davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

Recent developments In dairying
have caused a large demand for dairy
house which will fulfill sanitary re-
quirements and at the same time be
practical and inexpensive. For those
who are striving to improve the quail
ity of their products, such a building
Is an absolute necessity. Milk which
Is poured or strained in the barn, or
allowed to stand there, is apt to be
contaminated by germs and to absorb
stable odors. The best practice Is to
remove the milk to the dairy house as
soon as each cow is MIXED. Milk
should be cooled Immediately, so the
dairy house should be provided with
proper facilities for this purpose.
While the dairy house should be
conveniently located so that the milk
ers do not have long walk from the
barn, it must be so placed that it Is
free from communicating surround
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22
HOME PR0DUC TON Of ONION SETS
THE RAISING OF ONION SETS rs NOW RECEIVING
MORE GENERAL ATTENTION THAN FORMERLY
BY w. n. Beatie
BY w. II. Beattie.

The term "set," as applied to the
onion, indicates small, understood
bulb which, when replanted in the
ground, will produce a large onion.
This method Of producing onions Is
perhaps the oldest and now the most
universally employed for the growing
of small areas Of onions in the garden
and where an early crop is desired
The common method of producing sets
is to plant large quantity Of seed on
small area of rather rich land and
thus procure a great number of bulbs
that are understood, owing to crowd
ing and lack Of plant food. The
greater number of these bulbs do not
attain sufficient size or maturity to
produce seed the following season and
are really plants in which the process
of growth has been arrested.
In the United States the onion-set
industry is largely confined to a few
areas. The crop is extensively grown
near Louisville, Ky, Chillicothe, Ohio,
and Chicago, ILL.,, in the Platte River
Valley Of Nebraska, In southwestern
New Jersey and in southern California.
The entire area devoted to this enter
prise in these localities is estimated at
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

good results Of breeding should not be
expected from younger birds.
Under favorable conditions they live
to an extremely old age, frequently
ranging from so to rs years, and in
stances are recorded where they have
exceeded 100 years of age. Good
geese may be profitably kept for
breeding purposes until rs years Of
age, but ganders should not be kept
past s years. They should then be
replaced by younger birds. ..
Two common breeds of geese, the
Embden and Toulouse, are descended
from the Graylag goose of Europe.
and the brown and white China geese
are thought to have descended from
the wild goose Of Asia.
A great Improvement in weight has
been accomplished during domestica-
ton, the wild geese of Europe weigh
ing usually about 10 pounds. while the
weight Of IS pounds has been attained
by domestic geese.
The wild Canada goose is easily do
mesticated and the ganders mate
with domestic geese. The crosses thus
obtained are known as mongrels and
are sterile. They are very highly
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22
IN THE SHEEP FOLD.

One sign of an overfed sheen is ~ q
frequent stretching and spreading ont
of the legs. When these symptoms are
observed give a bran mash and an
ounce of linseed oil.
1t Is mistake to send the buck
lambs to market as they are never de-
sirable and bring down the average of
the shipment.
When buck lamb is about three
months old 1t begins to develop coarse
ness and disposition to fight.
farmer from Maitland, Mo-.
writes: will dipping sheep affect the
quality of the wool?" Perhaps not if
the sheep is not clipped for two or
three months afterward, but why dip
when the wool is long? This should
always be done iaznediately after
shearing.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22
feeding P0uL TRY FOR EGG PRODUCTION

BY J. S. jeffrey.

must be of the right kind and of suit
able age. Comfortabl BILE houses must be
provided to protect the stock from the
wet and wind. .'
Proper food must be supplied in
some way that is suited to the needs
of the hens, and which does not call
for too much labor on the part OF the
poultryman in it's preparation and
feeding.
All of these are important and nee
essary if the best results are to be OBJ
tanned, but they will not bring success
unless the houses are kept clean and
free from mites. ...... -.-.
1t has been demonstrated that fowls
do better where they have part of
their ration Of grains, either whole or
cracked. and part of 1t of ground
products or what is commonly called
a mash. Until within the last few
years, it has been the custom to feed
this mash wet. This necessitated the
mixing of the mash fresh for each
feeding and required great deal OF
extra work in mixing and feeding. On
this account the farmer has never
taken to the feeding of mash. With
the introduction Of the feeding of this
part Of the ration dry, from hoppers
or feed boxes, the objection to it has
been largely done away with. and 1t
can now be fed with less labor than
can grain. Enough mash can be mixed
and put in the feed boxes to last for
week or ten days with no more work
than was necessary for the feeding OF
the days ration under the old method.
Not only is there this great saving in
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

