davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
VALUABLETOFARMER
Hawks and Owls Destroy Many
VoraCiouS Rodents.
Ferruglnous RoushIeg Is One Of Our
Largest and Most Beneficial Birds,
as II Feeds on Meadow Mice
and Other Mammals.

Prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agrlculture)
According to biological authorities
Of the United States department Of
agriculture, certain hawks and owls
are Of value to the farmer in destroy
Ing voracious rodents. Notwithstand-
ing the deep-rooted prejudice against
these birds, it Is the belief that tho
good they do overbalances the evil.
Hawks and owls may be divided ar
bitrarily into four classes:
/. Species wholly beneficial
2. Those chiefly beneficial.
B. Those in which beneficial and
harmful qualities about balance.
I. Harmful species.
It should be stated that several birds
of prey belong to one or another class,
according to locality. A hawk or owl
may be locally injurious because at
that place mice, squirrels, insects and
other noxious animals are scarce. and
consequently the bird is driven to feed
on things Of more or less value to
man, while in other regions where its
natural food abounds, it does absolute
ly no harm. A good example Of this
kind is the great horned owl
To the wholly beneficial class, the
squirrel hawk or ferruginous rough
leg and the four kites-the white
tailed kite Mississippi kite, swallow
tailed kite and eyerglade kite-belong.
The chiefly beneficial class contains
a majority Of our hawks and owls. and
includes the following kinds Marsh
hawk, Harris hawk, red-tailed hawk,
red-shouldered hawk, short-tailed
hawk. Swanson hawk, broad-winged
hawk, Mexican black hawk, Mexican
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
BENEFIT TO SCHOOL SYSTEM
Massachusetts, Ohio and Indiana Lead
ers In Movement to Consolidate
Rural institutions.

That improved roads would benefit
our country school system. there
would seem to be no doubt. Improved
roads make It possible to consolidate
or eentralize the schools and to estab-
lish graded schools in the rural dis
tricts. Such schools centrally located
will accommodate all the children
within a radius Of from four to nve
miles. In many communities having
the advantage OF improved roads, COM
modious buildings have been provided,
more competent teachers have been
employed. and modern facilities for
teaching have been supplied at mini
mum cost. For instance, since the
improvement OF the main highways
In Durham county. North Carolina, the
number Of school houses has been
reduced from 65 to AZ, or which IL
are graded and have two or more
rooms, and employ two or more teach.
ers.
There are at the present time about
1000 consolidated rural schools in the
United States. It appears that Massa-
ehusetts, Ohio and Indiana have made
the greatest progress along these
lines, and It Is rather significant to
note that In these states about one
third Of the roads have been improved.
According to statistics Of the agrieul.
tural department, there was expended
in 1899, s22116 In Massachusetts for
the conveyance OF pupils to consoli.
dated schools, but IN 1908 the expendi-
ture for this purpose amounted TO
s2s2,213. In Indiana, the expenditure
for this purpose In 1904 amounted to
$s6,00o, while in 1908. s290,000 was
expended, This expenditure for trans
portation reflects. In a general way,
the extent and progress Of this new
educational movement II must not be
understood that this Ia an additional
burden, as the expenditure thus made
Is saved In other directions-that is,
by the decrease in the number OF
schools and economy In their opera.
tion.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
FASHIONS AND FADS
let buttons are in high favor

Jet buttons are in high favor.
Jet belts are frequently seen.
The medici collar seems to hav,
come to stay
One-piece linen dresses are in grea
demand.
Long lines are a feature Of all coat
and suits.
The best dancing petticoats are &C
Gordon pleated.
Skirts with flounces are now re
garded with favor.
Crocheted tango and maxixe neck
laces are coming in.
Velvet ribbons are used on the most
picturesque hats.
II Is said that petticoats are gettina
wider over the hips.
Fancy bolero Jackets are seen in
the latest cotton dresses.
Among ten pretty gowns there will
be five of black taffeta.
The straight coats and bodies seem
to have obliterated the waist line al
together.
The shapes Of sunshades this sum.
mer show more originality than their
materials.
Some Of the prettiest white hats
have white wings set on either side,
Mercury-fashion.
Round, broad-cut necks are ofteneI
used han the V-shaped for decollete
dresses.
The very simplest and quietesi
dresses are being worn by the best.
dressed Parisiennes.
The transparent sleeve, tight at this
top and gathered into a cuff at the
wrist, is a new fad
The general effect of hats is height
Many of them are like flower-pots
turned upside down.
Cloaks are a matter of absolute
necessity this season. from both the
useful and the artistic standpoints.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
PROPER TIME TO CUT GRASS
Haste Makes Waste When Crop Is
Hurried 70 Barn Not Fully Cured
-Hurryina Doesn't Pay.

