davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31

The Columbian Wyandotte Of to-
day Is one Of the handsomeSt fowls
to be seen at the shows or In the
poultry-yard. II may be described
as a Wyandotte In everything but
markings. which are those OF the
Brahma- The Light Brahma has al
ways been greatly admired, even by
fanciers and amateurs who did not
keep the breed because of its large
size and feathered legs. In the
Columbian Wyandotte. these people
find a breed which has the color and
markings that they like go well,
combined with the advantages pos
sessed by the American breeds.
As a utility breed. the Columbian
ranks high. being prolific In egg
laying and carrying a generous
amount Of flesh. The shanks and
beak have the same warm. golden
hue as those OF the Light Brahma.
and the birds dress to excellent ad-
often claim that they are leaders
among the American breeds In egg
production. but such statement
needs to be qualified.
The strain is an important matter,
whatever the breed may be. but
seems to count for more than usual
with the Columbian Wyandottes.
Some strains yield a remarkably
large number Of eggs. and. If the
hens from these strains could truth
fully be said to stand for the whole
breed. Columbian Wyandottes would
be unsurpassed as egg machines. As
IL happens. though. there are also
strains OF very poor layers. 1t may
be a little difficult 70 account for the
variation in this respect, but the fact
that 1t exists is sufficient reason why
the amateur beginning with this
breed should exercise care in buying
breeding stock
Columbian wyandotte hens lay
large, brown eggs. They are good
mothers. and not particularly hard to
break up when they become broody
mature early. and the yellow skin,
combined with their yellow shanks,
makes them valuable for market
poultry. They grow fast enough tn
make good broiiers. and develop into
nne roaster chickens.
Columbians do not vary 50 widely
In color as some other bresds. so
that most well-bred hocks look at
tractive TO the novice even though
[he fhncier might find much TO
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31

ter crops are laid by. Because Of its
simplicity, efficiency and oheapness,
the split-log drag or some similar de-
vice is destined to come into more
and more general use. With the
drag properly built and its use well
understood, the maintenance of
earth and gravel roads become so
simple and inexpensive matter. Care
should be taken to make log so
light that one man can lift It with
ease, as a light drag can be drawn
by two medium sized horses and re-
spends more readily to various
methods of hitching and the shift
ing position Of the operator than q
heavier one. The best material for
the drag is dry cedar log, though
elm, walnut, box elder or soft maple
are excellent. Oak, hickory or ash
are too heavy. The log should be
eight to ten inches in diameter. It
should be split carefully as near the
center as possible and the heaviest
and best slab chosen for the front.
When the soil is moist, but not
sticky, the drag does the best work.
AS the soil In the field will bake II
plowed wet, so the road will bake
If the drag Is used on 1t when It is
wet, If the roadway is full of holes
or badly rutted the drag should be
used once when the road is soft and
slushy.
The earth road can best be crowned
and ditched with a road machine and
not with picks and shovels, scoops
and plows. One road machine with
suitable power and operator will
do the work Of many men with picks
and shovels, and in addition will do
1t better. II tho road is composed
of fine clay or soil it will sometimes
pay to resurface 1t with top soil
from an adjacent field, which has
sand or gravel mixed with 1t. This
is now in successful use in Clarke
county, Georgia.
Storm water should be disposed OF
quickly before 1t has had time 10
penetrate deeply into the surface of
the road. This can be done by giving
the road O crown or slope from the
centre to the sides. For an earth
road which Is twenty -four feet wide
the centre should be not less than
six inches nor more than twelve
inches higher than the outer edges
Of the shoulder. The narrow road,
which Is high in the middle, will
become rutted almost as quickly as
one which is too fiat. for the reason
CAlclt OAt q 4loIIOW IOdu I'LL IIl0 lI1AllO
is forced to use only narrow strip.
Shoulders are often formed on both
sides of the road. which prevents
storm water from flowing into the
side bitches. retaining. 1t In the ruts
and Softenlng the roadway. These
ruts and shoulders can be entirely
eliminated with the road machine or
eplit-log drag.
The width of the earth road will
depend on the traffic. AS a rule,
twenty-five or thirty feet from ditch
to ditch is sufficient II the road Is
properly crowned. Ordinarily the
only bitches needed are those made
with the road machine which are
wide and shallow. Deep narrow
bitches wash rapidly. especially on
steep slopes The earth road should
not be loosened. dug up or plowed
up any more than is absolutely neo-
essary. 1t should be gradually raised,
not lowered; hardened. not softened.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31

