davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
SELECTING THE DAIRY BULL
Many Farmers Make Mistake in Try.
ing to Buy Cheap Scrub Rather
Than Good Strong Animal.

A great many farmers who buy a
registered dairy bull make the seri.
GUS mistake of trying to buy a cheap
pure-breed scrub rather than a strong
foundation animal on which to build
the future herd. The only thing they
look for is the fact that the bull Is
registered and is offered at a low
price. But If ever a man needs q
first-class animal it is when be Is
starting. Most men start out with
the idea that they can buy such an
animal for $50 to 500. But If one
was offered them for 5000 that had
come through long, careful line OF
wise breeding they would refuse to
consider it. Right here is where they
make their mistake When men start
to look for a bull price is the last
thing to think of. So many farmers
look at this important subject wrong
end foremost. Let them really inye"
tigate the breeding policies of differ
ent men and they will see what a seri
Gus difference there is in the money
value Of one animal over another
Don't let a few dollars come between
you and prosperity.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
Ooen-End Rabbit Trap.

SO the inner ends will pass when
tilted. Hang these doors on piyots
where they cross side of box, ard
have outer ends a little heavier than
inner end so when the rabbit is off the
board will swing back to its horizontal
position again.
Sides must be nailed to edges OF
door inside the box so rabbit VIII have
to pass off at the ends, the inner end
being entirely open SO when rabbit
comes along and sees bait (Which is
hung under center Of door in top Of
boX) 1t also sees straight through box
and thinking it can pass through and
cat of bait, it tips the trap and falls
into box
l have known as high as - to be
caught at one time. Use an apple or
corn for bait and set trap somewhere
in rabbit trail, and it is best to
place the box about six weeks before
using 1t so things viii look familiar.
Use stick fastened to uudcrsGe Of
door in top of box to fasten bait to.
We have splendid results from the use
Of this trap
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
ELECTRICITY AND CROPS

Mr. priestly of Bristol university
has again drawn attention to the re
markable results of the application of
high tension electricity to growing
crops. Not only is a larger yield OBJ
tanned, which is important to the farm
er, but In the case of fruit crops such
as straw berries, the fruit lipens some
days earlier. matter of the utmost
importance to the market gardener.
The present method of electrifeation
Is by means of wires stretched some
distance above the growing crops The
effects may be described as an inten-
sifcatlon of the action OF the thunder
cloud. and might be equally startling
to the needless investigator The
original method of electrifcation
was to water the crops from electric
ally charged cans, and the effect OF
this, says the University Correspon,
dent, was similar to that Of the thun-
der shower.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
AN 8O-MILE PREClPlCE

Capt c. G. Rawing. member OF
the British expedition that recently
explored Dutch Guiana, describes
what may be the greatest unbroken
precipice in the world 1t runs. he
says. for a distance of so miles from
Mount CarstenZ westward to the
Charles Louis mountains. Its great
est sheer height is at Mount Leonard
Darwin. The explorers were never in
position to measure with the theod-
lite a sheer height of this immense
precipice exceeding $500 feet but
from many views obtained of II while
he was climbing Captain Rawling has
no hesitation in stating that the great
est perpendicular height is not less
than 10000 feet, or almost exactly
two miles.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25

cream or change a Holsten into a
Jersey in SO far as the richness of
the milk is concerned. Increasing the
feed of a dairy COW has tendency to
increase the pounds of milk she will
give but the milk is of the richness
Characteristic to that COW. Expert
ments have shown that the natural
richness of u cows milk is inherited,
or is an individual popularity the
same as the color of her hair and
feeding does not change 1t. These
statements apply to COWS under nor
NAL condition of health and reason
able treatment. A fair test of the
milk given by herd of COWS may
vary from 80 to 40 per cent fat This,
of course. will change according to
the period of lactation of the COWS,
the milk of fresh COWS is not usually
so rich as that of strippers. 1t will
pay anyone to feed his COWS so that
they are in good, healthy condition and
produce the maximum amount of milk
which their natural capacity as dairy
animals will permit them to give.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
BURMESE SPELLS

