Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-01-31

cotton. beans and some other products
The government Is taking considerable
pains to teach them. and they seem to
be profiting by it.
| Winter damage to outdoor bushes
and vines is likely to be the more Sc
we're when the weather is dry for
considerable period. as has been the
case for weeks past. than when there
are abundant moisture and heavy fall
of snow. For this reason pains should
be taken to see that covering Is given
where sL-h protection is necessary to
carry safely through the winter.
Astronomers explain the remarkable
brightness of the recent Christmas
moon as due to its being full at the
time Of the winter solstice, when the
earth is nearest the sun, and to the
| further fact that the moon itself was
| at that time nearest to the earth and
that. being at its point of northern
.declination, 1t shone down from almost
directly overhead. A remarkably clear
condition of atmosphere also contrib
uted to the brilliancy Of the moonlight.
At it's second session congress appro-
priated 100000 for experimental road
construction. Tbs sum is to be ex-
/ pended by the secretary of agriculture
in consultation with the postmaster
general The motive in making the
| appropriation was that there might be
Investigated the saving to the govern
ment In the operation of rural routes
and to the inhabitants Of various COM
munities in the transportation Of their
products by reason Of such road Inn
provement. The data collected are to
be embodied In report to congress.
A friend Of the writer with whom
he was chatting last summer was ask
ed why he didn't kill rabbit that was
running about In his young orchard.
Being a sort Of tender hearted fellow.
he said he didn't like the idea of kill
ing the little animal. Yet this rabbit
or Its immediate ancestors had girdled
seven or eight and killed outright two
or three Of his fine young trees the
winter preceding during a spell Of
deep snow. The rabbit Is parasite
and should be shot on sight by the
orchardist who is In the business seri-
ously.
The interstate commerce commission
has recently decided that chickens are
not ''live stock" The decision was
rendered in a case appealed to the COM
mission by a man named Ream, who
sought to secure free fare for himself
as caretaker Of twelve hens that were
being shipped from Richmond. Va, to
Los Angeles, Cal. He worked his blur
as far as Ell Paso. Tex. Mt which point
the railroad refused to aiet him ride
without paying full fare. He demand
ed that the commission compel the rail-
ronds to refund the amount paid in
fare. but they refused to support him
in his contention. and the above verdict
was their decision in the matter.
Both parents and teachers in. school
should unite in an earnest endeavor to
cultivate on the part of the boys and
girls d habit Of carefulness and thor
0ughness In tasks that are undertaken.
1t will aid in the incubation Of this
habit IL there is emphasized the thought
that any work undertaken is worth
doing AS we'll as one knows how to do
1t. Carelessness and slipshodness-if
there Is such word-in those who are
hired to do work Is the bane alike OF
the housewife, the farmer and the mer-
chant. On the other hand. there Is
nothing that gives more satisfaction
than having helpers who do their tasks
neatly and carefully. 1t is this differ
ence In the way Of doing things that
largely accounts for the fact that some
people succeed in life and others make
good deal Of a fizzle Of it.
One of the most encouraging as well
as most valuable services being rem
dered by the department Of agricul-
ture In its entire realm Of activity Is
found In connection with the farmers
cooperative demonstration work which
has been carried on in a number OF
southern states under the direction of
Professor Knapp Of the bureau Of plant
industry More than 100000 adult
farmers of the south have been direct
ly enrolled in this demonstration work.
while 10000 boys have been enrolled In
the corn growing clubs and 10000 have
been enrolled in the girls canning
clubs. With the adult farmers espe-
cial emphasis has been placed upon the
Importance Of crop rotation. and the
growing of more corn, peas. velvet
beans. cowpeas. alfalfa and other clio
vers has been encouraged. Greater in
terest has also been aroused In hog
raising. dairying and other forms OF
animal industry. The farmers have
been encouraged to build silos and to
establish paStur's and to make more
effective war OH he cattle tick.