davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

ners to set. making matted row four
teen to twenty inches wide. Then
/ keep the runners cut. OF course hand
| hoeing will be necessary to keep the
weeds and surplus runners down.
Blossoms should be kept pinched of
as it Is desired that the plants put all
their energy into growth this first
season.
In the northern states and all sec
tons where the winters are apt to
cause trouble by alternate freezing
and thawing. a mulch Of two or three
inches Of some rather fine material.
such as clean straw or marsh hay
should be applied to the patch In the
fall as protection. In covering
considerable area, the manure spread
er is most economical way of apply
Ing this mulch. It is advisable to leave
the mulch undisturbed during a frosty
spring to retard blooming and thus
avoid frost injury. AS growth pro-
ceeds, the straw can be raised in
places where 1t Is too heavy for the
plants to push through, letting the
mulch remain during the fruiting sea-
son.
The mulching Of Strawberries, in the
south, is considered by many to be an
unnecessary and expensive operation.
By others 1t 8 looked upon as a nee
essary part of the work in the pro-
duction Of a profitable crop. There is
no doubt that there are several good
reasons why mulching can be prac-
ticed to good advantage. Aside from
the fact that 1t protects against sud-
den or unexpected frosts. mulching
aids in the conservation of moisture
in the soil by hindering evaporation.
retains the surface soil in a loose,
friable condition, and. in some in
stances. adds plant food to the land.
Mulching also aids in cultivation by
checking the growth of weeds.
Comm ercially, the strawberry is
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14
Women As Farm Owners

1t Is an encouraging sign Of the
times that women are conspicuous in
every movement to give to city people
the advantages Of rural life. Women
who love the country have an impor-
tant and pleasing task in making the
farm more attractive than 1t seems
to have been in recent years.
1t is their province to impart the
proper coloring to the agricultural vo-
cation, so that the young people in
stead of fastening away to the towns
as early as possible will come to appre-
ciate the opportunities and delights
of the country.
In most positive way women are
lending their influence to the spread
of the little farm idea. They are be-
coming land owners to an extent never
before known in this or any other
country.
Not all Of those who are seen on
the farms today are country bred
Around every large town little farm
projects are on the increase and city
women are largely responsible for the
movement Of thousands Of families to
the rural districts.
There is a sociological as we'll as a
commercial reason for this. City
families who take farms are likely to
gain in many ways. BY escaping
from the crowded city they are sure
to have better health and independ-
ence than they could have In town.
They can improve the standard Of
their living and at the same time
reduce expenses
All this Is Of vast importance to city
families. OF course the very fact that
family life is so radically aided by Sc
curing land and a home in the country
gives women q direct interest in the
movement.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

The use Of alfalfa cannot be too
strongly urged with sheep. either the
breeding or fattening stock. AS the
method of farming has become more
intensified and the open range grows
less each year, an acre of alfalfa must
be made to take the place Of many
acres of range pasture.
Sheep. being ruminants. are able to
handle a much more bulky feed than
horses. A breeding flock Of sheep can
be carried through the winter season
very successfully with but little grain
in addition to alfalfa hay. Ordinarily
the first cutting Of alfalfa is not as
good for sheep as the second and third
cuttings, as it is usually coarse and
stemmy and sheep do not eat these
stems readily.
It is about as safe to pasture old
sheep on alfalfa as 1t is cattle. They
thrive on 1t and make excellent gains,
but sheep bloat easily and there is
likely to be a little loss from this
source. Lambs can be pastured on
alfalfa with but little danger Of bloat.
and the way they grow on alfalfa is
delight to the shepherd. They should
never be put on the pasture when
they are empty and hungry, and 1t is
always we'll to allow them access to
some dry feed and keep them of the
alfalfa until the dew is of; also on
damp days. A mixture OF alfalfa and
brome-grass or alfalfa and orchard
grass is safer pasture than alfalfa
alone.
A flock Of ewes and lambs can be
grazed for short time each day on
alfalfa with but little danger Of any
loss. If q lamb-creep can be ar
ranged from the sheep corral to an
alfalfa pasture. the lambs will soon
learn what 1t is intended for and will
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

