davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
TUSS0CK MOTH INJURY.

than is customary in spraying Tor the
coddling moth. 49, ...
Precaution should be taken to coat
the fruit and both surfaces Of the
leaves with the spraying mixture.
The foliage and fruit of small trees
or even occasional branches Of large
trees that are being injured by the
caterpillars may be saved from
further loss by shaking. When the
branch is Jared the caterpillar sus-
ponds itself by a strand OF silk, and
will drop to the ground II the shaking
be continued. A padded n1allet or
pole can be used to jar the branches,
and the insects, as they drop may be
caught on a sheet or curculio catcher.
This Is slow, tedious method OF
com batting the pest, but by this
means further injury to the fruit crop
may often be prevented. .-"
In conjunction with collecting the
egg masses or spraying, banding will
serve to protect the trees from REIN
festation by migrating caterpillars.
This Is often desirable when there
arc badly infested trees in the i'm
mediate vicinity. The band may be
made Of strip Of raw cotton or sticky
fly paper The cotton should be tightly
fastened about the middle SO that it
Is loose above and below. The barbed
hairs Of the caterpillar become en-
tangled in the cotton fibres, and It Is
unable to pass over the band. In
order to be effective, the bands should
be renewed from time to time as they
become soiled or matted by rain. The
bands should be employed during the
months Of June, July and August.
The same measures that are recon-
mended for the treatment of this pest
in orchards are also applicable to the
treatment Of shade trees. only here
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
Rearing Goslings.

I have always used large, full
feathered hens for hatchings. only al
lowing the geese to sit on the last
eggs Of the season. A good broody
hen will steadily sit the 80 days occu-
pied in the incubation Of these eggs.
n she be given no more than four
eggs and they are set in an earth nest
and turned once daily they should in
almost every case produce vigorous
goslings If the parent birds are healthy
and we'll rnatured.
Some people find difficulty during
the early days Of raising in the ten
dency Of the birds to fall upon their
backs and an inability to right them
selves without assistance. necessitat-
Ing combined watchfulness or loss.
This, however, is nuisance that
may be avoided by the use Of the eggs
of mature, sound stock only, the
weakness being absent in the progeny
Of old birds In good breeding condi-
ton.
The actual rearing presents no diff
cu1ties to one qualified in poultry
raising. Long brooding Is unnecessary
and an ordinary hen coop Is sufficient to
accommodate three or four goslings
and hen as long as it is necessary
to leave the latter In charge, but dur
Ing the first days the gosling's run,
which should be on short grass, should
be limited.
The best diet is a simple one and
for the first few days I have found
nothing better than stale bread we'll
soaked and squeezed moderately dry
and mixed with liberal allowance Of
dandelion leaves, well chopped and free
from stringy pieces. Biscuit meal
may be used instead Of the stale bread
but It is more expensive and the re-
suits are no better
BY the middle of the first week
ground oats should take the place of
the bread, mixed with a sufficient
quantity Of grit to make the mixture
crumbly, the dandelions being COM
bined.
The green food may be gradually
reduced and finally abandoned when
the young birds are grazing freely.
They should commence grazing at
about weak old.
Upon good grazing ground and
with a sufficient supply Of soft food
mixture. OF which ground oats should
be the staple ingredient, goslings Will
progress rapidly.-W. r.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
Eastern Eyes On Alfalfa.