two or three weeks. See that all OF
the earth In the pot is watered. When
once a plant becomes too dry, water
put into the pot will sometimes run
down q channel found in the earth
and get away without doing much
good. This can be overcome by soak
ing the whole plant IN a tub Of wa
ter until the earth is all motstened.
The azalea should set its buds
during next summer and bloom again
next December. A shady back yard
would be a good place TO keep II
during the summer.
Red Spider on Plants.
How can l most easily keep my
plants free from the small red spider
Newark. u. w.
Constant sprinkling with plain wa
ter will keep these pests in check. An
occasion sprinkling with tobacco wa
ter is also good. or a mild infusion Of
whale-oil soap. The last is good for
all insect pests.
Trouble with Rubber Plants.
What can ] do for my rubber
plants? On being brought into the
house they began TO lose their leaves
at once. and they are now nearly half
gone. The soil is good. MRS. L, t.
Newark.
There is nothing to be done II, as
you say, the soil is good. In all prob
ability, it is the change of atmos-
phere from outdoors to indoors which
makes the leaves fall. There may,
however, be worms IN the pot. Il
you see evidences OF this. apply a
strong tobacco water. and pick off
the worms as they come to the sur
face.
Pullet with the Gapes.
One Of my pullets is constantly
opening its bill far apart, as If gap
ing for air, but this does not seem to
prevent her from laying. have
tried, thinking 1t might be worms In
the throat, feather dipped In tur-
pentine, but there was no relief.
What shall / do? l.. 5. NJ,
Bloomfield.
The turpentine remedy usually
works In this case, but II IL does not
work another remedy Ia to mnke
small pills Of lard and cayenne pep
per and force them down the throat.
If this does not work Ill a pail with
cold water, add cup OF kerosene oil
and dip the hens head into this mix
ture while you count four or five.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31

How can we eradicate plai. tain and
dandelions from our lawn? They
were a great pest last year. s. a..
Montclair.
The most efficient means of eradi-
eating plantain from a lawn is to cut
1t out far enough below ground to
sever the buds and top ends of the
roots On soils where plantain thrives
ind grasses have not the strength to
compete with 1t, it is almost impos-
sible to eradicate it by any other
means. On rich soils, well adapted
to lawn grasses, the grass may get
ahead of the piantain without cutting
out the smaller plants.
The best way of cheaply holding
the plantain in check so that the
grass can overcome it is to NOV the
lawn frequently when the plantain
leaves are standing up. Usually the
plantain leaves lie down fiat during
the deaf of the day and in dry spells
They stan up almost straight in the
latter half of the night or In the very
early morning and during wet, cloudy
spells. Where the lawn grasses have
a fairly good stand and the plantatn
Is scattered, moving when these
leaves stand up will cut them close
enough so that the grass will tend to
crowd it's way in and smother out the
plantain. Grasses will most readily
overcome almost all of the smaller
and weaker plantain plants. II some
of the larger, stronger plantain has
spread out enough or formed dense
enough mats so that 1t Is not
smothered by the lawn grass 1t may
be necessary to cut out the plants In
such places.
Plantian is a biennial. 30 that when
the plants once get started they live
two years. The heads live a long
time in the ground, and viii come up
in succession from year to year. If
old plants in the lawn are allowed to
go to seed, seeds will be scattered
from season TO season. For this
reason the plantain should be kept
moved often enough to prevent its
seeds from maturing.
Many have recommended spraying
the lawn with solution of iron sui
phate in water strong enough to kill
plantain and dandelions, but not
strong enough to injure grass. Grass
will endure stronger solution Of
this mixture than either dandelions
or plantain. II is difficult to give q
definite formula, as in certain seasons
and soils the grass will endure q
Spraying has not been anything like
as efficient as the moving.
Dandelion roots, like plantain, will
live over a couple of years In the
lawn and new plants will start from
seed. If one can keep both the PLAN
tain and dandelions from seeding in
the lawn for couple of years per-
petuation of the plants that are there
can be checked. Some of the seeds
of the plants, however, live for sew
eral years, and many seeds now in
the ground may continue to sprout
in a desultory fashion at least for
several years.
Fertilizers for Alfalfa.
l am trying to raise a little alfalfa
on my small place. What fertilizer
do you recommend for IL? J.J.
Somerville.
1t does not need nitrogen. II the
land Is well lined a fertilizer contain
ing from 10 to ~ per cent. available
phosphoric acid and to 8 per cent OF
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31

