davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18
NEW AGRICULTURAL YEAR
BOOK BEING DISTRIBUTED

of the United States which eats the
greater part of the fish consumed in
this country DR. Pennington points
out that the ordinary American is
completely ignorant of the great
variety Of fish at his disposal. The
cheapness OF this food is also scarce
" realized DIR Pennington names
ten staple varieties some of which
il is safe TO say can always be pur-
chased for less than ten cents a
pound. even when prices are highest.
and can usually be obtained for less
than five cents
Another article by w. F. Ward
shows how greatly the beef industry
in the South has profited from the
work of eradicating the cattle tick.
one indication of the growing inter-
est in beef industry in this section is
the large number OF farmers who for
the first time are buying pure bred
cattle.
The business side Of farming is con-
sidered in two articles by W. j Spill
man and T. n Carver: Factors Of
Efficiency in Farming. and the Or
ganization of Rural Interests. Prof
Spillman finds that in the last an
alysis the farmer himself is the de-
ternining factor in every successful
agricultural enterprise He is as
quick TO see the advantages of a new
system of management as he Is those
in improved methods of tilling the
soil or feeding his stock. DR.. Carver
tells with the aid OF graphic maps
what has already been done in the
way Of organizing cooperative en-
terprises for the benefit OF farmers.
Mutual insurance companies, CO.
peratiee<creameries cheese factories
and elevators are among some or
these widespread enterprises.
Other articles deal with various
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18

The year book of the United States
department of agriculture for 1913 has
just come from the presses and is
now being distributed to congress
men and to correspondents of the de-
partment entitled to receive copies.
The new volume differs in several
respects from its predecessors. The
articles that it contains are in gen.
eral of a more popular and instruc-
tive character, and although the book
itself contains a smaller number Of
pages. it is safe to say that it has as
much valuable material in 1t as ever
In addition to the secretary's re-
port there are fourteen special ar
ticles by department experts and an
appendix containing statistics of the
principal crops; q table of the ami
mails imported into the United States
for breeding purposes for which GER
tificates of pure breeding have been
issued, and lists of the agricultural
colleges and experiment stations IN
the United States, together with the
names of the State officials in charge
of agriculture.
The book is illustrated b. fifty
four full-page plates, of which "A
large number are reproduced in coll
ors. and by twenty-one tables, maps
and line drawings.
In the articles in the year book the
cost OF living plays a prominent part.
DR. Pennington. for example, points
out that Americans neglect a vale-
able source of food by failing TO take
advantage of the immense supply of
fish at their disposal The protein
content of fish is fully as high as
that of meat and vet although meat
prices rise steadily little or no ef-
fort is made TO use the cheaper SUBJ
stitute. 1t is the foreign population
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18
TO MAINTAIN FERTILE SOIL,
IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY

early potatoes SOW after the crop has
been harvested.
The object of sowing a mixture as
recommended above is to assure
some growth even though the sea-
son should prove unfavorable. Grim
son clover is probably the most val
liable of our soil improvement crops
but it is not we'll adopted to the eli
matte conditions that frequently pre-
vail in northern New Jersey. If the
season is favorable, however. it
makes a splendid growth that more
than repays the occasional failure.
The same may be said of Mammoth
clover. Vetch. is much surer than
either of the clovers but the high
cost of the seed as well as its trail
ing habit makes it undesirable to
SOW it alone
Rye is an old dependable mainstay
which will always grow, no matter
what the seasonal conditions. 1t also
acts as a support for the vetch, keep
ing it off the ground and enabling it
to make better growth.
Under average conditions this mix
ture will produce a cover crop which,
when plowed under in the spring, will
be equal in soil improving value to
an application of twenty tons OF
stable manure to the acre. The cost
OF the SEED per acre IL less thoii
three dollars and twenty-five cents
would pay for the sowing.
Not only does a cover crop add
plant food to the soil and improve
its tilth and water holding capacity,
but it also prevents the loss of plant
food through teaching and washing
during the fall and winter months,
when the land otherwise would be
bare. This is especially true on hill
sides-and a large proportion of the
farming land in Essex, Passaic and
Bergen counties is so situated,
Every farmer knows the serious
consequences of a dashing rain on a
bare hillside, while if the same hill
side were covered with grass or some
other fine-rooted plants which hold
the soil in place very little washing
would result.
Many of the best farmers already
practise cover cropping, but many
more could profitably do so. 1t
doesn't seem reasonable to pay fifty
dollars for manuring an acre of
ground, when three dollars worth of
seed will accomplish practically the
same results.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18

