davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16

thick coat Of wool they Invariably had
underneath the hair. So I discarded
them to take up the Berkshire, ana
was 50 we'll pleased with them that I
stuck to them until the popularity OF
the Poland-China became SO great
that was induced to try them.
found them q fine hog, with one ex-
ception. While they made a large
hog when matured, they would not
take on fat like the Berkshire while
young and growing rapidly and had
to make the hog first and fatten him
afterwards.
Just here I concluded that I could
make a cross that would give me the
hog I wanted. for while I liked the
early maturing, easyfattening points
in the Berkshire, I wanted larger
hog, 80 I bought pure-bred Berk-
shire boar and crossed with some OF
nv best grade, Poland China sows.
and today I have an ideal hog for
profit, a pig that is always ready for
the market from month old, always
fat rapid grower and one that has
dressed for the past three years that
I have been raising them, all the way
from $50 to $50 pounds at from to
8 months old. and which l think ID
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
GOOD FEED FOR YOUNG LAMBS.

A good fiockmaster holds that for
young lambs wheatbran is most ex-
cellent to begin with and after they
become stronger the bran should be
mixed with corn meal in equal quar-
tiers. He says that oat meal, or oats
when they can eat it, should be added
to balance the ration for oats Is near
~ a balanced food itself. After grow
Ing little they will shell their own
corn. If given to them on the cob.
The lambs that are to be raised on
the farm should not be forced so fast.
They need plenty of food, but the
grain ration should be small and no
corn should be used They should be
given plenty Of exercise and an album
dance Of good pasture If possible.
Corn tends to fatten and will pro-
duce uncertain breeders Of short sea-
son. Wheat bran and oats are proba-
bly, the two safest materials Of food
that can be used. When the grass be-
comes stronger and good in the
spring. grain feeding is not needed
for those lambs that are to remain on
the farm, and only the corn will re-
main as the dry feed ration for the
market lambs.
The grass Is better than any other
nitrogenous food.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
SHARP teeth KILL The Trees
OF FRUIT TREES FROM MICE RABBITS AND

one-inch mesh poultry netting will
protect the trees against rabbit, but not
from mice, but in combination with a
slight mound of soil about the base Of
the tree, mice will rarely prove troub-
lesome.
There is no device superior in ef-
fectiveness against rabbits and ground
hogs as corn stalks and certainly none
cheaper for the farm orchard. A
good plan is to take the bundles Of
stover as they come from the field.
square of the butts and cut off two
foot length Of the lower ends Of the
stalk.
These sections may be fed to the
stock even in manger or In the feed
lot where the blade will be Clearly
and neatly stripped off.
Five or six stalks bound firmly about
the stem Of young tree, with Irvine
or short sections Of wire will consti-
tute protector that will last for sew
eral seasons. The stalks readily yield
as the stem of the tree increases In
size.
In csse wire ties are used for bind
ing on the stalk these must Be re-
moved from about the tree when the
stalks are taken off, or they will drop
down about the collar Of the tree and
become covered with soil and forgot
ten. Trees have been killed by wire-
girdling in this way.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
FIGHTING the B0RER

care in pruning and keeping the trees
in the pink Of condition he keeps the
borers out.
The eggs Of the insect are de-
posted In knots and crevices wherever
the larvae can hatch securely. BY ex-
ercising care in pruning these resorts
for the larvae are made as scarce az
possible. II there are any such crew
ices fill them with grating wax. Where
trees are old and rough, wash them
with kerosene emulsion. =.
The hot water recommended by the
Virginia farmer seems to be a rather
severe treatment, but q story Is told
of a wonder change this treatment
made in some trees. An old woman,
whose home was about to be sold by
the sheriff on a Judgment. was so in
censed that she declared that no one
should have her pet peach orchard
which was in a bad condition of neg
lect and infested with borers.
She boiled large pot Of wood ash
I've and poured 1t boiling hot around
each tree to kill 1T. The effect was
wonderful for the borers were destroy
ed. and the trees took on new vtgor
and were better than ever.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16