As to the best time for cuttinr
grass, It does not pay to be In to,
much Of q hurry. When the grass Ii
young and tender and seemingly sue
culent in the fresh state, 1t is harder
to cure, dries and shrinks more and
has not nearly the food value Of the
more mature crop.
While the opposite extreme should
be avoided, cutting before the seed is
so ripe as to scatter, there is much
more nourishment in the matured
stalk; and one farmer who was com.
plimented for bringing his cattle
through the winter on a minimum
amount Of grain and yet keeping them
in good flesh attributes his success
largely to this fact
Haste makes waste when the crop
is hurried to the barn not fully cured.
Hay cut green requires more thorough
drying than that almost overripe. If
the season is a wet one hay can be
mown and taken in the same day
when a pleasant day comes, even
without tedder, If matured.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
GOPHER is INJURIOUS
RECOGNIZED AS MOST IMPoR.
TANT ENEMY OF AGRICULTURE.
Natural Food OF Rodent Consists OF
sueeuIent Roots and Such Green
Vegetation as Can Be Dragged
into tho Rurrow.

No other animal attacking the un-
derground parts Of alfalfa can equal
or even closely approach the gopher
In destructiveness. The pocket gopher
occurs In almost all sections and Is
everywhere recognized as an impor-
tant enemy OF agriculture on account
OF its habits OF feeding on cultivated
pasture grasses and grains. They are
Injurious In fields Of grain which they
destroy In great quantities. In cult.
waited fields they are harmful on ac-
count Of the large mounds which they
throw UP In digging their burrows
The plains pocket gopher, which
holds sway on the Western plains. and
the prairie pocket gopher which is to
be found in almost all parts OF the
country, are very similar In habits.
and the methods OF combating one
form will also serve for the other.
The prairie gopher is short and
stocky. showing an average length Of
about ten inches from the tip OF its
nose TO the end OF its stubby, hairless
tall It's body is covered with silky
dark-brown hair, It's eyes are small
and we'll protected by fur. and It's ears
are 30 short as hardly TO cause a rip
pie in the smooth-lying fur of the
head. It's front feet are furnished
with long, strong claws and otherwise
modified for digging In fact. the
whole structure OF the animal flts It
for its subterranean existence.
Except for possible brief excursions
at periods Of migrating, the gopher
passes practically its entire llfe in its
burrows. Indeed, II is a rare occur
renee TO find one abroad on any err
rand. They appear 70 live solitary,
each individual gopher apparently
bent on having the world to himself
and each digging and taking care OF
his own dwelling Doubtless where
fields are 90 badly infested that tun-
nels cross and reeross, more than one
gopher may be trapped in the same
runway. The female produces but one
litter Of young per year, yet because
Of her sheltered life raises enough OF
them that the species Is constantly in
creasing.
The natural food Of the gopher con.
sists Of succulent roots and such green
vegetation as can be dragged from the
surface into the burrow. The coming
Of alfalfa. with its deep-growing sue.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
AIfaIfa.Fed Sheep.