Recognizing the Importance Of
flower boxes in the business district,
the committee on downtown streets
of the Chicago Association of Com
merce has issued booklet calling
the attention of business men to
their opportunity in this direction
The advertising value of this touch
of nature in the heart of a great city
is one of the many advantages
pointed out Already several of the
great hotels, banks and other insti-
rior plant boxes. adding much to the
beauty of the place and making a
decided impression on the public.
To quote from the committed s
booklet: Chicago has the opportu-
nifty greatly TO improve the appear
ance of its business district during
the summer months by the adorn-
ment of business buildings with
flowers. vines. or shrubbery grown
in boxes. The cooperation of all
progressive building owners and ten
ants is invited in adding a touch of
nature" that will be a source of
pleasure to the people of Chicago. to
visiting business men and to tourists.
The favorable impression you make
viii bear direct fruit Such orna-
mentation is living advertisement
and worth many times its small cost
Dispel from the minds of people that
downtown Chicago is ugly The
growing of plants within the loop
district Is not an experiment. The
booklet here notes number Of no
tells. banks. restaurants, etc. where
the idea has been carried out.
The use Of flower boxes has a
favorable effect upon ones trade and
ones employees. Progressive manu-
facturers in Chicago and elsewhere
have found that more and better
when the windows of the working
rooms are filled with growing plants
What is true of anufacturers is
true of all other lines of businesses.
Those who have tried the plan find
that they cannot afford to be with
out the growing plants Flower
boxes exert an influence both from
the inside and from the outside In
other cities tenants in Offices too high
to be seen from the street have main
tained flower boxes for the influence
they seem TO have upon their en-
ployes and their clients. In me-
chanical age, when surrounded on
every side by things artificial. the
use of growing plants is the one
touch of nature that brings US back
to real things.
Experience with flower boxes in
Chicago and elsewhere has proven
that growing plants can be main
tanned for months with a little reg
ular attention, that the flower boxes
do not fall on peoples heads and that
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18

to purchase lumber for making forms
for some types of construction. For
example, there is the case of a builder
who utilized some old kegs for maxi
ing supports for building, and in an
other instance several kegs were piled
one upon the other to make a strong
concrete column, the concrete subse-
quently being wrapped with wire and
plastered to bring 1t into proper
shape. Again, aAman desiring a flower
screen at a point where ii was impos,
sible to dig, merely divided an old
store box into two compartments and
placed therein some five inches of con-
crete. In the centre of each block
was imbedded, while the concrete was
soft, a section of two-inch pipe.
The two timber supports for the
flower screen were inserted in these
pipes and proper cross pieces at
tached from top to bottom. After
serving this purpose throughout the
summer the supports came into play
in other convenient ways, one of
them being used as a base for
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18
COMBINING INGENUITY WITH CONCRETE
IS HELPFUL ON COUNTRY PLACES