A carload Of alfalfa seed shipped
from Oklahoma to the farmers Of the
New England states opened the eyes
Of the eastern press and caused them
to give much publicity to the import
ance Of this valuable harvest
This carload Of seed consisted OF
about 600 bushels. worth $3.50 POI
bushel. or $4,000 In round figures
1t was retailed to farmers at $40 per
bushel, or more, but even at that
price It was cheaper than any other
seed they could use for producing
stock food.
The newspapers Of the east have
advertised the importance OF alfalfa
and go have most Of the agricultural
colleges but the farmers who read
western farm papers are just learning
what 1t means and It's popularity as
a reliable and profitable farm crop.
Where the ground has been pre-
pared In the proper manner and pure
seed sown under favorable conditions
alfalfa has produced from one ton to
ton and q half per acre at single
cutting AS alfalfa always produces
two and sometimes three crops q year
the yield Is much larger and the
incorporating capacity Of the land
many times greater than any other
farm feed that can be raised on New
England soil.
1t Is a wrong theory that alfalfa
cannot be raised In the east. Many
farmers have tried it and failed, but
the failure almost in every instance
may be traced to four things:
Sour SOIL. lack of bacteria, insufficient
prepare ton Of the soil and impure
on-germinating seed.
Lime will sweeten the soil. Soil
from an old alfalfa field will supply
the bacteria and the application Of
common sense and patience will do
the rest.
Alfalfa will do more to restore worn
out farms Of the east and south and
do 1t more cheaply than anything else.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

quaintance. When you know the
ton.
Quack grass, which Is one Of the
worst seed pests, flowers during the
latter part Of June and ripens its
seeds in July. It Is propagated by
underground stems as we'll as Seeds
and these stems are often scattered
on the hoofs Of horses or by ma
chinery used in cultivation. The weed
grows in many kinds of soil but
thrives best in rich soil. Its seeds
occur in wheat. rye, barley, clover,
and timothy and bronze grass.
Smothering by blowing and thor
ough bare culture Is the best means
Of graduating quack grass. The best
results will follow when the treatme nt
is given In hot, dry weather after the
root systems have been somewhat ex-
hausted by the growth of plants The
seed should not be allowed to mature,
however or II mature. the grass
should be cut and burned.
Where a field is badly infested, 1t
should be plowed deeply from five to
eight or more inches, as soon as the
hay or grain crop is removed. The
blowing must be we'll done and all
portions Of the plants turned under
completely. A jointer on the plow
will aid In turning the grass under
perfectly. The pillow should be fol-
lowed within very few days by
disc harrow. with discs set nearly
straight to avoid inverting the sod.
The purpose is to fill the spaces be-
tween the furrow slices, thus stopping
the free circulation Of air. Following
the first discing the land should be,
double disced frequently enough to
prevent the appearance above the
surface Of any quack grass leaves
This will be twice week In warm,
moist seasons and once a week when
the weather is dryer. The disc1ng
should be continued until growth
ceases. usually from six to eight
weeks. The following spring cultiva-
ton should begin very early.
Short crop rotations are useful In
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

the varieties are unattractive: far
from it. But the remaining rs per
cent fill every purpose and have many
more virtues than the medium to In
ferior sorts. BY growing only the
finer varieties. people would become
more and more fascinated with this
lovely flower.
One Of. the most desirable features
Of peonies is the ease with which they
can be grown. Given generous
preparation at the start you can make
a great plantation Of peonies with the
assurance that beyond keeping the
ground clean and fertile they may re-
main undisturbed for years. In the
course Of time they will get so thick
that they should be divided and re-
planted. but this Is little trouble. Pc
onies thrive in almost any SOIL but
do best in a deep rich loan. AS they
remain in one place a number Of years
it is we'll to thoroughly prepare the
soil and they amply repay attention
given them. Spade to g. depth of two
or three feet; add liberal supply of
and mix thoroughly. Add a little sand
VI me STdNel IL tHe soll IL llCIiHeu
to be sticky or heavy. Stiff soil should
be well drained. While the peonies
desire liberal supply Of water, the
ground should not be of swampy
nature. Cover the crown three inches
taking care that the earth Is we'll
frmed. Plant two and one-half to
three feet apart to allow for future
developme nt. A mulch of coarse
strawy manure Is a benefit. particu-
larry the first season. Keep we'll
cultivated the first season. after that
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
Sheep as Soil lmprovers'
Weeds and Coarse Grasses May Be
Converted Into Money Through q
Flock of Sheep.
By II. S. Curtis.