Some curious sidelIghts on the Bur
mans character are contained on a re
port on the work of the Archaeo'og
cal survey In Burnah says the Times
of India. II is stated that the Bur
man highly prizes the following gems
Ruby. diamond or CRYSTAL pear. coral
topaz. sapphire. cafs-eye, amethyst
and emerald. Collectively they ward
off sickness or danger The cats eye
is supposed to secure inyulnerabiity
in war lamentations are muttered
over some or all OF hese stones. and
the water In which they are immersed
Is drunk in order 10 secure immunity
from all evil. Spells are uttered over
rubies, and they are inserted as anu
lets In the flesh Of men who desire to
be immune from wounds inflicted by
sword, spear or gun
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
Victim of Ak Pruning.

between bud and stock had been eff
fected. and the stump of the original
tree was almost completely rotted
away
Investigation by experts, however,
Show that the bearing tree undoubted-
ly represented the original variety as
had previous young tree. the stump
of which is illustrated.
The former young tree evidently
had never borne. and It had been the
victim of a dull AK The owner of the
fruit believed 1t was a seeding. It
was almost as truly an apple form
or oblate as the Japanese Golden rus
set pear The smaller fruits had more
of the pear shape.
Prof. G. b. Reec&ett of the govern.
ment bureau of plant industry finally
pronounced the variety a fine type Of
the Sheldon pear.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
CULTIVATION OF AN ORCHARD
N TO Be Made Profitable Trees Should
Receive as Good Care as Other
Crops-Klil Weeds.

(By L II BAH EY. Cornell Experiment
Station
II orchards are to be made profta-
Bile, they must receive as good care
as other crops.
Good drainage, natural or artificial,
is essential to success. Trees are I'm
patient of wet feet
Well-drained lands are drler In wet
spells and moister in dry spells than
other lands. They can be worked
earlier in spring
Good tillage Increases tie ayaila-
bic food supply Of the soil and also
conseryes It's moisture.
Trees should be made to send their
roots deep into the soil, Ia order to
fortify themselves against drought.
This Is done BY draining he soil and
by blowing the orchard rather deep
This deep blowing should begin the
very year the trees are set. and It
should be continued every spring un.
til tie habit Of the tree is established.
Moisture is retained 10 the upper
soil by very frequent but shallow till.
age, by means OF which the surface Of
the land becomes a mulch for the Sc,
beneath.
Tillage should be begun just as soon
as the ground Is dry enough In spring
This tillage should be repeated es
often as once in ten days throughout
the growing season, which extends
from spring until July or August
Tillage should not exist for the pur
pose Of killing weeds. Weeds have
taught the most important lessons In
agriculture, to be sure. but the school
master should now be able to retire
Late cultivation may be injurious
by inducing q late growth At all
events 1t can be of small utility when
the tree begins to mature and rains
become frequent. This season Of re.
spite gives the grower the opportunity
Of raising a green manure and Of add.
ing fertility to his land at trifing ex.
pense and with no harm 10 his trees
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
SKIM MILK GIVEN TO CALVES
Best Way to Make Use of Ry-Product,
But Not Unless Done in Right
Way-Makes Good Veal.

About the most satisfactory way to
use skinned milk is to feed it to
calves. but not unless 1t is done In
the right way. Sour, cold milk In
dirty pals will not make profitable
growth and is out of the question for
veal calves. Skinned milk will make
first class veal and the calves will
grow nearly as fast, make as heavy
weight and sell for the same price
per pound as II fed on whole milk
But the milk must be fresh from the
separator, and pals must be washed
every day. The calf must be fed reg
ularly and three times per day is
Better than twice per day, as a calfs
stomach Is small, much smaller In
proportion to his size than that Of q
COW. Even the veal calf should be
encouraged to take all the grain that
he will. Cheap flour added to the
milk is quite important in making
growth. The calf will consume more
skinned milk than he would of the
whole milk, but the extra cost is not
very important, since skinned milk
is not reckoned very high In the mar
ket. Raising veal calves by SKINNED
milk requires some care and intelll-
gence. One feed of milk in the wrong
condition will check the calf's growth
and make the buyer find fault or re-
fuse to pay the whole milk calf price.
Raising calves for growth Is anoth-
er matter recurring somewhat less
scrupulous care Most Of the trouble
usually comes from feeding them in
old dirty pals with stale soured milk
In the corners full of germs which
produce scours and intestinal trou-
bles Btu they will grow we'll on
skinned milk fed with reasonable
care. At the Wisconsin station 1t was
concluded that to raise q calf on whole
milk is four times as expensive as
to raise 1t on skinned milk, although
the whole milk calves will grow a lit.
tie faster, but it costs very much more
per pound to get the growth The
skinned milk calves consume about
twice as much grain as the others, but
two pounds of grain would take the
place of one pound Of butter fat in
the whole milk. OF course, a dairy
man cannot afford to feed cream to
his calves when grain will answer
the purpose.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25