potash Is advised. One should not use
less than 500 pounds per acre and 800
pounds would be better. A mixture
of 900 pounds Of acid phosphate and
1b0 pounds nuriate of potash can be
used If one wishes to mix his own
eral elements of the soil very heavily,
and, of course, the more fertilizer used
the longer the alfalfa crop will pro-
duce good pields.
Books on Fruit Culture
good books on fruit culture?
Newark s. E. P.
The following books Will help the
inquirer: Practical Fruit Grower"
by S. 7. Maynard, price so cents;
principles of Fruit Growing" by
L. H Bailey, price $3.50; Beginners
Guide to Fruit Growing" American
Apple Orchard" Dwarf Fruits"
"Plums and Plum Culture" all four
70 cents, $3.50, $3.50; Peach Culture"
by ]. A. Fulton, price 81; Pear Gull
ture for Profit" by P. I. Quinn, price
ST. Successful Fruit Culture" by
s. T. Maynard. price 81. Order any
of them through your bookseller
Some are undoubtedly in the public
library.
Concrete Bed for a Water Garden,
I am going to build a water garden
this spring. My pool will be about
12x50 feet. The mason says that IL
the bottom is made OF concrete it
will surely be heaved and cracked
by the frost. Can you tell me of
any way to lay the concrete SO that
1t will not be cracked by the frost?
shall much appreciate an answer
for this problem in your columns.
Montclair. S. W. A.
If the bottom slab of the concrete
pool be laid upon a bed Of cinders
IA inches thick, and the cinders be
thoroughly compacted before placing
the concrete, and a drain provided
to remove to a natural outlet any
accumulation of water, all danger
from cracking by frost will be obvi-
ated. The concrete should be mixed
in proportions of one part cement
two parts sand, to four parts stone,
and sufficient water used to flush the
mortar to the surface under ram
ming. This mortar should then be
smoothed off at once to the finish
desired, without the addition of any
top coating. While the concrete is
hardening, 1t should be protected by
a covering of canvas or carpet, to
prevent surface evaporation of wa
ter by the sun and wind. This cover
ing should be kept wet by sprinkling
at least twice a day until the con-
crete under II is dry.
Trouble with An Azalea.
My azalea was in full bloom in De-
cenber. The flowers and leaves have
fallen off. The new blooms and
leaves die as soon as they appear
Enclosed you will find a sample.
hope you can help me. 1 am very
fond of flowers. MRS. j. d.
Newark.
Judging from the specimen sent,
there is apparently nothing the mat
ter with the azalea excepting that II
was forced to bloom too quickly and
it needs a rest. Put IL In a north
window in cool room. 1t will stand
a temperature as low as 40 Water
moderately, but thoroughly Take
the plant to the kitchen sink and let
the water run over II once in every
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31
WHO'S WHO IN POULTRY
Series of Articles in Which Enthusiasts Describe the Fowls
They Raise and Tell Why They Like Them.