labor, but 1t has been shown that hens
return a greater profit on the dry
mash-hopper feeding system than on
the wet mash, without taking into &C
count the labor in either case.
A homemade box for feeding dry
mash serves the purpose very well.
1t may be improved by putting the
Stats on the inside of the front and
having wire screen to cover the front
at night to keep out rats.
good style of galvanized feed box
is covered by a grating of expanded
metal The hens get their food
through this grating and are thus pre-
vented from pulling part Of the mash
out Of the hopper in their search for
the ingredients they like best. By
hooking the lower end Of the grating
up at night. the hopper is made rat
proof
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22
WHY NOT GROW GOOD SWEET
CORN?

Most people buy any kind of sweet
corn seed that comes handy, put it
into the ground indifferently, hoe 1t
occasionally and "let it go at that
The result of this sort of planting
and cultivation is naturally not the
| best. There are many varieties Of
sweet corn seed to select from and the
best for ones own garden can only be
told by observing the results of other
gardens. - ..
There is great strife among seed
dealers to produce the earliest varie-
ties but this development is resulting
in great deal of seed that Is subject
to smut.
There are some varieties which will
produce ripe corn in f1fty-f1ve days.
but, as a rule, two months Is as early
as one should expect good corn from
the time of planting.
Next to the seed, the preparation of
the ground is of the greatest impor-
lance. The ground should be powed
deeply and should have had a coat of
well-rotted manure the previous fall
1t will not do to simply smooth over
the top of the soil. 1t should be thor
oughly pulverized to the depth of five
or six inches. To do this requires
great deal of spading and raking.
When the soil is in the condition of
the finest portion of your garden, then
plant your seed in rows thirty inches
apart, one seed in a place. and cover
lightly.
Then it Is necessary to keep the
surface of the soil very fine all
through the growing season in order
to keep the moisture from evaporat-
ing.
Do hot wait until the weeds grow
higher than the corn before taking
them up. Use the rake as soon as
they make their first appearance, and
then keep after them wit the rake
and hoe and hands until the corn ma
lures.
If this practice is carefully followed
one may be agreeably surprised in the
Improvement of his crop, even from
seed that has hitherto proven disap-
pointing.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

! priced in the market and bring larger
prices than any other geese. The
rearing of the wild Canada goose OF
| it's crosses is accomplished with con-
siderable difficulty, and can only be
accomplished after some experience.
In breeding mongrels. one wild
gander should be mated with a single
African or Toulouse goose. The gan
der should be or years old. Mon
grels are best fattened during cool
weather in late autumn.
Experienced geese raisers realize
from 50 to 81 per year from each
breeding goose. 1t will be seen from
these figures that geese may be even
more productive than sheep. Green
pasturage is absolutely essential to
successful geese raising. Where avail
able space for free pasturage is not to
be had the birds must be fed on cut
green vegetable food of various sorts.
The presence of running water is also
considered necessary by many breed
ers, and plenty Of clean drinking water
is essential under all conditions
White geese are most desirable for
market the meat of such birds being
winter and making a better appear
ance.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22
WORK IN THE GARDEN.