$s.1s 40. 2.z.z NOTES

Leaves are fine for lining the stor
age pits.
Prepare land for small fruit piaHta
tion next spring.
10 not neglect % provide ample ven
tilation for the cellar.
Apples keep best in cold cellar;
just above freezing point
Trees injured by freezing very often
need to be severely cut back.
a peach tree will stand q heavier
heading back than an apple tree.
Dc net allow stock to run in the
orchard during the winter months.
Remember that your orchard, esHe.
cially the young trees, need good cult.
walton.
Walnut trees thrive under almost
any condition and do well in many
states.
Keep all rubbish from about yow
fruit plants so that mice cannot har
Dor there
Move all of the trash standing in
the orchard and burn it to destroy
weed seeds.
Trees ~ do their best should be
planted in blocks or groves rather
than in single rows
Ascertain the varieties OF fruits and
vegetables wanted in the markets de
sired 10 be ratronized
If there are any limbs dead or out
Of shape on the young trees nov is a
good time o look after them.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
0NE MILLION DOLLARS FOR
GOOD STOMACH.
This 0iier Should BE a Warning to
Every Man and Woman.

The newspapers and medical Jour
mails recently have had much to say
relative to a famous millionalre's
offer Of million dollars for a new
stomach.
This great multi-millionaire Wa too
busy TO worry about the condition of
his stomach. He allowed his dyspepsia
to run from bad to worse until in the
end it became incurable.
His misfortune serves as a warning
10 others
Every one who suffers with dEspep-
STA for a few years will give every
thing he owns for a new stomach.
Dyspepsia is commonly caused by
an abnormal state of the gastric
juices, or by lack OF tone in the walls
of the stomach. The result is that the
stomach loses its power to digest
food
We are now able TO supply certain
missing elements to help to restore
10 the gastric juices their digestive
power and TO aid in making the
stomach strong and well.
We know that Rexal Dyspepsia
Tablets are a most dependable remedy
for disordered stomachs. Indigestion,
and dyspepsia.
w want you to Try them and will
raturn your money if you are not
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25

ed fire pot for such purpose. any mum
Der of which may be connected up in
a circuit, says Popular Mechanics
Normally the fire pots are covered
but the contact points in each are sc
arranged that wire will fuse and ;r.f
the catch holding the cover dow
when the current is turned on. and ~
the same tine ignite wick which so--
fire TO the fuel The covers. Of cotr-a
are weighted so that they vii fly or7a
when the catch is tripped. In tAi
manner all the fire pots in the orch
ard are instantly ignitel by turning on
the current.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
...AIPY NOTES
IT, -----@-ss.sfsess
[ - " .BNhA IN y tsSss1rsExS

One bit of impurity in the pail may
spoil a whole dairy's milking.
Sunlight and pure air are absolute
ly necessary in the dairy barn.
Dairy farming is one of the most
permanent systems of agriculture.
Just because COW is dry is no
sign that she does not need any feed.
The by-products of the dairy in
crease the earning capacity of the
farm.
The constant demand for good
dairy stock makes it bad policy to
sell the good hefers.
The successful dairyman endeayors
to raise all the feed needed for his
cows on his own farm.
Success lies not in the number of
cows that a man keeps, but rather
the kind of COWS he keeps,
The Per cent of butter fat in
cows milk is not sure index to her
capacity as a buttermaker
The profit of a COW depends upon
the amount that she yields above the
actual cost of feed and care
Shrinking COWS can hardly be
brought up again this season. Do
your best to make them hold M.
The separator should be placed
where the light is good. Working in
a dark place is always a disadvan'
tage.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
CASTLE" ON PUGET SOUND