The question Of which breed OF
hogs to raise In order to obtain the
biggest profit, has proven a very serf-
Gus one with many farmers. Some
people say, raise the breed you like
best. and you will be successful" but
that 10 not always the case. The fol-
lowing experience Of Maryland man
may help other swine breeders.
From an experience Of over thirty
years in hog raising during which time
I have tried almost all Of the popular
breeds have settled upon the Berk-
shires and their crosses as the most
profitable hog for me. Thirty-ons
years ago broke away from the ra-
zor-back. and invested in a pair Of
pure-bred Essex pigs but soon found
that they were too small for profit.
I then tried the Chester Whites, but
I found that in our climate generally
succeeded In raising a larger crop OF
mango than did Of hogs and when I
did raise hog from them 1t was all
fat and had to be made into lard.
Next I tried Jersey Reds and
found them a very coarse hog and
very hard to clean on account Of the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16

Mice rarely injure trees except
where grass. strawy manure, boards
or trash of some kind about the base
Of the tree provide a hiding place
as they prefer to perform their depre.
dations under cover. In moundins
fruit trees, first clear away the grass
trash or mulch from the base of the
tree for foot or more In all direc-
tons. .. .
With the foot, or better with post
tamper. thoroughly Arm the soil about
the base Of the tree. This breaks down
and fills any runs or burrows that may
be Just below the surface.
With two shovelsful Of fresh soil
or cinders make a small mound, II or
IA inches in diameter at the base and
from four to six inches high about the
stem Of the tree f1rming the soil we'll.
The tops Of these small mounds are
usually kept quite bare by the sweep
ing force Of the winter winds, even II
there be several inches Of snow on the
ground. Mice Will not venture out In
these exposures to feed on tho bark
of the trees and burrowing into the
freshly packed soil Is not likely to be
attempted in the winter even in open
weather. H.
The mounds may be left Throughout
the year but they should be tamped
hard and repaired each autumn. Gin
ders are most excellent material for
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
$4,000 OFFERED FOR BEET
""..1 TOPPER. ss.
BY ". Il. McAtee.

A Joint circular issued by the beet
sugar manufacturers offers $4,000
reward TO the man who will invent
a machine that will dig and take the
tops off sugar beets and then separate
the tops from the beets This fact 10
cited to show that agriculture is pro-
crossing at rate that makes 1t a
task for the inventors to. keep up with
It. and therefore there is a big field
open to brainy men to engage IN this
Kind Of work.
Millions of dollars are behind the
offer Of the beet sugar men. Already
there has been invented an implement
to dig the beets, but the topping had
to be done by hand, even in Holland,
where the industry started. 1t Is a
slow and tedious process. A man Is
obliged to travel along row OF beets
thrown out by the machine digger,
and with huge knife decapitate the
beet at q single stroke. The power
behind the offer is willing to allow
three years in which to perfect such
a machine.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
VALUE OF WILD Celery AS DUCK FOOD

wild celery n = wholly submSf
plant with long. flexible. ribbon like
leaves Of Hight translucent 6fssn ah1
of practically the same width larry
where from ons-fourth to three
fourths Of an inch, from root % tip,
This plant may be distinGuished from
the eelgrass, which lives IN bfAckipti
or salt water, by the fact that III
leaves grow in bundles from the root
stock, while those Of eeitraSt arise
singly and alternate on opposite SddsS
Of the stem.
The flowers Of Wild celery are pscu.
liar. The staminats MOWERS attached
at the base Of the plants shed pollen,
which floats on the surface Of the W.
ter and fertiliaes the pistillats flower.
The latter is attached to 1 long Sion
der round stem which contrasts In
to spiral, drawing the Hover under
the water after fertilization. The Sod
pod into which the pollsnisod HOVER.
develops is straight or curved. : little
slenderer than q common lead pencil
and from to s inches long. Il c6ta.
tains embedded In clear jelly, sniar
dark Seeds, in number shout 80 e
the inch No such pod ID borne 81
any other fresh water plant.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16

have found 1t more profitable and
preferable to raise my cows rather
than buy them. A few years ago while
living in Pennsylvania, I had some
experience along both lines. In two
instances, circumstances necessitated
my buying cows to replen1sh a dairy
herd. In all bought nine cows, and
at the time thought was buying very
carefully. ALI. g..
Out Of the nine, only two proved to
be any wise desirable. the remainder
being from ordinary to poor, and not
profitable enough to keep in the herd,
the most Of them being disposed Of
at dicount from the purchase price.
In the meantime had growing up six
heifers from the best cows in large
dairy herd Of grade Jerseys. and out
Of Thoroughbred Jersey bull. These
were bred to another registered Jersey
bull of good individual merit and ap-
provd pedigree. and their most prom
sing heifers raised to cowhood. What
was the result?
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
FRED COOK BOOKS.