1t Is universally accepted that sheep
droppings under like conditions con-
tain a larger amount Of fertility than
that from either the horse. COW or
hog. One of the desirable features
Of this product Is the uniform distri-
button made by the sheep over the
land. In the leading European coun-
tries. such as England, Scotland,
France and Germany. the value OF
sheep in improving impoverished or
naturally thin soils has been recog-
nixed for centuries. It is stated on
good authority that many Of the soils
would be almost worthless but for
the fact that they are densely covered
with sheep. In these countries aocks
Of sheep aggregating two or three
thousand\in number are not uncom-
monty seen. The various breeds which
naturally inhabit the rough noun
tain lands. and the precipitous cliffs
OF these countries where only scanty
and coarse heritage exists, manifest
their great value in making other
wise worthless land bring in profit
able returns.
Much Of the quilted land and waste
hillsides Of this country could be
utilized prof1tably in the production Of
sheep. Many prominent farmers have
proved this to their highest sattsfac-
ton. Much Of the land which now
grows reeds and other coarse vegeta-
ton ca, be restored to profitable till
age by the use Of sheep. Fortunately
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
SEPARATING SMALL SEEDS

The seeds Of eggplant, tomato seed.
ana other small seeds may be sepa.
rated, showing the good and the bad
by means of weak brine. wv.
All seeds that swim In water should
De rejected, and further separation
made by placing the seeds that sink IN
water IN a weak solution Of sugar OF
salt.
The percentage Of seeds, large OF
small, may be determined by the den
sity Of the solution employed. Those
that noat may be removed.
This gravity method is simply the
old-time practice Of "brining" wheat,
barley, oats. etc., but can be applied
with advantage to seeds Of much
smaller size.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

! u
4, irrigated July II.
favorable conditions will produce
/ heavier yields and are not so easily
exhausted by continuous cropping.
Intensive tillage, which is 50 i'm
portant in the cultivation Of this crop.
these heavy soils more friable, and IL
has been found that the yields In
crease from year to year up to q Ger
tain point. In one valley in California.
where beets have been grown since
1888. some of the black adobe soils
gave the largest returns after ten
years of continuous cropping without
fertilization.
The depth Of the soil Is one Of the
prime considerations In the growing
of sugar beets, as the beet Is deep
rooted. Therefore, lands with hard
pan formation within 1S inches of the
surface should be avoided. not only
on account Of their Interference with
root growth, but because Of their
tendency to lose moisture. Low, wet
lands should be avoided also. no mat
ter of what character as they are
usually cold" and prevent rapid de-
velopment OF the crop in the early
stages Of plant life, while the later
growth Is kept beyond the time when
the beets should mature, thus causing
low sugar percentages. s',1f
Alkai is to be considered also, es-
pecially as most soils throughout the
West contain alkali In greater or
smaller quantities. Beets will with
stand the effects Of alkali to a greater
degree than any other summer crop.
but strongly impregnated soils retard
the proper development OF the plant
as we'll as lower the purity of the
Juice. endering 1t unfit for manufac-
ture.
Taken altogether, the best soil for
this crop is clayey loan Of good
depth, which contains sufficient sand
or silt to allow its being worked into
finely divided condition. The under
lying soil stratum should be pervious
to water but not SO coarse as to allow
of rapid percolation. Such soils are
found in nearly all the present beet
growing districts and are usually the |
producers Of large crops Of beets Of |.
good sugar percentage and high |!
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
GROWING CURRANTS.

