davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

The hop plant can be grown gen.
orally throughout the United States,
but at present, it's commercial produc-
ton Is practically restricted to areas
situated in the states Of Oregon. Cali
fornia, New York and Washin gton.
They are grown In more or less large
quantities in Wisconsin. Idaho. Mas
sachusetts. Pennsylvania, Michigan,
Vermont, Kentucky and Ohio. Long
and severe winters frequently kill out
many Of the plants, and continued
damp or foggy weather Is Injurious.
In the Yakima valley, Washington,
where rainfall Is not abundant. irri-
cation is necessary. The hop plant
readily adapts itself to very different
conditions Of rainfall. but when the
harvest months-August and Septem-
ber-are accompanied by much rain
fall the crop frequently suffers heavy
damage from lice and mold.
The selection Of the best soil, on
which to grow the hop plant involves
the consideration Of several factors
depending on the peculiarities of the
plant itself and the physical conditions
OF the region in which the land lies.
In general, rich aliuvial lands or deep
sandy or gravel loans are preferred
for hop raising. The soil with a high
percentage Of sand Is readily tillable,
while the cultivation Of a stiff soil IS
difficult and expensive. Owing to
variations In the rainfall, amount Of
sunshine. and force of the prevailing
winds. land suitable for hop culture
in one region would DO entirely I'M
suitab BILE II located in another. Since
the roots Of the hop plant penetrate
the earth for q distance Of many feet,
a well-drained subsoil is essential.
Especial attention must be given to
the depth, fertility. drainage, and fine
n ess Of the soil. Heavy wet soils are
avoided and stiff clayey soils are in
general disfavor.
Hop plants may be raised from the
seeds. but this method is seldom en-
ployed, since by using cuttings strong
plants are more easily and quickly
secured.
In some sections Of the Pacific coast
a crop may be obtained from cuttings
planted In the spring, but in general
a full crop Is not harvested until the
second year.
The best Cuttings are those taken
from young plants, as they are more
resistant to disease and should be
more productive than those from old
plants. All cuttings should be care
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
CORN SMUT
BY K. M. FREEMAN.

corn land from year 70 year also IL
beneficial
Since the smut-masses that are loft
IN corn field may assist in sprea ding
the disease. they should be cut out OF
the corn field during the growing sea-
son. They should. moreover, be cut
out before they have fully opened up
and spread their spores. ana should be
collected ana burned. They should
not be thrown on the manure heap or
refuse pile, thence to be carried back
to the land.
Rotation OF crops Is valuable In pre-
venting corn-smut. The reason for
this is plain. The corn-smut in the
soil will not live many years, and that
which Is in the soil will not damage
any other farm crop. After several
years. corn may again be planted, with
less danger. since the smut in the soil
Will have at least partly died out.
seed treatment has not been found
to be Of any use. The smut does not
get into the seeding plant, as in the
sinking smut of wheat, and hence
seed treatment does not seem neces-
sary.
The sugar corns seem to have more
smut than the field corns, though no
varieties even Of the latter are known
that are free.
Corn-smut is found In almost every
part Of the country where corn is
grown. Some years seem to be worse
than others. due probably to favorable
weather conditions. Although the
loss Is usually not as great as in some
states further south and east, It Is
nevertheless considerable. Most farm
ers consider the loss too small to de-
mand any attention. yet the aggregate
to the state is undoubtedly large. It
should be noticed that the loss Is not
measured by the deformed ears alone.
but also by the loss in vigor and yield
IN plants where other parts suffer from
smut Special care should therefore
be exercised with the sugar corns.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
MOLAssEs GOOD FOR COWS.