icy wide popularity. These are the
safest varieties from which pros
pective grower can choose.
Berries draw heavily upon the soil
moisture in maturing : crop of fruit.
Humus is the great reservoir of soil
moisture, holding water much as a
sponge. BY turning under barnyard
manure or green crops we eventually
add humus to the soil. The improve
ment Of the fertility % the soil IS
closely allied to the problems of drain
age and moisture. Humus is quite
as important in lettering the one as
the other.
Flow the land moderately deep: if in
grass pillow in the fall and plant to
some clean culture crop the first year.
Sod land is likely to be infested with
white grubs which injure and some
times destroy strawberry plants by de-
vouring their roots. The land, after
blowing and narrowing. should be
rolled or dragged to settle and pull
verize the soil.
There are two systems Of planting
in vogue,-the hill system and the
matted row. In the hill system the
plants are set In hills and cultivated
both ways, allowing no runners to de-
velOp. The growth all centers in the
original mother plants. causing them
to throw out numerous lateral crowns
at their own base. This is an intensive
system and produces more fancy fruit,
being we'll suited to the supplying of
home garden or a special local trade.
Varieties which make few runners
such as Chesapeake or Bubach are to
be preferred for this system as they
greatly reduce the labor Of cutting
The matted row is the rule
among commercial growers The
plants are set fifteen to twenty-four
inches apart in rows three to four feet
apart.
Work should be begun in the spring
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14
Much Valuable Food
Now Being Wasted

Reports from some Of The food spe.
cialists Of the department. Of agricul.
ture indicate that in certain sections
there Is . serious waste of a valuable
food. due to the fact that many house
wives do not appreciate the value OF
suet in cooking and DO not know how
h use It, As a result many throw good
food suet into the garbage pail. or else
In rare cases use 1t with meat trim
mings for soap making. Many are
unaware that suet possesses the same
food value as lard. and II properly
tried out II a satisfactory substitute
Tor frying purposes for shortening,
and In making savory fats. Apparent
" some Of the cook books have misled
the American housewife by stating
that suet 10 good only for soap making
In Europe. however, this food is care
l0ny kept and rendered. and in Ger
many, suet and lard are used inter-
cnon6eAbly for frying and shortening.
6uet 10 tho hard fat about the kid
nsyU and loins in beef and mutton
wnioh corresponds to the fat of hogs
from which loaf lard is made. Those
Who do not know how to render it
object to the hardness OF ruet and to
III special flavor Fresh suet, however.
can DO 20 rendered as to make a soft.
disable fat. practically free from any
distinctive 1avor or odor.
The following Il the simplest meth
Cd for trying out suet:
Remove the skin and lean parts
rom beef fsts, ana cut T. into small
Pieces Put 1t into a saucepan and
cover It with cold water. Place It on
the stow uncovered, 80 that the stea m
may carry or any disagreeable flavor,
When the water has nearly all evan
GRATED, set the kettle back and let the
mt slowly try out When the fat bas
ceased bubb'ing and the scraps Of
skin are shriveled, allow the scrans
% ss<tlo at the bottom of the kettle
ura1n the fat through cloth and set
It away to cool"
mis- rat Is 50 valusbl in cooking
ehat housewives will do we'll to seye
III suet rom their meat and try II out,
cor those who want a mixture of
met and leaf lard the following recipe
Will be found useful:
& Take two parts Of suet and one nj
leaf lard. finely ground and mix TO-
getner. Render this with whole milk
n the proportion Of one-half pint milk +!
90 TWO pounds Of the mixed suet and
lard. (Render means to melt down
or to clarity by melting.) The suet
and lard mixture may be finely divided
oy passing 1t through a meat grinder,
and may then be heated in a double
ooller. when the fat will be quickly
ceieased from the tissues and when
TO cool will form cake on /
the surface Of the liquid which NAV hs
easily removed"
This fat has good odor. color and .
texture, and is softer than the suet ,
lone. It IS useful for frying and the
'n9r.enlns OF foods with high favors
ma may be used with fai, results in
.nortening such things as baking now
aer biscuits. 1t is useful for cooking
'ese.ao Dies either alone or with tho
addition of little butter
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14
DANES KNOW HOW TO FARM.