sured. It will also be possible to Sc
cure visits and bids from buyers when
such a number is promised. The
lamb clubs Of Tennessee, notably the
one at Goodlettsville, have proved
very successful in this work.
The same organization can also be
used in disposing of the wool.
In countries'where economy in farm
management has been studied a long
time, the sheep is considered to be
necessary in utilizing vegetation on
such waste lands as are not wet or
marshy. But the sheep can hold its
place on high-priced land as a meat
producer alone. Compared with
larger animals 1t has some important
advantages. First, the lambs mature
very rapidly, being marketable at
four months of age or later, accord.
ing to breeding and feeding. This is
an economy because a larger proper
tion of the total feed goes into IN.
crease of weight than in slower grow.
ing animals. Second, the sheep con.
sumes a greater variety Of plants
than do other animals. Many of such
plants are detrimental to pastures and
would otherwise require hand labor
to hold them in check. Third. grain
waste in harvesting can be entirely
recovered by sheep. These facts
prompt some farmers TO claim that
the summer food OF sheep costs moth.
ing, because what they consume would
otherwise bring no returns.
Compared with hogs the sheep has
an advantage in the wider variety OF
materials 1t consumes. Being
ruminant it make its gain with a
minimum Of grain and expensive con.
centrates. This is especially impor-
tant on those kinds OF lands that are
better adapted to the production OF
forage crops than to grain growing.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
Pocket Gopher.

culent roots has largely solved the
question Of food supply for this ami
NAL by providing II with an abundance
easily accessible both in winter and in
summer. Truly the conditions Of the
alfalfa field are such as to render life
easy for the gopher tribe. Not only
does the animal injure alfalfa by
actual consumption OF the roots, but
by covering up a considerable portion
sometimes 20 per cent? or the area
badly infested, and by rendering the
crop in fields so infested difficult to
harvest. OF the many methods Of
combating these animals. poisoning
has been found at once the quickest
and most efficient This Is done BY
putting carbon bisulphid into the bur.
row and closing the burrow at once.
The fluid may be poured into the bur.
row directly from the bottle Can ounce
Of the liquid) or preferably a wad or
cotton saturated and rolled into the
hole, and the opening closed i'm.
mediately.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
PROPER HANDLING OF a HOE
light In Weight, Easy to Use and
More Effective Than Any Other
Implement on Farm.
By L. N. BENNINqToN1


So many people have horror OF
using a hoe. It is the most comfort
able implement to use in the equip
ment OF a gardener or farmer, and II
Is handy to use for so many purposes
that one cannot get along without 1t.
Probably one reason that people do
not like the hoe Is that most hoes ex-
plain at once how duh as a hoe came
into proyerbial use.
A dull hoe Is certainly not a pleas.
ant implement with which to work.
The good gardener will keep his favor
ite hoe filed to a sharp edge all the
time. Il Is impossible to grind a hoe
on a grlndstone because the bevel
must be on the upper side OF the blade
when II is in use, in order to make
the hoo bite into the soil
File your hoe, making the bevel
about twice as wide as the thickness
Of the blade. Then keep It bright and
when you 90 out after weeds the hoe
slips through the soil SO easily that
hoeing is not much like hard work.
In hoeing. long, slow movement
should be made, If the soil is In good
condition. Simply "scuning" half an
inch Of the top soil is enough to kill
weeds and one can 60 over lot OF
ground in one day II the hoe is sharp
and bright and the strokes long and
smooth
With a sharp hoe one can cut this.
ties, dock, dandelions and other nox-
ious weeds. with quickness, dispatch
and ease. It is light to handle, easy
to use. and more effective than any
other implement for many purposes.
In choosing a hoe. select one the
blade Of which lies, not quite fiat on
the floor when you are standing erect,
with the hoe handle extending from
your hands when in working position
TO the floor. The heel Of the hoe
should not quite touch the floor from
this position.
Such hoe viii bite into the soil
easily, when II is bright and sharp and
will work smoothly and effectively.
Sharpen the hoe as soon as IL gets
noticeably dull. This will be hard on
the hoe, but it saves muscle and hoes
are cheap. Carry a small fat file IN
your pocket and do not allow a. nick
TO stay in the hoe a minute after It is
made.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
KEEP SOME SHEEP ON FARM
Get as Good Ewes as Is Possible 70
Procure and Never Use Any But
PUre-Bred Buck.

