makes very little difference in appearances. Out
side the strictly tropical vegetation there few
flowers or trailing vines that will not grow lux
uriantly in the kindly Virginia climate and this
fact accounts for the variety Of vegetation in the
old gardens.
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10
The Second Dimension.

II was on a little branch railway
in = southern state that the New
England woman ventured to refer to
the high rates. 1T seems to me five
cents a mile 10 extortion," she said.
with frankness. TO her southern cou-
sin.
It's a big lot of money to pay II
you think Of It by the mile said
the southerner. in her soft drawl;
but you just think how cheap 1t is
by the hour. Cousin Annie-only
about thirty-fve cents. Youths
Companion
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10

average sort. inasmuch OF the flowers
mat have place in a colonial garden are Of the
oldfashoned hardy sort. There are. however.
some features OF the layout OF the flower beds
that render the colonial garden distinctive. and
particularly is this the case with the neatly
trimmed little hedges that borders for
the various flower beds and in many instances
supply screens and boundary markers for the
garden.
In the case OF many of the older gardens all
or portion of these hedges are formed OF the
richly tinted and sweet scented box. Indeed 1t
is the presence of this shrub which is likely to
distinguish genuine colonial garden from the
newer sort of floral setting For be it known the
box Is very difficult to transplant successfully
some say i'm possible-and it Is OF very slow
growth. So much SO. indeed, that a handsome
hedge of box is more likely than not to represent
the fruits of century or more of care and atten-
ton Withal the box will grow fairly well II left
to Itself and only given time. but the watchful
care OF gardener is required II it is desired
to restrict 1t to certain limits as. for instance.
the borders OF flower beds.
In the days preceding and following the Revo-
luton there were colonial gardens in all the thr-
teen original states. but the finest OF these
located in Virginia. Nor this to be
dered at for the Old Dominion at that time
the seat Of the most notable country seats in the
new world. History tells OF the magnificent
tates maintained by George Washington. Thomas
Jefferson. Madison. Monroe and other prominent
Virginians Of that period, but there were dozens
OF other wealthy landed propretors who, though
perhaps not nationally as prominent, lived In the
same baronial style their expansive planta-
tions and had the slave labor that contributed
much to the development OF such estates.
lonial garden not only an inevitable adjunct
OF Virginia estate IN those days OF lavish liv-
ing, but it In many instances the special
pride and hobby of the lord mistress OF the
manor house
Now, strange to say. surprising number OF
these old colonial gardens retain to this day
much of their old-time splendor We say surprs-
ing, because it must be remembered that when
the devastating tide OF great Civil war swept
Virginia it played havoc with many
cestral and 1t would be too much to expect
that the gardens should not suffer did the
mansions Furthermore, many of the old vr-
ginia families have been in greatly reduced cir
cumstances since the and have not had the
means to maintain the old gardens in the
that their ancestors did That In spite Of
these conditions the colonial gardens in the state
known THE Mother OF Presidents" retain
much Of their beauty and fascination is a tribute
to the advantages Of this form Of gardening
There some formal gardens in old vir-
ginia but for the most part the gardens are what
are known informal. OF suggestive Of natures
own arrangement rather than masterpieces Of
the fancy gardeners ingenuity. Only In rare In
stances do We see the box other hedge shrubs
trimmed and fashioned into fantastic shapes 70
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10


horticultural sculpture is lacking the Virginia
gardens embellished by many artistic
touch For instance. the grassy or howerbanked
terraces which can be rendered so effective have
been introduced whenever the character Of the
site seemed TO render it advisable, and foun-
tans. stone garden seats, etc. are to be found
just In the gardens laid out in more precise
fashion The gardens OF the Old Dominion also
disclose wide variety of pergolas. arbors and
summer houses Some of these OF rustic
construction and almost all OF them unpre-
tentious In character compared with the
mental buildings to be found In twentieth
tury gardens where money has flowed like water.
but for quiet repose and the charm of sylvan sol
itude and trysting places for those who desire
to exchange condolences in a sympathetic though
secluded environment 1t is doubtful II there is
in the entire country anything to compare with
these vfne-covered hooks.
Perhaps the ideal time to visit old vir.
ginia garden is in the spring early summer
when the prim box hedges have tips on every
branch. giving them a new coat Of soft green and
imparting the touch Of feathers when the hand
is passed over the soft surface. Rose time is
bound to be fayorte season because roses we're
OF the most cherished charges OF the
old-time gardeners in this favored cline, and
here one may find in all their glory a number
Of beautiful varieties, such as the Nelly Custis.
which will not be encountered elsewhere unless
they have been transplanted from Virginia soil
But In reality 1t is injustice to praise the
season above other intervals in the prolonged
blossom time The chief ambition Of the owner
of colonial garden in the Old Dominion has
been to select and arrange the flowers
that the garden will be continual mass of
bloom from the advent of the magnolia the
SNOWFALL and the lilac in the early spring until
after the passing Of the Virginia creepers. the
jessamines the passion vines and the hardy
chrysanth. NUNS Of the waning
The amount OF care necessary to keep Vir-
ginia garden in proper condition would be likely
to surprise resident Of a more northerly state
not familiar from experience with the rapidity
with which things grow in this favored cline
Even the box hedges-perhaps two hundred
years old-must be trimmed back every year II
they are to be kept less than shoulder high SO
that they will not prevent visitors to the garden
from obtaining general views of the labyrinth of
greenery. The average colonial garden which
has been maintained in anything approaching Its
old-time glory has greenhouse attached In
which plants may Se given a favorable start
early in the spring and later transplanted to the
flower beds Many Of the old gardens also have
in one corner OF the plot . tiny ornamental
building used a seed house and tool house.
whereas in not a few Of these ancient floral do
mains the time-honored sun dial has been made
the central object in the garden and the flower
beds have been arranged around It Z pivot.
At many Of the estates In Virginia. particu-
lafly those which were The homes of men of ma
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10
So familiar.

YES" said Nagget. "a woman usu-
servant treats bric-a-brac."
60 ahead" said the wise Mrs. Nag
get What's the answer%
why. the more he's worth the more
she tries to break him."
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10
THE TRUTH ABOUT sLUlNc.
Talk No. 2.

Talk No. 2.
Avoid liquid bluing. Don't buy
water for bluing. All the water
contained is SO much adulteration.
Glass bottles make an expensive pack
age; add nothing to value to con-
sumer.
Always ask for RED CROSS BAG
BLUE. the blue that's all blue. Makes
the laundress smile out loud. Large
package cents AT ALL GOOD
GROCERS.
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10

q e n q W e r .
screened W 1t b
b o Z a n d I h 9
gravel W a | X 8
were neatly bor-
dered with the
same rich-hued
shrub SO that
the general eff
feet was almost
as pleasing as
that of the po-
sey beds them
selves.
Not the least
OF the factors
that go to make
up the beauty
of a colonial
garden in Vir-
ginia Is found
in the stately
old trees that
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10
He Was Innocent.

Johnny Williams had been bad"
again.
"Ah, me. JOHNNY" sighed his Sun
day school teacher 81 am afraid We
shall never meet in heaven"
What have you been doin'?" asked
Johnny. with a grin.-Harper's Month
w.
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10

taste for any sort OF ornamental gar
dening is eloquently proven by the
fact that colonial garden has been
conspicuous feature at the White
House for number of years past.
Mrs. Roosevelt had this garden laid
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-10
Ver Select.

The landlady was trying to impress
the prospective lodger with an idea OF
how extremely eligible the neighbor-
hood was. Pointing over the way at a
fine mansion, she said In a hushed
whisper:
Young man. over there across the
street there's seven million dollars!"