Denmark Is a country which COM
prises $4,000 square miles, which Is, I
suppose, about four times the size Of
Delaware. 1t supports at least $780,
900 persons In very good condition,
and sends out Of the country each
year, at a conservative estimate, $780,
600, 900 worth of butter, bacon and
eggs. At least 100000 worth Of
this export goes to England; but the
British market Is retained not alone
by the invariable quantity sent out.
summer and winter, but by the invar-
liable quality, Danish butter being the
highest priced butter in the British
market
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14
THE ASPARAGUS BED.
An old asparagus bed can be

An old asparagus bed can be re-
newed in vigor by covering it freely
with stable manure in late fall or
early winter. leaving the manure
there to leach out into the soil all
winter removing the coarse part in
the spring. such as would impede the
cultivator. When spring comes cul-
tivate, but not too deep, with the
horse cultivator. and clear out the
weeds and grass with a hoe, being
careful not to cut off the new growth
which springs up very early In the
spring. Perhaps it Would be better
to weed the patch out by hand rather
than to endanger cutting off the
young shoots. A slight scattering Of
salt along the row would do no harm.
Salt is supposed to be special fertil-
izer, for asparagus.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

roots in to four or five inches and
remove all leaves but one or two. Set
the plants so that the roots are we'll
covered and the crowns are level with
the surface Of the ground.
Frequent and shallow tillage the
first season Is one OF the secrets of
successful berry growing. Cultivate
often enough to keep continuous
dust mulch on the surface to conserve
the moisture; this will vary with the
soil and season, from twice a week to
once every ten days. Decrease the
cultivated area between the rows as
the season advances, allowing the run
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

Pure-bred ewes wintered on alfalfa
without grain.
for roughage that equals alfalfa for
fattening sheep. In an experiment
at the Kansas station. alfalfa and
prairie hay were compared as rough
ages In tho test the grain ration was
corn and cottonseed meal for both
lots. Those receiving alfalfa hay made
an average daily gain of .S35 pounds
per head, while the lot on prairie hay
made only 1913 pounds per head daily.
the alfalfa lot making almost twice as
great gains. The alfalfa seemed to
give the lambs better appetite and
they were always ready for their grain.
and as soon as their grain was cleaned
UP they were ready for the alfalfa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14
Alfalfa Excellent for Raising Sheep
Alfalfa Wellnigh Indispensable the Livestock
Grower Comparative Obscurity has Come Into Prom
nence During the Past Fifteen Years in Manner
Never Before Equaled by Another Known Plant.
BY r. j. KINzER

do far better on It than II confined to
dry yard. Newly seeded alfalfa can
be pastured with less danger of bloat
than an old field, and tho packing Of
the ground by the sheep passing over
it is frequently great benefit to the
alfalfa.
AS roughase for fattening sheep
alfalfa hay has no equal. and cases Of
bloat from the hay are exceedingly
rare. It can be fed either whole or
cut, and fed with grain. Many prefer
this method of feeding. claiming that
there Is less waste by 1t. In feeding
experiments nothing has been found
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14
POULTRY FEEDING NOTES.

Where the dry feed system Is adopt
ed, the fowls should be watered at
the time they are fed
There Is not much danger Of over
fattening the laying hen.
You cannot offend the hen by giving
her dish Of buttermilk.
Soft food increases egg production.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14
HEALTH IN VEGETABLES.