Ten to 20 ewes will be enough on a
120 to 200-acre farm. unless II is de.
cided to make sheep the leading farm
stock; as the natural increase from
these will soon build up flock.
Get as good ewes as you can pro.
cure, and they will probably be grades,
which is all right. but remembering
that the male is more than half the
flock, never, never use any but pure.
bred buck
The novice can easily get some repu-
table dealer who knows the kind Of
ewes wanted to procure him the
needed number. and / advise against
starting in to learn the sheep business
with too large a flock, but to begin
with a few animals.
Ten good ewes can be had for about
$50, the buck will cost $40 up to as
much as you are willing to pay, and
10 lambs next July, will bring you
the cost Of the whole. but this is not
good business.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
illinois WOMEN HAVE
THE FIRST REAL TEST
IN coming CAMPAIGN
By The United Press

- a AD 0hAltn EIt6S.
CHICAGO, July 23.-The women Of II.
linois will undergo their first real test
as a political factor in the coming cam.
paign In the April elections they voted
only for city officers, but on November
3 they viii have the additional privilege
Of voting for county, state and national
officers.
The officers for whom the electorate Of
the whole state win vote are: state
treasurer, superintendent Of public in.
struction, clerk OF the Supreme Court
three trustees Of the University Of II.
linois and United State senator. An
counties and several cities will provide
several offices to be filled.
The municipal elections last spring az.
forded little opportunity for profes
sional politicians to get line on the
women's voting strength, as one alder.
man was elected from each ward and
women voted for different candidates
even when voting for the same party.
The fall campaign, which is just getting
under way, will permit the women "a
combine in support Of certain candi
dates, and It is very probable their votes
viii decide the fate Of many aspiranti
for the various offices.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
CHURCHES COMBINE
TO INVADE MEXICO


NEW YORK, July 22.-That the
Protestant denominations have united
to present a common front in religious
and educational work in Mexico was an.
nouneed today by Bishop w +. Oldham,
chairman of the general committee rep-
resenting the various mission boards.
As the result of conference. it has
been agreed TO combine under the name
of The Evangelical Church" work in
Mexico, that has heretofore been carried
on independently by the Methodist
Episcopal, Baptist, Presbyterian, Disci-
pie and Congregational boards. The
united churches win aim to secure ''the
earliest possible evangelization of the
entire Mexican nation.s
The plans include more extensive
educational program than has ever be-
fore been known in Mexico. A great
educational university will be estab-
lished if the plans of the cooperating
boards are carried through. At least
one high school for each Of the sexes
will be opened in every mission terri.
tory and schools of higher grades win
be consolidated. Elementary schools
where domestic and manual arts shall
be taught, will be established in con.
nection with all organized congregations
The mission territory viii be readlusted
so that no state viii be without relig.
ious and educational effort
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
POINTS OF A PROFITABLE HEN
Good Sign of Healthy Fowl When
Comb is Plump and Red and Wat
ties Of Bright Color.

II the comb Of the hen is plump
and red, and the face and wattIes OF a
bright color, it is a good sign that
she is in health and laying condition.
If confined at such a time she win
show great restlessness, wonderful ac-
tivity and be full Of business when at
liberty. She will be on the alert at
every sound or motion.
On the other hand, If the comb ap-
pears shriveled, or the edges of the
comb and wattles are of a purplish
red, she will be listless, sleepy and
sluggish in her movements.
In such a case she is out of condi-
tion and is either sick or likely to be
before very long.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
ENTITLED TO A GOOD ROAD
Farm Is Not Ranked as First Class
Unless Improved Highways Are
Provided by Owner.

Despise not the road drag, but crit
icize yourself either for not knowing
how to use it. or for not using it when
you do know now, simply because you
Will not be paid for It. The farm is
entitled to a good road alongside of It,
and is not a irst-class farm unless
It has such a road. The farmer him
self Is the best man to make that road
good, provided permanent bridges and
culverts have been put in, and the
necessary drainage has been done at
public expense. Then If the farmer
for the compensation in some way
provided, will not keep his road de-
cent, let him bear the reproach of the
community. A little healthy public
sentiment along this line viii do more
to bring the road drag into use than
any legislation that can be placed on
the statute books.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
FEW PRACTICAL FARM NOTES
orehardlst Who Has Sprayed Hls
Trees Can Send Clean Fruit 70
Manufacturing Hay Crop.