More molasses is being fed in the
north than ever before, but most dairy
farmers are not yet satisfied that it IL
profitable.
In an experiment at the Hatch sta
tion, Prof. J. B. Lindsey says: mo
lasses contains about 3 per cent of
protein and 70 per cent Of digestible
sugar.
Compared with corn meal" says
Prof. Lindsey, 1T equals substance
pound for pound In results obtained
in feeding mich cows, but when fed
to horses they do not seem to be quite
equal to the same weight of corn
and oats
1T Is estimated that corn meal at
$1.20 per hundred pounds, molasses
would be worth about 81 per hundred
pounds. Its quoted price in Boston
Is IL cents per gallon by the barrel
and s.6 per gallon in 10 barrel lots.
"A gallon weighs about 13 pounds.
so that at present relative prices the
molasses would be a little cheaper
feed than corn meal.
"A good point with the n1olasses is
that it is agreeable to stock and makes
them always ready to eat such SUBJ
stances as cut corn stubble. malt
sprouts, distillery feeds, ETC.. when
mixed with the molasses.
"A serious objection is that molasses
is not very convenient stuff to handle
and attracts flies In summer.
AS mixture with high grade pro-
tein foods. I suggest one-third distil-
lery grains, one-sixth cotton seed
meal, one-half molasses. or one-third
malt sprouts, one-third gluton-meal
and one-thtrd molasses
For working horses, nine pounds Of
provender and one quart of molasses,
or twelve pounds of provender and
three pints of molasses, or for hard
working horses substitute one-half
pound dry blood or one pound cot
ton seed oil or linseed meal IN place
Of an equal quantity Of provender.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
CACTUS HEDGE.

Both in Arizona and Southern Cali
abundance in the wild state. There
are many varieties OF the cactus fam
lily and they often attain a gigantic
size, especially in Arizona.
In many parts of Southern Cali
fornia the cactus are used In parks
public grounds, plazas, ETC.. for orna-
mental purposes. Some Of the larger
and hat-leaved varieties are fairly
bristlng with long. sharp and cruel
spines. Again. other varieties have
comparatively none. These latter
grow up like hugh column, often
reaching a height Of from 20 to 80
feet. These spongy, vegetable pillars
are quite handsome ornamentation, es-
pecially as they are free from the
piercing thorns.
However. these varieties that are
armed with formidable spines are by
no means useless, for their claws are
put to a practical purpose. In many
places the spinous cactus plants are
used for hedges and they make a
splendid substitute for rails. pickets,
plank or any sort of wire netting.
Especially Is this the case in an
economic sense. for all those wild
southern regions are practically tim
berless.
One OF the most noted cactus hedges
to be seen in all of Southern California
is near the old historic Catholic Mis-
sion Of San Gabriel. Here a large
tract of land near the ancient mission
is enclosed entirely with the thorty
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
BY NJ. e. ALCORN.

which had a very good house and an
old barn. 100 apple trees that had not
been sprayed since the owner died
four years before, and moved out.
She did not know a blessed thing
about farming. but she read the books
and farm papers, and how she could
ask questions! My wife took to her
from the start, and had. of course, to
offer to help her with my superi Or
knowledge. and pretty soon she began
guying me about some things I didn't
know about.
She asked advice from everybody
she could talk to and then generally
used her own judgment. She got a
great deal Of good advice and more
that was bad, but she seemed to know
just what to take and what to leave.
She hired a man the first season
and spent her time watching him
work. He was a pretty good farmer
and she let him alone, contenting her
self with asking questions-more than
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
WHAT A PLUCKY WOMAN FARkaEk CAN Do

he had ever heard in his life. with
her it was always "Why?" The second
year she hired her land plowed and
then, with her two boys, tackled the
job herself. That year she came out
about even, after paying the expenses
Of the family and buying a horse and
light wagon.
This year she will clear up $500 to
500 net profit. She has contracted
to sell 1875 of her best turkeys for $2.25
each ION the hoof" in her yard. Sold
nine shoats for 1924, and got 1855 for
her milk and butter, $109 for straw
berries, 5000 for garden truck and has
$50 bushels of fine potatoes in the
cellar.
Her apples will bring nearly 5000.
She is as happy as lark and has
gained 10 pounds In weight. and every
bachelor in town wants to marry her.
I sometimes wonder why more city
women with brains and energy don't
work away from the awful struggle
for existence and try farming.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