Currants should be propagated by
division Of the plant. Where only q
few bushes are wanted they may be
obtained by separating rooted canes
from the mother plant. but In nursery
culture plants are propagated by
cuttings In the fall. They are made
about inches long and may be set
out In rows at once or tied UP in
bundles and stored in pit over
winter. Make the pit In we'll drained
soil, with the butt ends up and
covered about inches deep With
earth. Set out In the spring as early
as the ground can be worked. The
rows should be feet apart and the
plants feet distant in the rows.
Frequent shallow culture should be
given during the early part OF the
season,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
Flock Of Shropshire Ewes.

the sheep is Illuminating animal and
with the compound stomach can
make use Of much Of the coarse grass
and weeds which thrive on these de-
pleted soils.
In European countries where sheep
raising is carried on extensively and
usually prof1tably. little concentrated
feed is used, except through the flush
Ing and lambing season. During other
periods hay, grass and roots form
their mainstay. Any farmer who Is
willing to give to sheep the same
amount Of intelligent care that he
gives to other livestock will find them
not only prof1tab Bile. but good soil i'm
provers, bringing into cultivation
large areas of otherwise waste land
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
Quack Grass Is "
Considered One of
Our Worst Weeds.
By w. Il. Oswald.

Farmers should study weeds, learn
how they grow, when they mature
seed. whether they come from the
seeds or from roots each year. In
what soil they thrive best. and many
similar features Of weeds. Then the
question of eradication would be more
easily solved. A weed Is mott COM
monty known when 1t Is In flower or
in fruit. Very few persons know
weeds when they first come up. Know
the weeds in every stage and condi-
ton. Start with few Of the worst
kind and gradually extend your ac-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
Soils and Climate
Adapted to Growing
Good Sugar Beets
BY F. w. Roeding.

Soils suitable for the culture of the
sugar beet under irrigation comprise
practically all classes. from the heavy
black soils Of California and Montana
to the sandy loans and silts OF river
bottoms and mesas. The clay and
clay-loam soils require much more
work than lighter soils. and are more
difficult to put into proper filth. The
forming of a crust after rains or after
being irrigated Is also disadvantage.
These soils. however, contain a much
larger percentage Of available plant
food than the lighter soils and under
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

The peony is one Of many old-tIme
flowers which have experienced a de-
cided modern improvement and re-
vival Of popularity. This is shown
by the recent rapid growth of it's
culture and by the larger number of
varieties that are constantly being
originated and propagated Some of
the very ardent admirers Of this beau
tiful flower. will be surprised to learn
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
REVIVAL OF THE PEONY.

the ground Will be sufficiently covered
so little cultivation Is necessary.
On the small lawn a few clumps
will give a liberal reward each spring.
On grounds of large extent the peony
Is unexcelled. In the nerbaceous Dor
der it thrives from year to year. It
is particularly appropriate along
boundaries whether alone or with
other hardy plants. Massed at turns
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

neighborhood and most Of the dogs.
So confident Is the owner Of its fight
ing qualities and its ability to hold its
own anywhere, that he has at times
offered various sums Of money to any
person who would produce rooster.
of any age, size or breed, that could
whip the drake in a fair contest.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

me roots Of the small grain crons
as wheat and oats. are more fbrous
tnan the roots of such crops as corn
ana the great mass OF the roots Of
these crops is confined to the furrou
shce: For this reason we'll prepared
seeded is even more essentia1 49,
Tor the coarser feeding crops.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

more emphasis should be placed on
the value Of banding the trees and
collecting the egg masses. Spraying
shade trees Is not practicable for the
average property owner because the
trees are usually Of large size. Such
operations require special machinery
and men having considerable knovl.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

Collecting and destroying the eggs
of this insect may entirely prevent
an outbreak Of the Tussock Moth.
The eggs are deposited in clusters and
appear as a mass Of white froth'
about one-half inch wide and an inch
and q half long. The eggs are held
firmly together and most of the
clusters are located in plain view on
the trunks and branches Of the trees,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

The Guinea pig market Is at present
furnished largely by the demand for
pets and for animals for scientific
laboratories, but there is no reason
why the animal should not be used as
food In this country as It is In South
America
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