Some Of the best free cook books in
the world and some Of the best little
documents on foods. their nutrltive
! only few cents from the U. S. Gov
eminent.
The free books are TO be obtained
by addressing the agricultural depart
ment, farmers bulletin section, men,
tioning the number Of the bulletin
you want.
One Of the latest, most helpful, and
most quoted Of these bulletins-a
famous cook has taken four pages
Of matter from it, here and there. and
has used It as his own as an in
PRODUCTION Of lot Of meat recipes
IS farmers bulletin No. 391 on Econ
omical Use Of Meat in the Home"
This contains a good many valuable
recipes and general matter. conclus-
ions from many scientific experim ents
on meat.
Then there is farmers bulletin No.
25e-"Preparation Of Vegetables for
the Table" by Maria Parloa. This is
nearly all recipes.
Farmers bulletin No. 12s-"Eggs
and Their Uses" by c. f. Langworthy
is one Of the bulletins that every
girl IN a cooking school usually must
possess. It tells the place Of eggs in
the diet. their digestibility and their
composition. and Of their preserva-
ton.
Farmers' bulletins Nos. 2o3 and $50
are on the subject Of canning. The
first OF fruits, the second Of vege-
tables. In the latter in particular we
have the science Of sterilization. how
to close and open cans, etc.
Farmers bulletin No. 375-"Care Of
Food in the Home"-is most valuable
This tells OF hot and cold weather
storing, about the necessity Of caution
in tho use Of raw foods, sanitation
In reference to special foods, dish
washing, etc. ..,
Farmers bulletin No. 131 Is House
hold Tests for the Detection Of Bad
Butter"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
BY r. H. BALIOU.

this purpose as mice will not burrow
through them.
The wire screen is an ideal and
complete all round protector and Is
given first place among the mechan-
ical forms. Being light and open II
prevents the least obstruction to the
strong Winds the air and sunshine ara
freely admitted and no dark places of
concealment such as invite the woody
aphis and other forms Of insect life
are afforded.
Use galvanized wire cloth of Y -inch
mesh The 24-inch width being the
most convenient for apple trees. Cut
into 12-inch sections they should be
carefully bent or rolled over a small
round piece Of wood. allowing the
edges to lap about one inch. The cyl
inders are then placed about the
trees where their own tension will
close them securely. L..
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
BUYING VERSUS RAISING YOUR DAIRY cows

came to the question Of selling there
were plenty Of buyers who were will
ing to pay good prices. The herd was
fine one, commanding the admira-
ton of all who saw them and. consid-
ering their performance and selling
value, cost me much less than those I
had purchased.
Quality in a cow Is not usually acct
dental, but is produced by care in
selection. feeding and general manage
ment. Uniformly certain results be-
ing obtained by this plan, 1t looks as
II It were more profitable, as we'll as
Preferable, to raise your cows.
II one is going to raise tho heifer
calves haphazard, he may just as we'll
60 to the market and buy sight un-
seen. But the man who rem en-
bers and appreciates ancestry, feed,
training and development. may reas-
onably anticipate a satisfactory pro-
geny from a good capable cow and a
thoroughbred sire Of the breed you
want
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16

the most profitable ere 70 MN them.
do not care 10 winter any Pin ever
50 sell all the fail filters anA have
my spring pigs como shout ne larst
Of April. All OF my sows Are then IN
pens and as soon ~ the pigs bGG1a to
run about ] raise the Doors Atsh
enough to let them IN and out % the
lot, where teach them "a eat mix.
ture of skimmilk and mill feed TIL
they are six weeks old when shut
them In the pens and turn out the
sows. They are kept In pens till thsy
are butchered, their fssd cenglneiAs
almost entirely Of the slkimna1ik ana
mill feed until I can cut my earliest
planted sugar corn. whioh I plsnt
every two weeks from May fst 20 July
18th, to be fed to them, stalk and alt.
This give them once = day eli they
will eat in ADDITION to their etAee fssd
until late in October. whsa put them
on feed Of new whole corn toS aAebS
two or three weeks to harden Then.
I also give thsm q intervals durtnt
the summer I'll the ehaycoal and wood
ashes they Will sat ana once - ty1ee
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
BREAD WITHOUT FLOUR