If the dweller in the countryside
would combine little ingenuity with
concrete he could make many useful
things from a single unit or pattern,
irst as he could cut up board for
sundry purposes. The manufacture
of concrete lumber of this type is a
simple matter. Consider, for exam
PIE, simple concrete board or slab.
Some of the uses to which this ce-
ment lumber could be put are as
follows:
IL two of the boards were firmly
planted in an upright position and a
third slab placed across the top one
would have an everlasting stone
bench.
Two of the boards planted longi-
tudinally with a third board placed
upon the top would make an excel
lent culvcrt or cover for a small
drain.
BY providing proper supports,
whether of concrete or other con-
venient material, these slabs would
serve as steps
Laid upon the ground, one after an
other, they would make an excellent
walk.
Planted at the sides of the garden
walk they would keep the vegetable
or flower beds i'm position. The walk
between could be composed of a
series of slabs.
If made sufficiently wide they
could be utilized for the sides of a
hotbed or cold frame.
Made a little thicker and stronger
they would constitute an excellent
pavement for a cellar, carriage house
or ground level porch,
Another convenient type of con-
crete lumber is the small beam. In a
box of required length could be cast
4x6-inch sections of concrete eorre-
spending to timber of that dimension,
or in larger size. if desired, These
would be reinforced with three
eighth-inch rods. one in each corner.
Four of these firmly planted would
carry a large slab, thus making an
indestructible, weatherproof table
They could also be used for posts and
supports
For making boards or slabs one
should have shallow box or form
that will hold concrete to the depth
of two or three inches. 1t may be
of any desired length and width. A
layer of concrete placed in the box
to one-half the depth of the latter
would be the first step in the manu-
facture of the board. Upon this
would be placed a layer of woven
wire and the box then filled to the
top.
In brief, as stated, one would have
so much concrete lumber on hand,
and If he were to exercise his in
genuity he would find many uses for
1t other than those described above. 1t
would not be necessary in every case
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18

they do not leak and stain the build
ing The best results seem to have
been obtained by the use of sub
irrigated flower box Wherever
flower boxes are cared for by the
tenant this is preferable. The plants
may be cared for by the tenants or
by the florist Growing plants may
be rented from the florist for the
summer season, il which case the
work Of maintenance is done by the
florist"
Arrangement Of the Boxes.
Among the rich and the people
who, if not rich, are at least very
comfortably situated, thousands Of
dollars are spent every summer on
this one item. The man of average
income, however, need not be with
out his window box. for the ordinary
everyday plant at a very reasonable
price will add much beauty TO any
home
The accompanying illustration
gives a good idea of what may be
done. Some Of the more elaborate
arrangements are. Of course. too
costly for the average salaried man.
but others are within the reach Of
lnnost everybody who is unwilling TO
slight his love and appreciation OF
growing things where growing things
are all too scarce Palms, rubber
plants, dracaenas. pandanas, etc.
are all used with fine effect in the
more elaborate arrangements. What
the person of moderate means needs,
however. is something that will keep
on towering all summer. White
marguerites, vineas, both green and
variegated. and geraniuns are splen-
did plants for such cases II watered
and fed as required they viii keep
well during the entire season. S A.
Mutt and Jean yiaud are two very
good geraniums to use. Dwarf lobe
las and vines of thunbergia alata
are also desirable. Nasturtiums,
ivies. Boston ferns, asparagus. spren-
geri. solanum jasnindoides, are few
of the many plants that may be used.
The box obviously must be made TO
fit the window and to set OF but not
to obscure other objects of beauty,
but otherwise its shape is immaterial
It should be deep enough for good
drainage. nine OF ten inches at least.
The material of which the box IS
made. of course, Will depend a great
deal on the price one wishes to pay.
Boxes of oak and cypress are. how
ever. cheaper in the end than the less
costly kind. as they do not have TO be
renewed. The box should harmoniZe
in color with the house and the COM
mon green color IS often out of place,
not fitting It's surrounding. and often
detracting from the green's Of the
vines or plants. Especial care must
be taken of the soil if the plants are
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18