Celery is an acknowledged nerve
tonic, and Is more and more used in
medical prescriptions.
Onions are also tonic for the
nerves, but people will be forever pref
udiced because of their odor.
Lettuce has soothing. quietng ef-
feet upon the nerves, and is an in
somnia remedy.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

propagated by means of runners and
every plant is merely a cut off or
somewhat distantly separated portion
of the original plant Of that particular
variety. A bed intended to grow
plants for setting should expend all
its energies In the production of young
plants and not be allowed to fruit. In
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

While strawberries have been grown
for centuries, it has been only within
the past decade or so that their COM
mercial culture has attained the prom
inence it now holds In the fruit grow
ing industry. Coming into market as
they do early in the season. strawber
ries take a most important place in
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

Farmers should pay close attention
30 fuels when they begin to think
about buying engines. They should
consider only those engines that will
permit the use Of the greatest variety
Of fuels without changing parts Of the
engine. Then they should study the
costs OF these fuels their availability,
and their effect on the engine.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14
General Appearance Of San Jose Scale
This Destructive Orchard Pest Found State
the Union No Other Insect Caused so Much
Damage to Fruit San lose Scale
BY w. BRITTON

Usually the insect appears upon the
bark Of tree as a greyish, rough
coating, scarcely noticeable to the
naked eye. At first there are but few
individuals. generally found clustered
ground the buds and at the branching
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

large enough to admit good, big
rat. 1t is not necessary to use a poison
in the jar for the purpose Of killing
the rats for the rodents can not get
out of the jar and may easily be
drowned. A bait of cheese or some
other food which rats are fond of will
attract the rats by its odor. This kind
Of trap is very effective around
barns, corn cribs. sheds and other
outbuildings.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

Some attention should be given to
the crops preceding alfalfa. 1t Is al
ways important to have 1t come after
crop which leaves the ground as free
as possible from weed seeds This Is
a great help In getting a good stand.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

There is need for better lighting
throughout the country. Life and 1iv-
Ing take on far more attractive hues
when viewed through the illumina-
lions Of home lighting plant. be 1t
electric or Sss.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

Scattered planting over lawn
should never be tolerated. Keep the
plants at the sides of the lot and base
of the building. They may be used
to prevent crossing of the lawn. es-
pecially if planted at the corners.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14
BURMESE RAT TRAP.

The Burmese use an ingenious and
simple method Of trapping rats. A
jar with weighted cover is sunken
into the ground. A hole is punched in
the side Of the Jar on a level with
the surface Of the ground and just
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

The yearly visit of the city relation
always affords the farmer a fine fund
Of astonishing advice on how to do
things on the farm.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

The whites of eggs and powdered
alum made into paste is good home
remedy for spraned ankle. 1t has
proved almost a specific.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

Thank the Lord the time is past
when a man was thought to be ex-
travagant simply because ne had his
house painted.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14
Deep Burrows
BY GUM

Exposing yourself to sixteen hours
of fine hot sunshine every day is a
good remedy for spring fever.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

Just enough vine should be used on
q porch to shade 1t and partly screen
Il from public view.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

Remove all straw stacks and piles
Of trash or lumber that harbor rats.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

A bunch OF lusty weeds growing In
the cornfeld will extract as much
nutrment from the ground as the
corn, but will be a gooG deal harder
tC market.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

Pansies, zinnias. asters. and petu-
Mas make good flower beds
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

In the early days of summer a hoe
and lame back appear to go to-
gether
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

The fight is on against every mani 81
of lice, weeds and Insects
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14
BY j. OSKAAIP

as soon as the ground Is fit. Plants
set out early before they begin growth
will sustain less shock in transplanting
and make better start Shorten the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

China IL said to be- the original
home of the San Jose scale.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

icy wide popularity. These are the
safest varieties from which pros
pective grower can choose.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-12-14
War News