In France bread il being iiAadt
without flour in a machine that tTdfiE
forms the wheat directly into dough-
The wheat is prepared by I thofou1h
washing, after which operation about
a pint of tepid water to . pound "
grain is added, the whole miIturs BE-
ing allowed to stand some I'll h6ufS
when the grains, Of whsat havs
swollen to twice their usual sfSs. TIC
mixture is then treated with ysSSs ana
salt and poured into The machine
where simultan eousiy the Snvelop
and the body Of the grain IL crushed.
making homogeneous mixturs fofni-
ing smooth paste.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16

The borer Is ono Of the most seri-
pus nests orchardists have to contend
with. We have both tho round-head-
ed borer in which case the worm or
larva is in the wood during parts OF
three seasons and the fat-headed
borer which lives In the trunk Of the
tree only one season. J.
The injury done by both Is in cut
ting into the bark and sap wood OF
the tree, sometimes, especially In the
case of young trees, almost entirely
girdling them, thus running tho trees.
The methods Of lighting both round
and nat headed borers are much the
same. Two or three methods are
available for making the control OF
borers more easy. In case Of older
trees. probably the most important
method Is by mounding. that is heap
Ing up a little mound Of earth around
the base Of the tree. This forces the
Insect to deposit its egg higher on the
tree so that the worm will be located
higher. It IL much easier to level
this mound Of earth down around the
tree: to ind the borer than to have to
dig away the soil when 1t II left level:
However, mounding may not be prac-
ticable in very stony land. In case OF
younger trees. the best method Is to
wrap them with a wood veneer wrap
per: And mound very small amount
Of earth around these wrappers. This
makes 1t very dfiicult for the parent OF
the borer to get It's eggs deposited in
the trunk Of the tree. In sections
where the borers are rather numer-
GUS. while this practice OF wrapping
should be followed, 1t should not be
wholly depended upon but the exam
lining for the borers should also be
done. If the wooden wrappers are
used it may be necessary to spray in
side Of them with kerosene emulsion
or lime-sulphur for the woody aphis
are apt to accumulate there.
A Pennsylvania fruit grower says
regarding borers: II have had no
trouble at all with borers in my trees.
My means of prevention are two.
First, I Keep the ground about the
trees thoroughly clean. loose and free
from all weeds and grass. I do not
believe borers will cause much dam
age when this precaution Is taken.
Second. In spring and again In the
fall the trees are whitewashed with /
ordinary lime wash containing cauS-
tic potash. crude carbolic acid and
Paris green This wash effectually |
heads OF all borers. If eggs have been
lid the Paris green is sure to kill the |
young borers.
In the case Of borers as in other In |
sects prevention Is always better than !
q cure. Berers lay two broods year |
and the trees should be examined |
n May and again In the fall, and If
any gum is seen at once cut in with |
4 pruning knife and get the larva.
A Virginia orchardist uses hot wa
Ter as cure for borers. Twice each
.f.n,ner he digs the earth away from
round the stem and pours half gall
len Of boiling water into the hole.
A Texas farmer says that by special
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
DO NOT HAVE POOR LIGHTS.

Poor lights are often caused by the
condition Of lamps and wicks. The
lamp should be filled and the charred
portion Of the wick removed each time
before lighting.
New wicks should be put in every
month. Used wicks should be dried
before the fire every two weeks and
put back into the oil while still warm.
The wick is the vital part Of the lamp.
Do not try to economic by using
clogged wicks. Wicks are cheaper
than oil or eyesight.
The secret of a good light Is good
oil, a clean chimney, and a dry. we'll
trimmed wick. Chimneys may be
easily cleaned by blowing the breath
into the chimney and wiping out with
a newspaper or a dry cloth free from
grease. .....
II these directions are followed
there will be less trouble from poor
lights. B. Lockhart,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16