The earth road will doubtless be
used in rural communities for many
years, because Of it's low first cost.
The ever-recurring problem Of upkeep
on such road can be solved very
largely by the use Of the split-log
drag.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

that reports on this plant give de-
scriptions Of 626 different varieties
It is, however, probably a conserva-
tive statement to say that the peony
interests Of the country would be bet
ter off If about Is per cent OF the
varieties were discarded and further
propagation made from the remain
ing rs per cent of superior varieties.
It is not that these Is per cent of
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

Many good breeders let the SOW
wean her pigs in order that the
change may be made gradual and that
the growth may not cease when the
MIX diet is left off. A better plan
however. Is to give the pigs access to
little grain before they are weaned
that their stomachs may be better ac-
customed to the change,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

jured fruit and leaf.
where they may be easily scraped off
with a hoe or some other sharp in
strument and destroyed. These eggs
should be carefully collected In the
spring and summer collection should
also be made.
Next to destroying the eggs, the use
| of arsenical sprays is the most efficient
means Of preventing injury by this
pest More care in coating the under
sides of the leaves than Is usually
observed in the regular applications
of bordeaux mixture and poison that
are made preceding and at blossoming
time, would do much to prevent an
outbreak Of this and other leaf-feed-
ing pests. However, If the caterpll-
| lars are not discovered until they have
begun to eat the fruit,'it is advisable
to use larger amounts Of the poison
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
NOTES OF THE SHEEPFOLD.

mutton does not come from contact
of the flesh with the wool but from
some peculiar flavor in the inner or
secondary skin which Is released gby
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

cooking. .....a ,-
The Tunis sheep is entirely relieved
from objectiona BILE flavor as are all
breeds Of fat-tailed sheep.
The highest price sheep ever sold
in England was Lincoln ram which
brought $3.50.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

A tree can be bridge grated In less
than half an hour, and it Is better to
take this> time to do it than to let a
valuable tree die.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

edge of spraying methods. Spraying
Of shade trees is not done to aTA
great extent except where the workS
directed by the municipal authoritiea
However. 1t Is In the power Of ever
resident to completely protect BIZ
trees by destroying the egg mass
and banding the trees to prevent \ n
infestation by migrating caterpil!ars Z
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

Of walks or drives or by the edges OF
steps it is very effective. Where low
ornamental hedges are desired it is
unusual and attractive. It is fine
cut flower. If picked early just as II
Is about to unfold and allowed to open
in the house 1t will last several days,
often week or more.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
CHAMPION FIGHTER.

On farm in Clinton county, N. T.,
Is large Pekin drake that loves to
f1ght. This drake is the bull dog Of
the barnyard and loves to fight. Once
1t gets its grip on its adversary it
hangs there until pried loose. This
bird has whipped every bird in the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

About the best remedy for -scalyl
legs, which is the work Of parasites
Is an application OF melted lard and
sulphur once Z week.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

keeping quack grass under consrol.
and, when arranged so as to provide
an opportunity to attack the Qua:
grass at seasonable times. they
permit eradication Of the weed
out losing the use of the land
Sell, kill or conf1ne all male birds
when the Matching season Is over.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07

The best dairy herd bull is none too
good. The animal ought to be from
strain noted for high milk produc-
ton.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
AMERICAS RICHEST CITIZENS.

If all the people of the United
States were as rich as the Indian clt-
liens of Oklahoma the wealth Of this
country would be far above that Of all
the rest of the world combined In
dams Of Oklahoma own enormous
areas Of land. buildings, banks live
stock. mines and oil and gas wells.
They also have much cash on deposit
with the treasurer Of the United
States on which the government pays
interest to the several tribes.
The last report Of the secretary Of
the interior shows that the United
States holds trust funds for the Okla
homa tr.bes as follows:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
|owas. Comanches and Apaches

CheyenneS and AfapHHoes' "VV'".-V
Many of these Indians also hav'
large revenues in cash from oil AMI
gas leases, and most Of them are max
ing more or less money from their
farming operations as we'll.