Every farmer Is familiar with corn
ara. tT7as largest masses are some
times over inches in diameter and
are usually found In the ear. Smut
IL also found In the tassel, on the
leaves and stem, and even on the roots
which hold the corn plant to the soil.
The smut mass is blaokish. and Is at
first covered by whitish film. which
soon breaks and lets loose the spore-
powder, which Is blown about by the
wind. In general, there are two ways
by which the spores get back on the
land, ready to infect the next years
crop. First. they may be scattered by
the wind. or the smut-masses may be
left on the field. Second, the smut
dust may get into the fodder and may
pass through the alimentary canals OF
the cattle, without being injured, and
may thus get into the manure pile.
Or again, the smut-masses may be
thrown into the refuse or manure pile.
In either case they may be carried
back to the soil when the latter Is
manured. Now, 1t Is an important
fact that the smut pores not only may
Mve through the winter in the manure
p1le, but they may actually increase
In number by growth when the pile
remains Of proper temperature. Fresh
manure containing smut Is therefore
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

Within certain limits determined by
local conditions, the length Of the
growing period and the time Of ripen-
ing may be influenced by the earliness
or lateness of pruning. The general
practice is to prune early in the spring
the exact time being determined by
the season and the locality.
Except in the hop-growing regions
Of New York. the use Of hop poles has
been largely discontinued In those
regions where there Is scarcity
Of available timber, and even in heav-
lily wooded sections many growers
have dispensed with them. This is
not due to the labor and expense of
handling alone, but experience has
proved that the advantages Of grow
ing hops on strings so far surpass
the growth on poles that 1t Is only
question Of time when poles will be
almost entirely abandoned. The hops
are healthier on strings, moro success
fully sprayed, mature earlier, are
usually richer and brighter. arm out
lower, and are not so leafy; they do
not windwhip 50 readily. can be
picked cleaner, and are much more
easily torn down for picking. Also
the hops can be picked without cut
ting the vine. a practice which Is
harmful since 1t prevents the return
Of materials from the vine to tho root
Of the hop, and, by causing a loss Of
food reserves to the stock, produces a
weakening effect on the succeeding
crop.
In picking. every effort should be
made to reduce to a minimum the
quantity Of leaves, stems, and other
foreign material. The presence Of
leaves in cured hops renders them I'M
slightly and materially reduces their
market value. The opinion Is fire.
quently expressed by the more i'm
portant hop dealers that one Of the
principal points for raising the quality
of the American hop Is clean picking.
Hops must be dried soon after their
removal from the vines, as otherwise
they undergo a process of oxidation
or heating which seriously Injuries
their appearance as we'll as their
aroma and other valuable qualities.
The most important, and at the same
time most difficult, Fart Of hop pro-
duction is proper drying and sulphur
ing. No other factor affects the quail
ity appearance and market value as
much as the manner in which the
hops are handled during the curing
process
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

I know a woman thirty-nve year.
old with three children who is going
to be one Of the best farmers in ou1
neighborhood. Already she Is doing
better than some Of US old-tim ers
although she has been in the business
less than three years.
When her husband died, four years
ago, she had three youngsters on her
hands and learned stenography to sup
port them. She earned $12 week.
and as the expenses Of the big city
were over $40 it didn't take her long
to figure out that her insurance money
would be used up In few years and
she would be stranded.
One morning she got to the office
two hours late, one Of the children
having been taken with croup-very
thoughtless of the child-and found
her lob gone.
When her courage rose, with what
was left Of the money, she bought ten
acres Of rundown land near our place
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
STOCK KILLED BY WILD ANIMALS