10 continue to do we'll Loan from
rotted soil should form the basis Of
the compost. One-fourth well-rotted
COW manure and leaf mold in about
equal parts should be added. II the
sod is of a close-knit nature, sand or
grit should be included The plants
must be able TO run their roots
throughout the soil. hut there should
be substance enough to make for life
and to keep them vigorous.
Filling the Boxes.
Where the vines are heavy they
must be planted firmly. 50 the wind
will not tear them loose. It is better
to plant them first and then firm the
soil around them Rough-lesved
plants should be left out OF considers
alton, II there is a great deal Of fust
TO contend with. The ferns. aspara-
gus and the like, can be placed be-
tween the vines Do not water too
heavily If the boxes are to be filed Il
the greenhouse and removed at once.
Use just enough to settle the soil
when they are first planted and give
a good watering when their final des-
tination IS reached. If IN a sunny
position. copious watering WILL Of
=
from the street reaches the plants
frequent syringings will be in order
Above all. 1t must be remembered
that il is not necessary for the box to
look well, but that every precantion
must be taken to keep 1t in that con-
dition.
Plant Vases.
Lawn vases are quite as important
summer adjuncts as are window
boxes. although not in such general
use. They are Indispensable for
large grounds, however. but they are
loo frequently not the objects Of
beauty they should be. There mar
be several reasons for this. Plants
in metallic receptacles should be
placed in shady positions. as they
will otherwise be likely to suffer from
overheating of the roots. Good drain
age must also be provided. Over
crOwding must also be avoided.
The selection of eelors that har1non.-
lie is as important here as win
window boxes. and unless the plants
are arranged in good taste the mere
fact that they are in d thriving con
dition will not matter materially. The
rustic idea is often carried out wiEi
good effect where lawn vases are
used. as it lends itself naturally 70
the work A lard barrel sawed to
the right length and with perfora-
tions in the bottom for drainage viii
do very nicely, but. of course, the
plants should hide the barrel from
view.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18

Christmas tree, and on another occa-
sion it was called into service on the
lawn as a support for large sun
shade.
mixture consisting of one part
Portland cement, two parts clean,
sharp sand and four parts crushed
stone would make a strong and dense
concrete. The concrete should be
used at once, after mixing, and be
given ample opportunity to cure thor
oughly, which would require from a
week to ten days. In the meantime, it
should be sprinkled daily. The form
in which slabs or posts are cast should
have simple locking device and
hinges to facilitate removal after the
concrete has set
The purpose in adopting concrete
rather than lumber would be to elimi-
nate all outlay for renewals and re-
pairs, such as are essential when wood
is used. Time and exposure to the
elements increase the strength of con-
crete and hence for the various de-
vices specified it would serve the pur-
pose as long as required.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18
GOOD ADVICE

In some cases weeds viii come Ia
the lawn in spite of the best Efforts %
keep them out. One way to kill
them or reduce their numbers is 70
NOW the lawn frequently in spring
and early summer This will kill or
reduce the annual weeds which have
but one season Of growth Perennial
weeds. however. which live on in the
ground from year TO year, cannot be
killed by being cut off az the top, as
their roots and crown buds will live
on This kind must be killed by being
dug out by the roots. or all the crown
buds cut off low down
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18
THE COUNTRY CALENDAR

Do to horse the same as you would
like to have done by you were you
a horse.
In the autumn cut off the currant
twigs of the growth of the year and
stick them down in any protected
place. They will become rooted, and
may be transplanted in the next
spring or later. Is there any better
breakfast relish, any more healthful
dish, than that of currants and
cream?
An egg may be new laid and fresh
within the limits of the meaning of
those words and still be decidedly not
a good egg. Eggs readily absorb odors
and taints so that a new laid egg, il
placed where 1t is exposed to unpleas-
ant odors. may quickly become unfit
as an article of food.
On all falkland farms the immedi-
ate ground on which the buildings
stand should be graded up toward the
buildings and made low along the
outside lines so that surface water
shall flow away from the buildings
instead of standing in pools about
them or causing unnecessary mud
and dampnesS.
The word "culling' has come to
mean among ,poultry raisers "elim-
mating the unfit" To build up a
profitable flock 1t is absolutely neces.
sary that those that are of poorer
quality be disposed of before they
have "eaten their heads off," They
are often loss to the flock, not pro-
ducing enough eggs to pay for their
keep, and are a cause of disease.
Give the hen the attention she mer-
its. Keep only purely breed varieties.
House them comfortably and feed
them well. Endeavor to have the hen
consume large amounts of the right
kind of food Confine her within GER
tain definite bounds. so that while she
is not crowded and hampered, YET
she will not have an opportunity TO
run about the farm wasting her en-
ergy, loosing her eggs and making
herself general nuisance.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18