On the summit OF a high hill back
of Port Townsend, Washington, the
states port of entry, and overlooking
the town, stands u unique building,
much resembling a castle. In the
early days, when there were no neigh
boring residences, the structures
often underwent searching scrutiny
by eyes aboard ship peering through
binoculars or field glass. as It does to
this day when some sharp-visloned
tourist picks II out as something dis
tinct from the ordinary type Of
building. The castle" as the struc-
ture is called by the people of the
town, was built many years ago. in
boom times. by an eccentric English
man, who through bis habits and &c
eentricites was known as a hermit
There are perhaps, few building To-
cations In the United States affording
views as grand as the one where
this freak in architecture stands 1t
stands nearly 300 feet above sea level
Immediately overlooking beautiful
little bay with numerous inlets, and
beyond great stretches OF America 8
ilr-fringed and greatest inland water
way. Puget Sound In the distance
are the green foothills, and beyond
the majestic Olympic range, snow-cap-
ped the year round. and behind which
old Sol sinks from sight amid a
wealth of color month in and out
After the old Englishmans death,
the castle" passed to the United
States, acquired by purchase of land
for use as a military reservation. The
building is of brick. and is substan-
italy built and we'll finished within.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
JEWEL WEIGHS 243 POUNDS

Jewel experts throughout the world
have been thrown into a state of ex-
element by the appearance Of
beryl that weighs 2131 pounds. and is
1S.9 inches high and from 1915
inches to l6.5 inches In width This
is the largest beryl ever found. and Is
reported to have been sold by its
finder for nearly $25 600 The beryl
was picked up by Turk in the state
of Minas Geraes, Brazil. It's color Is
a greenlsh blue. and 1t is absolutely
free from impurities
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
Light Feeding-Rack.

from one place to another. 1t could
be strongly constructed and of any
size desired. The rack and frame are
made separately and when inverted
coop and the stand for a number of
purposes, such as holding tubs, boxes.
and other receptacles. A convenient
size is about four feet long by two
and a half feet deep and the same
width The handle should extend at
least two feet beyond the end of the
rack
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25

USE OF SANITARY MILK PAIL
Much Easier to Produce Pure Milk
by Keeping Dirt Out Than to
Clean Il Afterwards.

Only those farmers who either fail
to profit by the lessons taught in pro
ducing sanitary milk, or who have
never learned such lessons, continue
to milk In the oldfashioned open pail,
into which falls filth from the cows
tanks and which allows the milk to
absorb all the doors that surround 1t
By the use of sanitary milk pals
dirt can be kept out of the milk. and
that is the main thing. 1t is much
easier to produce pure milk by keep
ing the dirt out of it than to attempt
to take it out after it has once
fallen In.
But the sanitary milk pail alone
will not give US clean milk. The COWS
must be thoroughly brushed every
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
PROBLEM FOR OHIO EXPERTS
Pears Grown on Tree Which Came Up
as sprout From Stump Long Dead
Proves Big Puzzle.

In Ohio there are exhibited at the
state fair some pears which were
said to have grown on a tree which
came up as a sprout from the stump
of an old tree long dead and gone.
The vigorous, upright tree which bore
the fruit, was five or six inches In
diameter, and about 16 feet high
1t was difficult to determine wheth-
er 1t sprang from above or below
the point at which the original union
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
pairYIna Appeals to Pride.

No other department of farming
appeals more strongly to the pride of
the farmer than dairying. Dairying
like sheep raising, can only be pushed
to its highest success by men who
love the business and who are will
ing to sacrifice at the start some of
ehe profit in order to build for the fu-
ture
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
RABBIT TRAP HAS OPEN END
Scheme Devised to Capture Pestifer-
Gus Little Animals In Groups of
Two or More.