If other remedies fail, spray the
cucumber vines with arsenate OF lead.
1t destroys the yellow striped beetle,
which is the most dangerous enemy Of
the cucumber and requires the most
vigilant watching.
Arsenate Of lead will not destroy
the black squash bug and other suck
ing insects. They must be picked OF
by hand and squashed,
The best garden seed are not always
found in the packages on which are
found the prettiest pictures
Coal ashes contain no fertilizinR
value and our experience is that they
only serve to pack the soil instead Of
making it friable. Wood ashes are
different
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

NOtnlng can De SalO IN praise OIL liz
rose that has not been said before
Universally recognized as the mos
beautiful flower. it is the one child OF
Flora around which a wealth of sent1.
ment history and poetry clusters. The
maidens of ancient Greece and Rome
adorned themselves with chaplets and
garlands Of roses as does the maiden
of today and then as now the rose was
regarded as the emblem of beauty and
true worth, fit to crown queen. No
wonder, then, that it Is SO highly es-
teemed that even the orchid, SO often
regarded as it's rival. will never super
sede 1t in popular estimation.
OF late the beauty of the rose has
been so widely appreciated that the
popularity 1t now enjoys and the de-
mand for hardy garden roses are an
nually increasing. No garden is COM
plete without roses and every family
ought to grow them In abundance, for
never have roses been so cheap and
beautiful as now. Moreover the culti-
walton Of the flower is so simple that
no excuse can be offered for Its neglect
The first requisite for success in rose
growing is the selection of good
healthy plants. Weak sickly roses
are dear at any price. Many Of these
plants lack vigor because they are
stunted by remaining too long in the
cutting-bed or in small pots. before
they are set out. In order to obtain
the best results. therefore, it is advis-
able to restrict ones patronage to first
class nurserymen only, firms that are
prepared to furnish strong, we'll
rooted plants, such as will make
showing the first season and develop
into vigorous specimens.
In selecting roses for the garden, it
is we'll to know that these plants are
grown in two ways, that is to say on
their own roots or budded low on the
Manetti, brier-rose that has largely
the Dog-rose and other
stocks in this country.
Experts are divided on the question
as to which should receive the prefer
ence, and the beginner is liable to be
in quandary because growers are apt
to argue for their own method Of
But Of late years many
eminent rosarians have pronounced
themselves in favor Of budded plants.
A prominent Arm of rose-growers at
N. Y, that Is known the
world over for the excellence Of Its
roses, concretely expressed this cou-
viction as follows:
We find many varieties OF roees
grown on this stock (Manetti) ada pit
to a greater range Of Gu
mate and soil, bloom more profusely,
endure better the heat Of the summer
and make far stronger plants than if
grown from their own roots. Many
object to budded roses on account of
the suckers they sometimes throw out;
but II proper attention Is paid to the
planting, this will rarely be an annoy
ance. Budded roses should be planted
deep, SO that the junction
Of the bud with the stock is from two
to three inches below the surface Of
the earth. If despite this precaution,
a wild shoot should happen to start
from the base, the growth and foliage
Of the stock are so distinct that it is
readily recognized by the most mex
perienced amateur and is easily re-
moved.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22
NOTES OF THE HOG LOT.

After all that may be said in favor
OF other pastures, clover stands at the
head when it comes to the right thing
for pigs.
A great many farmers do not realize
that grass supplies feed entirely diff
ferent from corn and that it is bad
practice to- change entirely and sud-
denly from one to the other.
When the pigs are taken out OF the
pasture this fall they should not be
turned suddenly into the corn fields or
fed all the new corn they can eat.
Make the change gradually.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

from $500 to 5000 acres, The yield
T. the acre varies with the locality,
will average about 500 bushels.
6 market for onion sets is found
throughout the entire country, the
sH'ail quantities,
The climatic conditions governing
tie production Of onion sets are prac-
TIA ~ the same as those for standard
oniors although it is not necessary to
Fart quite so early in the spring
S't"n sets can undoubtedly be grown
ny Nart of the Northern States
suitable soil conditions can be
red The soil adapted to onion
culture is. as rule. about the
(; ne as that required for the growing
~ large onions, except that the land
saoulG not be so rich.
IN the Louisville district the soil is
!; lay loan. containing plenty of lime.
This soil, by the use of fertilizer, will
yield $50 to $50 bushels of mature
onions and will produce an equal
quantity Of sets, but the fertilizer re-
cu'rements for the latter are not so
great. This land is underlain at
depth varying from Is inches to 10 or
II feet by limestone. and is a natural
bluegrass soil, retentive of moisture.
and comparatively free from weeds.
In the vicinity of Chillicothe. Ohio.
the soil is a river-bottom loan. being
principally the washings from the hills.
ihls sol! contains occasional small
beds of gravel, but owing to it's silly
nature it is retentive of moisture and
easily cultivated.
IN the Chicago area we find a vari-
atlon IN SOIL texture. In the vicinity
OF south Chicago. the area devoted to
onlon-set growing was formerly
sewage disposal farm and is laid off
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