After reading this article farmers
raising stock, or trying to. in India.
According to Consul Jose de OIL
wares, serious problem in connection
with the live stock industry in south
ern India consists of large losses In
cattle annually sustained through the
depredations of wild animals and
from snake bites. Statistics recently
completed on this subject would seem
to indicate that such measures as have
been taken for the destruction Of
wild animals and reptiles in the
Madras Presidency have not been so
effective as to materially reduce the
mortality among live stock from such
causes.
In 1911 the number of cattle de-
stroyed by wild animals In this Presi-
dency was 11,242, compared to 1896
in 1910, and 1880 in 1909, while the
number killed by snakes was 1866, as
against 1,745 and 1900, respectively,
during the two preceding years. con-
shutting total loss I'M cattle from the
two causes Of 12,SOs In 1912. COM
pared to 12,711 in 1910, and 1880 in
1909.
The greatest ravages among live
stock by a single factor of the fore
going agencies would appear to have
been made by tigers, whose depreda-
tons in 1911 extended throughout
seven districts, In two Of which alone
Coimbators and Malabar, they are re-
ported to have accomplished the de-
struction of 1927 cattle.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
GROUND GRAIN IDEAL room

Where food is ground before bs1he
fed, we are sure that the animal takes
the food into its body In state which
will admit Of q ready and thorough
digestion and assimilation, while
whole-grain rations often are but
slightly chewed, swallowed and pass
through the animal In that unchanged
form.
This means not only a great waste
Of food, but also that It furnishes very
little nutrition for the upbuilding Of
bone and muscular TISSUE A feed
grinder soon pays for itSelf. especially
in the winter. by avoiding any waste
Of grain and in promoting good health
and rapid development among the live
stock.
Companies using large number o.
horses have found chopped and
ground feeding both better and more
economical. Corn. oats and other
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

An ear of corn reduced to a smut-mass
very likely to increase smut In a corn
field. The smut may live for several
years in a manure pile, but will gradu-
ally die out. For this reason, old
manure Is much better for fertilizer
on q corn field than fresh manure.
In the spring the spores terminate,
producing long chains OF new spores,
which are blown about by the wind
and infect any growing part Of the
corn plant; producing, finally, smut
balls. The spores may live in the soil
or in manure piles for years. This.
CT course, makes seed treatment USE
less; and the only way to control the
smut Is to destroy all smut-balls, when
possible, to prevent them from she'd
ding their spores on the ground or
into the manure, and avoid placing
fresh manure on corn land. Changing
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
ORCHARD NOTES.

The cost Ct the spraying outfit looks
little too big, does It? Well. better
Ike up your mind to rave one be-
'se 1t has been proven n a thousand
',tferent ways it pays to spray and
pays big.
Good. young apple trees come high,
but the poor ones are dearer than
any other kind.
The peach makes a good stock for
some variety of plum. It has a larger
and stronger root system than most
plum varieties
In planting fruit trees for family
use select the varieties that appeal to
the palate Of the home folks, but for
the markets select those varieties that
keep best and are in greatest demand.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
SIMPLIFYING FARM LABOR.

Our experience this year convlnces
me more than ever that farm ma
chinery will have to take the place of
the hired man even more than now
and manufacturers will be wise If they
plan machines that can be operated
by the owners of small farms and
with little help, and build them at a
price that will be within the reach of
men who are now unable to buy ma
chinery. But even with plenty of
machinery we've got to have some sort
Of human help. The machine cannot
do everything, and so 1t gets back to
the question of good wages the selec-
ton Of good men who are trained in
farm work and who can be induced
by fair treatment to stick to the job.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

grains as rations for horses an used
ground, and mixing the ground grain
with moistened, chopped hay hes
proved to be more economical stablo
regimen than feeding whole grain ana
uncut hay and roughage.
Chopped slower and an ground
grain minimize the labor Of n1astica-
ton and assist easy assimilation Of
food nutrients. While It may not be-
always practical on the farm 10 pro-
vide chopped rations for horses, bet
ter results will be achieved By feeding
grain rations, with but little hay at
the noon meal and watering tho ant-
mails before the midday meal. The
use Of a feed-grinder will pay big.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

had the temerity to stop right in front
Of him for adjustment-and adjust
ment there was. Dobbin suddenly be-
came all legs. He climbed into the
car, filling the air with bits of flying
glass. brass and wood; he kicked the
lamps, tore off a tire and shredded the
upholstery; he made junk Of the metal
trimmings, when With final kick Of
defiance he climbed out and permitted
himself to be hitched up. and pro-
ceeded serenely on his way.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
ABOUT HORSES AND MULES.