In response to a query as to how to
make rabbit trap that catches more
than one animal without being reset
a writer in the Kansas City Star gives
the following Instructions:
Make the box 4x4X4 feet and bury
1t in the ground SO the bottom Of the
trapdoors which extend out on either
side will come level with the surface
Of the ground. Make these trapdoora
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25

Sanitary Mix P-' in Two Parts
the top removable II provision for
fastening cheese-coth stralner. The
milking aperture not over six inches
In diameter.
day, and their udders washed and
dried Just before milking. The milk.
ing must be done in absolutely clean
sheds, or in the open, preferably on
grass plot. and the milk removed to
a clean house, where it can be quickly
cooled
One of these things is good enough
In its way but all must be observed
If we desire to produce an article
that is absolutely clean.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
Protect AGAINST Rabbits and Nice.

These animals may be kept from in
iuring the trunks of trees by boxing
or by placing a piece of galvanized
wire screen around the tree trunk and
covering il to a height OF about .
inches. This will also prevent sun
scald, and 1t costs much less than Il
replace the trees after the rabbit.
have injured them, The snow should
be we'll tramped about young apple
trees 10 prevent mice from iniurius
the bark under the snow crust.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25

1t is poor policy to turn COWS out
to rough it as soon as they are
turned dry, for a month or two in
winter or early spring. This is the
time they demand a good and regu-
lar ration. \ COW is not going to do
her best at the pail when calving
time finds her run down in condition,
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
INCREASE RICHNESS OF MILK
1t VIII Pay Farmers to Feed His
Cows So That They Are in
Good, Healthy Condition.

An increase in the richness of
cows feed does not make the milk
richer. If it were possible to change
the test of milk by feeding the cows,
we would then be able to make all
the COWS giving thin milk produce
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
SEA-DRAG0N OF AUSTRALIA

Here IS one Of the wonders OF the
deep sea. the sea-dragon of Australia
1t is so richly ornamented with loose
and Tapping ribbons OF skin that it
reminds one mlAh of the fearsome
creature that has been adopted as the
national emblem Of China.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
PRUNING Annie Trees,

Apple trees improperly pruned max,
good nesting places for woodpeckers
The birds dig out the decayed WOOD
where stubs of branches have rottet
in to the heart and there start house
keeping.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25

No woman is as truthful as her
mirror.
Some people could figure it was fun
to swallow tacks if common folks
hadn't the means to.
understanding a woman would be
easy enough for a man If she ever
wanted him to,
After the kind of paper it is written
on, the next most important thing to
a girl about a love letter is the I'M
ler .cc-i1~
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
FIRE POTS Fer AN ORCHARD
Any Number of Little Stoves May Be
snited by acknowledgements
Frost Damage.

In many fruit belts, especially in
the west, fire pots are utilized as q
means of preventing frost from de
stroying the fruit crops In the illus
traton Is shown an electrically ignit
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-01-25
Farm for Sale---135 Acres
Stock and Tools Included

Situated in the town of Norriigewock, on the
river road and only miles to Madison where there
IS good market for wood and lumber only one
malt mile to good r. r. siding where all kinds of
farm produce Is shipped direct to the big outside
markets direct from the fields Only three miles
20 Norridgewock Village where there are stores
churches a1d X. r. depot One and one-half storv
mousse with ell and wood shed, all painted and in
good repair two barus, one 36x40 and the other
oVxdo' they are connected by a manure she'd one
store house and hog house i6x45, shiugled and
painted. and plenty Of other outbuildings. water
plped to house and barn from never failing spring
ms farm Is especially adapted to potato raising
ana is IN high state of cultivation: 30 acres in
WOOD and quite quantity of lumber Pasture for
or 10 cows. ! am going West and for quick sale
VIII include pr. Of young horses, ] cow l potato
planter. digger | sprayer. riding cultivator
waking cultivator, horse hoe. | Tiger wagon /
rdlng wagon, and express wagon. / grain bnr-
Vester, seed sower. (Massy Harris). l moving
machine, horse rake. hay fork ] land roller 3
blows 3 harrows, grain separator, dirt scraper.
long sled, / set bob seds. two seated punR and
one-halt interest in manure spreader and
IN TACT everything needed to carry on a first-cass
potato farm Here is unusually good opuor-
UNITY Tor some fellow to start in with everything
70 work with. Price if taken now only 5000 co.
win one half down. balance easy terms
LEE A. KETCHUM, Madison Me
10 r. F. d. No. q