crfticiseL Even the beginner notices.
the great difference In color IN IN
dividual specimens, and finds en<
greater uniformity among Columbtzr
WyandotteS a point decidedly In Their
favor.
Let no one make the mistake, how
ever, OF adopting this breed because
he thinks It Will be easy to breed
birds true to feather. It is by nf
means g. simple matter 70 get birds
which even approach perfection
There is always the danger that
CLINT OF yellow VIII show in the
white-a yellow streak In the busa
boo Of all breeders who raise fowls
with white feathers. Then 1t Is not
easy TO get just the right amount OF
brilliant black in the tail and wing
or a perfect hackle lacing. And yes
the effort is we'll worth while. Tor
high-scoring Columbian Wyandottss
are indeed birds to delight the eye
of any fancier or, truly, of any man
or woman to whom fine feathers ane
graceful curves make an appeal.
This can hardly be called ncH
breed. for It was in 1898 that the Co.
lumbians were first introduced under
that name. They have won their wa
on their merits, and have made
firm place for themselves as general
utility fowls as well as fanciers' birds
Probably the reason why they were
not pushed more enerseticaliy at rns
beginning lay in the fact that the
White Wyandotte was then beins
doomed, and there did not seem e
be room for another variety, which
was largely white.
The Columbian Wyandottes are e.
pecially good fowls for the suburban
poultry keeper who wants a general
purpose breed. They bear conflns-
naent very we'll indeed. and are most
friendly. This is a point which com
rnends Itself to the amateur whe
breeds poultry. as a recreation, az wal
as for the purpose Of supplying NE
table with ggs and meat. Some kfnck
of poultry are very nervous and -
eitahle. and. while they are uns1z,
passed as layers, it is impossible =
get on intimate terms with them
e different with the Columbian W.
andottes. which like attention eno
NAV be treated as pets. The chicE<
are almost as attractive az the ma
ture birds, for they get their featnefF
quickly ana grow rapidly. Altoeetnsr'
the breed has few faults and mucn g
praise. The great difference IN t1s
LAYING qualities Of different strains =
one drawback. and, OF course, peoRls
who have q strong preference fcT
white eggs viii prefer another breed
Few of the white-egg breeds, however,
are general-purpose breeds, being
small or having white flesh and DARK
legs The Columbian WyandotIe.
therefore, with its beauty. grace anu
unitarian qualities, is well worth tfsr
consideration of the amatepy poultry
keeper
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31
How to Raise Celery Plants

Celery would be more universally
grown in the home garden were !,
not for the difficulty in raising P'anes
Thev are more difficult to grow than
tomatoes or cabbage under ordinary
conditions, yet when the right
methods are used they require no more
care than other plants. For the early
varieties hotbed or winoow- DON WI,
CROP the plants should be sown IN the
omen ground in April. Celery plants
will not come through a crusted SOIL
and herein lies the difficulty IN get
ting plants. Use q gooa garden soi.
that viii not bake. and when the SEEDS
are sown cover with an old cloth, as
a carpet, after watering. to keep IN
moisture and prevent crustins. If the
bed or box is out of doors, make
shelter of boards overhead 10 keep
naclsing rains from falling on 1t.
Shade part of the day to prevent bak-
ing Of soil
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31

perennial phlox, with its five feet of
height, in front, and poor Phlox Drum
mondi is never seen or heard from"
So 1t is wise to arrange the drawing
while you have time to study the cata-
logues and to ascertain how tall the
plant grows and when 1t blooms.
Place the tall plants in the back
ground. They VIII peer over the heads
of their shorter neighbors and be seen.
If your hower-bed runs parallel with
the fence put the holly-hocks and
dahlias next to the fence.
Decide on Color Scheme.
First, decide upon your color
scheme. There are colors that simply
rise and curse each other. Don't have
color quarrel In your garden.
No woman would ever think of
wearing scarlet skirt, pink waist
and a purple hat. She would be
Mortified at such bad color scheme,
and yet the same woman will place
scarlet gersniums, pink petunias and
purple heliotrope in the same window
box or flower bed The effect Is Just
as ugly in flowers as in q costume.
Let us, at least, dress our garden
in good taste. Suppose we decide on
a. color scheme, running through the
pinks and cerise, with touch OF
white lavender, using hollyhocks,
double and single, in all their shades
of pinlls and white as background
as these grow over six feet high, and
perennial phlox, with its many shades
of the same colors and many varie-
ties, both tall and dwarf. Place tall
ones next to the hollyhocks, the dwarf
varieties next, interspersing these
with clumps of peonies-that wonder
full, always : to be depended upon
plant, of which there are over 1000
varieties to choose from-and clus-
ters of anemone, both pink and white
Plant, or rather transplant, asters
IN front of these, with the low-grow-
ing phlox or Sweet William, or any OF
the many kinds of ''pinks," Chinese
and Japanese, and border the bed
with sweet alyssum.
Sowing Seeds Indoors.
In another month it will be time
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31
THE COUNTRY CALENDAR
Practical Hints About Things to Do This Week in Garden and
Greenhouse, the Orchard and the Poultry Yard.