It takes from three to six months
to break horse decently.
mule at years of age, according
to the present prices. will bring all the
way from $175 to $225, according to
quality. He Is ready for business, and
II we'll taken care Of will be q useful
animal 20 years hence.
horse at :. years of age Is still a
colt; that is, not a mechanical article
on the city markets.
The mule is immune to many dit
eases that the horse is subject to: for
instance, CHAMBERS. farcy and hoof
troubles Of many sorts.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

dirt around the comb, under the
throat and from the legs and feet.
When the bird is thoroughly dry
the legs should be rubbed with little
vaseline, or alcohol and sweet oil, and
just before being placed in a SHOW"
coop the legs and feet should be
gain dressed and the feathers be
W,ll but gently brushed with soft
br ;sh. beginning at the head and going
al the body to tho tail and feet.
i d treated IN this manner will
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

present a wonderfully changed an
pearance, although before washing
you may think it looks we'll enough
to go to any show. The water in the
first and second tub will quickly dis.
close how dirty the bird really WA
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
Air-blast kiln.

should be done In January or Febru-
airy. although in some seasons plant
ing as late as May has yielded good
results. In Oregon and Washington
hops are planted in March or April,
and In New York successful paintings
have been made in April in favorable
seasons. Thorough cultivation is I'M
portant and should begin early and
continue until the plants are we'll
armed out
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

An orchardist in the State Of WASH
inston has devised method Of cleo
trocuting the coddling moth. Electric
lights encased in fine wires alternately
coated with copper and tin are hung
in the trees. The light attracts Il j,
moths which fly against the wires and
the contact sends an electric current
through them.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

A new course Is now being planned
for the coming winter by the Missouri
College Of Agriculture. A short course
for girls, which will comprise term
Of eight weeks, beginning January.
The schedule Of studies will include
sewing. preparation Of foods, hygiene
and sanitation. home care Of the sick
and laundry work.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

General good care goes long way
toward keeping in check all kinds Of
insect and fungous pests. These cause
their greatest damage on neglected
orchards.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

A Michigan fisherman found 912
pearls in one Palmyra river clam.
While many of them were very small
fully 100 were large enough to market
and so we've perfect specimens
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

Investigations Of the Ohio Expert
ment Station indicate that a great
per cent Of catalpa stock distributed
in the past has been spurious, and on
account of the shortage Of seed last
year the practice may be expected to
assume greater proportions and pros
pective planters next spring are
warned to take every measure pos
sible to ascertain the relia bility Of
seed purchased for the next season
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26
OLD DOBBIN RETALIATED.

Old Dobbin, property Of Mrs. jesse
Owen, of Missouri, had his nerves so
rasped by the buzzing and snoring Of
f1ery-eyed automobiles that they
finally gave way completely when one
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

been seriously exhausted by the con.
tinuous growing of grains and other
nitrogen-using crops may DO restored
to fertility by the use Of lssuminous
plants, such as the vetches. clova21
COW peas and soy bean.
The value Of a crop AZ son reseo1o4
depends upon the amount Of available
plant-food which it adds to the coil
and the physical condition In which Il
leaves the land. AS these leguminous
plants can gather from the air only .
certain portion of the nitrogen neces-
sary for their growth. and none Of the
potash or phosphoric acid. applications
Of these latter elements should BE-
made to the soil in order that the BEST
results may be obtained from the
growth Of these crops. a
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

Fruit growers Of tho Pacific Coase
are forming local association for the
handling Of their crop. One OF these
associations recently sold $50 carloads
of apples in one lot to a single drm IN
Kansas City and got better prices tor
them than they had ever received BE-
fore selling in the old-fashioned way.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

We should water and cultivate the
flowers and destroy the weeds In oss
disposition.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-26

In the Island Of Jersey every girl
who marries receives COW as a part
Of her dowry