tenn, the supply may be piped from IN
elevated tank fed by a hydraulic ram.
engine windmill or hand pump.
For the proper sterilization OF uten-
slls an abundance Of steam or hot
water is needed. A pail or can may
be clean to the eye and yet may carry
numberless germs which will hasten
the souring of the milk, cause bad
flavor in butter or cheese, or spread
contagion. After utensils are washed
clean they should be either scalded
with boiling water or steamed.
The dairy house should be 50 built
that labor is economical to the great
est extent. To do this the building
must be arranged so that unnecessary
steps will be avoided.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

} IN regular level beds. This soil ia If ,
sandy, loamy nature and is very sim
liar to the river bottom lands at Chill
. licothe. Northwest of Chicago thu
SOIL is more gravelly loan, although
IN some places it is Of a river-bottor
!; or silly nature.
In southwestern New Jersey the sol
is sandy loan, not unlike the Nor
IolK sandy loan, although it contains
more or less gravel, and in places the
clay approaches the surface.
1t Will be seen that onion-sets can
De grown on any land that is adapted
10 general truck crops, the main es-
sentlal being freedom from weeds and
a reasonably high state Of tillage.
IN preparing the land for growing
on1on-sets large quantities of barn
yard manure should not be applied
Immediately before planting. If barn
yard manure Is to be employed. It
should be used the previous season on
some other crop, in order that it may
become fully incorporated with the
SOIL and In a measure subdued.
Commercial fertilizers NAV he used
proftably in moderate quantities-sOO
to 1000 pounds to the acre-and
should be broadcasted at tn, time of
hitting the land. The fertilizer should
contain about or per cent of nitro
gen, or per cent Of available phos-
porto acid, and or 10 per cent potash
AS the essential feature of growing
on1on-sets is the crowding together ~
the plants in the rows, a large ouan-
tity Of seed is required to plant an
acre. The quantity of seed REQUIRED
ho
the vicinity of Louisville, KY, from IS
to so pounds to the acre are sown:
Chillicothe, Ohio. 40 to SO pounds;
Chicago. 65 to 100 pounds; while In
New Jersey as low as rs pounds to the
acre are used.
Seed Of almost any variety Of onion
may be used for the production Of
sets, but a greater demand exists for
the distinctly yellow, white and red |
colors. In the trade the sets are recog-
nized by their color rather than by |
actual varietal names. The demand |
for the yellow and white sets is greater
than for the red. and those Of the
globular type are generally preferred. |
There is nothing difficult in the pro-
auction of either onion sets or seed,
and one or both may be undertaken as
A side issue with other lines Of farm |
ing, The work Of caring for the |
crops may be done largely by women |
and children where it is desira BILE to |!
provide work. Of this nature for them. |
No large profit can be obtained from
he production of either onion seed or |
sets, and the greater profits are
obtainab BILE from comparatively small
paintings. On a considerable por-
ion Of the land devoted to oinon-
set raising the yield is less than
three hundred bushels to the acre.
Allowing for the cost of seed, fertil- !!
zers, cultivation, harvesting and han
lling, the net returns are not large,
when sets bring only so or
so cents a bushel.
The method Of growing white onion
sets followed by the New Jersey grow
ars seems to be the most profitable, as
the sets are simply a by-product of the
onion crop, the main object being to
secure a large yield of small, white
onions, known as "picklers, which
bring a high price in most of our
markets. .-. !
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22
PROPAGATION OF THE ROSE
MANY GROWERS START ROSES ON THEIR OWN
ROOTS BUT THE MAJORITY PREFER THE
BUDDED PLANTS
BY H. Erichsen.