branches Of the work of the depart
ment ranging in subject from a dis
cussion BY c. F. Langworthy of what
the department does for the house
keeper to an article on the practical
value Of entomology by F. NJ. Web
ster. Prof. F. E L. Beal has gathered
material for an article on American
thrushes which shows that they are
not to be priced for their song alone.
but are in other ways of real assis-
tance to the farmer. and j F. Collins
tells of practical tree surgery More
strictly agricultural papers are those
of c. r. Bali on the Grain Sorghuns.
I. r. Dewey on Hemp; r. Q. z.
Davis. on Economic Waste from Soil
Erosion, and W A. Taylor and r
P. Gould on Promising New Fruits.
The present health laws and their
relation to the department are ex-
planned by F. G. Caffey. and, finally.
A. d. Melvin contributes an article on
the South American Meat Industry
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18

The highly intensive systems of
farming practised on the greater part
of the farming land in the northern
counties of New Jersey make the
question of maintaining soil fertility
arl soil tilth most important one.
Cultivated crops are grown on the
land year after year and in spite of
stable manure and commercial fertil-
/izers in many cases the. yields cannot
be maintained. This is especially
true on the very sandy soils and on the
/ heavy clay soils in the county, as both
these extreme types require a very
large amount of organic matter to
maintain the moisture holding ca
pacity of the former and the proper
tilth of the latter. Stable manure will
solve the difficulty if enough of it can
be secured and applied. and with some
of our smaller truck crops, which
must utilize the ground during the
entire growing season, stable manure
is the only solution. But land devoted
to the production of sweet corn, toma-
toes. early potatoes and some other
crops, or to fruit trees, can be greatly
improved by the growing of cover
crops between the rows with the main
crop solely for the purpose of plowing
under in the spring
There are several crops which may
be used for this purpose, but the
clovers, vetches or beans or others be-
longing to the legume family are best
because of their ability to get nitrogen
from the air and store it up for later
crops. Some of the grains and grasses
may be used, however, and have their
valuable place under certain circum-
stances. A good mixture sufficient for
one acre for sowing between the rows
with the crops mentioned above would
consist of the following:
Rye or wheat. ...........40 40 pounds.
Winter vetch. .............l .lS pounds.
Crimson clover. .......... 10 pounds.
Mommoth clover. 2 pounds.
When planted in corn and tomatoes
this mixture should be spread broad
cast just previous to the last cultiva-
ton and when there is an abun-
dance of moisture in the soil. The
cultivation will cover the seeds suf-
ficiently. In peach and apple or
chards SOW the seed just previous to
the last narrowing between the trees
which should be made during the
last of July or early in August. In
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-07-18

Do not handle ducks by the legs
or wings; carry them by the neck,
Soreness of bealS. head and eyes
is a complaint which may affect
goslings later on. This is caused by
chiggers and grass. ticks Olive oil
and turpentine, half and half, make
a strong smelling oil which, with the
addition of few drops of carbolic
acid, will repel these insects.
Goslings should be kept warm and
quiet for at least twenty-four hours
after Matching. and should be as
, carefully guarded from chilling the
first week as chicks Do not give
them free range until they are ac-
ouainted with and win follow their
mother Confine them to small NOV
able pens. which should be moved to
fresh grass each day.
Give ducks charcoal twice week.
Charcoal should be fed to poultry OF
all kinds in larger quantities. Corn
cob charcoal is as good as ready
prepared if made rightly. Dig a pit,
start a fire with a few cobs, and add
more until you have a pit of red-hot
Goals. Pour cold water over the cobs
at the red coal stage. If the char
coal seems damp, dry it out before
feeding. Crush and keep before the
poultry, or powder and feed in mash
An animal raised on the farm will
not introduce diseases from an out
side source.
If YOU find the borer in your
SQUASH vines, split it out and bury
the wounded part under loose. damp
earth.
Cellars are usually poor places for
milk. as there is not sufficient air in
circulation to drive out the stale
odors and milk is such an absorber
of ill-smelling things.
Every driver of horses should see
TO it that his horses are given fire.
uuent opportunities to bury their
noses in the water. 1t will refresh
them greatly. Don't leave them
standing very long in the hot sun.