We have noticed almost daily in the French war
either occupied" established themselves ION
the bank of the User" We have also noticed
that the French have repused German attacks ii
the Argonne and made progress, while from time to
time have learned Berlin reports that the
Germans have been progressing in the Argonne re-
sion. Accepting these apparently contradictory
ports to be true, imagine that each of the armies
in the southwest has broken through the other and
both are progressing" each with its back to the
other.
But very evidently little has been doing in the
west at ALL outside the French office at BOr
deaux: but the world has marvellous
operations in the A scale hitherto undreamed
Of. The Russians have been overwhelmingly de-
feated with enormous loss, by superior strategy
rather than by numbers
But according the dispatches of yesterday.
Russian resistance has yet been broken" IT,
however the Germans succeed in their designs
against Warsaw, the objective of the great campaign,
for which the war in the has been allowed
stand STILL the in the east will he over for the
winter. The Germans in control of the railways.
Russia will be unable important forces into
Poland. Germany will then free transfer great
armies hurriedly the west. and may expect
the browning battle of the and OF all
within weeks.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-12-14
The South Side Section

The Republicans six-page South Side Section
it's twenty -eight-page edition yesterday have
impressed strangers and residents in Phoenix
who have not kept track of the wonderful develop
ment of Mesa and Tempe and the country
rounding them. There many people, in
Phoenix who picture these towns small viii
lagos, down in sparse settled neighborhoods,
.1hen a of fact, both have become flour
ishing places with numerous large stores where tie
necessities, the and Injuries of life OBJ
tatinable at reasonable prices
The adjacent country is being up into pros
porous and beautiful homes. very large major
ity of all the residents we-to-d and many
wealthy Squalid poverty is practically
Known. There is, believe, less of it the
South Side"-that is, the country embracing Mes;
ana Tempe and tributary it-than in any other
section of equal in the United States
In these circumstances. it is wonder that
such q showing made in the South Side Sec
ton
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-12-14
COST OF WAR PREPARATION.

The Worlds Peace Foundation gives figures show
ing that the nations of the world spend $2.S24, 000
Il year and navies. And this
is wasted insurance than does
insure. In 1911-l912 Germany spent her army
S2O1 003 900 and her navy S111. 1864 900 The fig
of Great Britain were almost exactly reversed,
the British army costing $l34S5O0O0 and the navy
$216194 000 The British total thus somewhat
the larger In this country, far removed from old
world quarrels navy $l36, 100000 and
army s07 7S7 600 total of s2i4,177.o00. This is
practically the the amount spent by France
for both branches of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Such is modern civilization. Not counting PEN
sions, this government spends almost one-third of
its for purposes 1t looks very much
as though the whole world had gone wrong in its
thinking What we have is the old cowboy civiliza-
ton each nation trying TO get the lrop' on its
neighbor. Facing this situation the Worlds Peace
League does urge that war be done away with.
but rather that we remove the causes that lead
war One suggestion strikes wholly admira-
bic. II is that AL manufacturers Of guns arma-
ments and munitions for in should hero
after national property, and that no private
citizen or corporation should be permitted to
gage in such manufacture" II is further suggested
the export Of such goods for use in armies and
fleets should be prohibited.
We know perfectly well that there is in all coun-
tries a party made up in part, and in large
degree inspired, by men who make profit out oil
the manufacture and sale of war material And the
war party is very influential 1t would lose much
of its power if there were no profit to be derived
from building battleships, forging armor, or max
ing rifles and powder If the governments must
arm let them arm themselves without dividends to
private contractors There are other recommends
lions that are equally valuable, but the ones men
toned are the only that bear directly on the
army and navy expenditure. 1t would help much
il it were made impossible for private citizens TO
make any profit out of supplying war materials
Whether our government builds two, four or SIX
batteships a year ought be a matter OF entire
Indifference to our steel makers from business
point of view 1t is certain that something VIII
he to
material The burden productive INDUSTRY Is Tar
TOO great-Indana polls Journal