Another authority on this subSece
goes even further and contends thaf
many fine varieties Of the oue>nly
flower are utterly worthless unless
they are budded. My own experiences
comedies with that referred to above.
Moreover, found that it is possible
as rule, to replace budded roses mora
cheaply than those grown on their own
roots. which is another point in their
favor, particularly in localities where
many roses are liable to be winter.
killed. -
Roses may be grown to perfection IN
ordinary garden soil. provided tfsy
are planted in sunny, sheltered loca.
ton, away from the roots Of large
trees, for these will absorb all tho Me-
nutrition Of the soil, whore
as young trees and dwarf shrubbery
do no harm. II the soil is naturally
poor, however. 1t Is advisa BILE to Lar =
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

The production Of eggs for market
Is generally considered the most profit
able branch of poultry keeping.
Under proper conditions there is no
reason why eggs should not be pro-
ouced at price that will allow good
margin of profit. This should be es-
pecially true Of eggs produced on
farms where the fowls may find a
:, large part of their sustenance at no
cost to the farmer, utilizing what
would otherwise be waste products.
With knowledge Of what is neces-
sary for the best results in egg produce
ton, the farmer should be able to sup
plement the natural resources Of the
farm in such way that revenue from
the hens would be largely increased
by small extra outlay for food.
The profitable production Of eggs de-
ponds on several different conditions
any one Of which being wrong may
seriously handicap ones efforts for
the production of eggs at a profit
The stock which is tn Law the eggs
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22
ORCHARD NOTES.

Many growers say that weeds are as
valuable as fertilizers as clover and
COW peas if they are turned under
every year.
The grower who will sort his apples
into two or more grades, packed we'll,
will get more money for his fruit than
the one who throws all kinds together
in barrel and places a layer of the
best ones on top.
The city dealer profits by the lazi-
ness of the grower by grading and re-
packing his badly assorted fruit.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22
For cut flowers nothing can rival tho
beauty of the rose.

beauty of the rose.
substantial foundation for future good
results, by substituting quantity Of
loan. sand and fertilizer, In tho fol.
lowing proportions:
To each wheelbarrow load Of loan,-
which. by the way, may be readily
obtained under the sod of the Held or
by the roadside-add one-third OF its
bulk Of well-rotted stable manure ana
some sand, II that constituent should
be lacking.
This conglomeration should be thor
oughly mixed by being ,apadsd to q
depth Of a foot and IL then ready for
the reception Of Her Majesty, Queen
Rosa, as she was termed by Dean
Hole. the man who had roses in his
heart as we'll as in his garden. Rose
roots penetrate deeply when they have
a chance. but it should be remembered
that they will not thrive in stagnant
soil, hence good drainage il essential.
The question naturally presents IT,
self as to which is the best time to
plant roses, but the broad extent Of
our country precludes definite reply.
Generally speaking, however, mid
spring should receive the preference
and it Is better to be little too early
than too late.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

1t will be cheaper to have one of the
boys help day or two with the
house-cleaning than to pay the doc
tors bill for mother after it is over
to say nothing of the decency and
kindness.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

Do not sow oats or any grain that
has not been cleaned and recleaned in
the tanning mill. Then go a step
further and treat for smut These
are little things but they are import
ant, and mean good many more
bushels at harvest time.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

Recognizing the fact that America
produces the best horses In the world
the Japanese government has re-
Gently sent a special agent to this
country for the purpose of buyins a
number of breeding horses.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22
DIDN'T USE A MILKING STOOL.

A Western farmer who was kicked
over milking stool by heifer %
years ago has never used stool since.
He squats down. holds the pail be-
tween his legs and milks II cows twice
a day. During the 2s years of this
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

kind of exercise the farmer mas uevel-
oped pair of bow legs which are
of drawback when he
tries to stop a runaway pig. for the
animal dasfes between his legs. and
he finds himself absolutely helpless.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-22

Be sure to plant a succession of all
the vegetables best liked by the fam
lily as we'll as those intended for mar
ket. thus prolonging the season when
they may be enjoyed at home or sold