horse or steer; It Is doubly bad for
sheep. The sheep sheds should be on
a high, we'll drained site-indeed.
sheep should he allowed ito run over
no low, wet land. no matter how at
ira the heritage thereon may be.
Except that the ram should have a
little grain now and then. to maintain
his virility, and the ewes little at
lambing-time the flock will require
only pasturage for the greater part OF
the year, with clover hay or like
roughage for winter feeding. The
farmer with only himself and a child
or two to carry the burden Of caring
for animals will often find the keep
ing Of sheep more advantageous than
the keeping Of cattle.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
SUCCESSFUL FARMING CON.
TAGEOIJS.

There is one thing about farming.
which is not true Of Some other In.
dustries, and that is that each farmer
is really benefited by the success 81 Ills
neighbors. In progressive neighbor-
hood, where good stock IL kept and
where farming Is generally profitable,
roads and schools are better. the price
of farm land is higher; and. owing to
the fact that great quantity Of farm
products is offered for sale. markets
are better; so boost your neighbour
and by SO doing help yourself.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
Borers in Young Trees.
COMMON SENSE IN THE POULTRY
YARD.

It Is a mistake to keep late Matched
pullets of the large varieties for win
ter layers. These are always the late
moulters. A hen changes her coat at
the same time each year.
II convenient separate the fowls
into several punches. They will lay
more eggs than If crowded together
in one house. For instance II hum
dred hens are kept, divide into four
or Ave focks and have separate
house or apartment for each flock. -
Don't forget to store plenty Of cab
bage for the hens. They take the
place of grass better than anything
else with the exception Of green rye.
In case the cabbage crop Is a failure
then by all means sow a patch of rye
in the fall. w.,
Save all the turnips. rutabegas,
pumpkins, ETC.. that can be conven-
iently stored for winter poultry food.
They may be fed either cooked or
raw. Cooked vegetables. Of course
should be mashed and thickened with
ground grain. Always remove the
seed from pun pkins.-A. Gallagher.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
CONSOLIDATING THE SCHOOLS.

One Of the problems that should re-
ceive the attention Of every rural
community this winter is the matter
of rural school consolidation. While II
is not practical for every community
to consolidate at this time, the advan-
tages and possibilities OF consolidation
should be known and considered by
everyone. Consolidation is one Of the
great modern movements that will
tend to interest boys and girls in
country life, increase the value OF
farm property. and better the con-
ditions Of life In the country.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
BEES ON THE DRY" FARM.

Bees will live and perhaps increase
a little in dry-land country. but
would be of no use to their Keepers
unless pastures were provided for
them, White sweet clover to the ex-
tent Of half an acre to the colony
would be almost a guarantee Of sue
cess There are things such as white
clover, alfalfa, buckwheat, alsike,
clover, all kinds Of fruit trees-any
Of the above that will grow would be
good, but the sweet clover will groF
and prosper in any soil or any climate
wet or dry. cold or hot.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16

Don't forget to have the windows
In the kitchen easily adjustable. A
goodly supply Of fresh air Is necessary
to the comfort and efficiency OF the
persons working In the laboratory
so closely connected with the welfare
Of the home.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
BY Il. Morse.

Almost without exception the cows
thus raised were extra good ones, CIV
ing milk testing high in butter fat. the
average herd producing a pound OF
butter from much less than twenty
pounds of milk, while such cows as
had been obliged to buy would not
make the same amount from less than
twenty-five pounds Of milk.
Another result was that when 1t
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
RAISE MORE SHEEP

Fifteen or twenty ewes. and ram,
will constitute about the right-sized
flock with which to begin. They must
have abundant shelter from rain and
snow: but it need not be in warm
barn. Wet, whether from above or
under-foot, is to be scrupulously
guarded against by the sheep-owner.
Exposure In a cold rain Is bad for q
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16
\ EASILY MADE HANGER.

The poles are ~ to 9 feet long and
3 inches in diameter Bore Y Inch
hole through the large end of each
pole and V inch bolt will hold the
three together naking q tripod. Bore
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-16

The man In the moon should be
mighty glad that he II not responsible
for ell the crop failures that ars laid
upon his habitation.