A great deal of pruning should be
done during this month. The fruit
trees that are not attended to now
will require attention during March.
when other work will be pressing.
Look out for black knot when you
are working among plum and cherry
trees, and cut off all branches THAT
are infected.
One of the earliest pruning jobs
should be among the grapes, so that
there will be plenty of time for the
wounds to heal before the sap flows.
Cut out all portions of apple trees
that show signs of canker. Other
wise the spores will get on the fruit
next summer and spoil its quality.
In your flower garden plans make
provision for some new roses, and or
der from your nurseryman two and
three-year- plants, to be delivered
later, when 1t is time to plant.
Plan also for some groups Of white,
pink and crimson peonies.
If you have glass windows in your
poultry house, look to 1t that they are
cleaned often. A lot of sunshine may
be kept out by the dust that is the
result of scratching litter and which
settles on the glass.
How about that incubator? If you
have decided that you are going to
have one this spring, get your order
in early. so that you will not be dis
appointed.
For Matching extra early stock, in
cubators should be started in a week
or two. This will give you chicks
early With careful brooding they
should get good start and be ready
to lay In the fall, when eggs are
scarce.
Many amateurs, however, especially
those that are interested in Mediter-
ranean breeds, defer starting their In
cubators until March l. Those who
raise the American or Asiatio varie-
ties would do well to make an early
start, as these breeds take longer to
develop.
Cuttings of rubber plants and ORA
caenas will root easily now, and you
may also propagate bouvardias for
early winter Towering If you will
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31

Before you start your incubator,
run II a few days before putting In
Ehe eggs, in order to make sure that
b is In good working order.
II handling an incubator is new to
you, spend a good deal of time learn
ing how to run 1t. Follow the manu-
kacturer's directions in preference to
taking a lot of irresponsible SAY
sos" in regard to it.
Be sure that your flock has been
built up for an effective breeding
season. 1t is cheap insurance against
poor matches and puny chicks to use
eggs only from healthy, vigorous
stock. Separate the best matured
and developed stock from the others,
feed them well, and use only their
eggs for Matching purposes.
Many authorities give as an abso-
Lutte rule for success in mating pens
for breeding to place two-year-old
males with pullets, and cockerels
with the older hens.
As soon as you complete the ar
rangement of the breeding-pens, dis
pose of the surplus males, reserving
but one or two for possible changes
in the makeup of the pens. The idle
males are expensive dodgers.
II you want to have some broilers
this spring, the incubators should be
Started early in February.
If your fowls have been kept IN
doors all winter be sure that the
weather is fairly settled before turn
Ing them out-of-doorS Sudden
phanges are very often disastrous.
The cold, damp days of early spring
gaave much havoc in their wake in
poultry yards.
H you want to utilize the services of
hsrne Of your broody hens this spring
be sure that they are In earnest be-
fore you place any eggs under them.
Be sure that your water supply is
SIMPLE and clean at all times.
Another wise precautian Is to see
that the eggs you are saving for
Matching are not chilled In the nests
before you gather them. Eggs re-
served for Matching should be kept at
a temperature of from fifty to sixty
degrees, and on their Sides They
should be turned once or twice a day
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31
a treius you can make in spare hours.

wooden strips, two by one inch, and
about four feet long. Place each pair
of them together at one end and
hinge them with two strips ten feet
long. These two long strips form the
ridge-pol of the trelis, so to speak.
Nall several other ten-strips across
each side of the tent-like structure
and the trellis is completed.
The hinged top. of the trellis, as
shown on the diagram and marked
II, permits 1t to be spread the exact
width of the row, or 1t may be spread
widely so that the plants In two rows
may be supported. When not IN use
the trellis may be closed up and kept
with the garden tools.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31
How 10 Make oraftlag Wax

Place one part Cby weightl OF tab
low, two parts OF beeswax and four
parts of resin in a kettle. After II
has become completely melted. pour
into a tub OF cold water and work !
with the hands until 1t becomes the
color of molasses candy; make into
halls before putting away in a cool
place. This preparation may b.
kent for years. and is excellent FOR
both indoor or outdoor ure. The
hands should be creased before worn 2
ing the wax
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31
ASK THE QUESTION BOX
What You Want to Know About Gardening Poultry and Coun
try Problems Ans wered by Experts.

andc
0
be in
piece of
Newnr N,
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-31

Sow, in greenhouse or window gar
den. seeds of cabbage, caulifiower, to-
matoes and peppers for planting out
doors early.