Don't try TO do ali the farm work
today and tomorrow There are more
days coming. Save strength for the
tussle that is coming by and by.
The fruit crop is likely 70 be short
this year and the man who hac
sprayed his trees and can send clean
fruit to market viii reap his reward
The man who makes a good seed
bed and then puts any old seed into
II that comes along is like the man
who tried to lift himself by the boot
straps.
The farmer who keeps taking fer
tility from the soil without putting
anything back, will soon put HIS farm
in such condition that it will not raise
even a mortgage.
When you can get a fair price for
your wool let It go. II does not pay
TO hold wool over a year on the
chance Of getting a better market,
when you consider interest and loss
of the use OF money This applies TO
most other farm crops.
There is such a thing as being too
economical in cutting your hay crop
] have seen meadows badly injured
by setting the machine so that II will
cut too low. This is especially true
where we have long spell OF hot,
dry weather after haying The grass
roots are seriously injured by too
close moving. Better leave an inch
or two more on the stalk and save
your meadows.
Evening journal., 1914-07-23

per Figure, Adult Male; Lower Fig.
ure, immature Female.
goshawk, sparrow hawk, Audubon car
acara, barn owl. long-eared owl, short
cared owl, great gray owl, barrel owl,
western owl, Richardson owl, Acadian
owl. screech owl, flammulated screech
owl, snowy owl, hawk owl, burrowing
owl, pygmy owl. ferruginous pygmy
owl and elf owl.
The class In which the harmful and
beneficial qualities balance includes
the golden eagle, bald eagle, pigeon
hawk, Richardson hawk, Aplomado
falcon, prairie falcon and great horned
owl.
The harmful class comprises the
gyrfalcons, duck hawk. sharp-shinned
hawk, Cooper hawk and goshawk.
The rough-legged hawk and the fer
ruginous roughleg, or squirrel hawk
as 1t is sometimes called on account
Of its fondness for ground squarrels,
so destructive in the West, are among
our largest and most beneficial hawks.
The former breeds wholly north of the
United States, migrating south in Sep
tember and October and remaining un-
til the following April. The latter
breeds extensively through the great
plains region. The winter range of
the roughleg is determined more by
the fall of snow than by the intensity
of cold, the main body advancing and
retreating as the barrier of snow melts
or accumulates.. Meadow mice and
Jennings form the staple food of this
bird. Jennings do not reach our
territory, except in Alaska, but in the
north OF Europe they occasionally
form into vast, migrating, devastating
hordes, which carry destruction to
crops in the country invaded. The
ole, OF meadow mouse, is common
in many parts of this country, and east
Of the Mississippi river, without doubt
s the most destructive mammal to
agriculture. 1t destroys meadows by
tunneling under them and eating the
roots Of grass. This mouse also de-
stroys grain and various kinds of veg
etables, especially tubers,. but proba-
bly, does even more damage by grid
ling young fruit trees.
The roughleg is one of mans most
important allies against meadow mice,
feeding on little else during its six
months soiourn in the United States.
It thus renders important service in
checking the ravages Of these small
but formidable pests. The roughleg
is somewhat crepuscular in habits. be-
ing on the alert during twilight and
early dawn, when small mammals are
most active. Other mice rabbits and
ground squirrels are eaten occasion
ally, and some Of the older writer's
Evening journal., 1914-07-23
The Don't Worry Club
Written for The Evening Journal by
James T. Crozier.
Don't worry cIub,a q iavorIte

Don't worry Clubs a favorite
With nearly every one,
And here's the proof Of what I say
They're coming on the run.
A member left us yesterday
Who thought II was no harm
To take q car conductors Job
So he could buy farm
we welcome every man who comes
II he has got no trade;
Our bylaws say that every one
Must stay beneath some shade.
Another thing our bylaws say,
He's not to look too trim,
And If he should desire food
It's carried into him.
He must not worry any time
For fear Of getting sick;
II so. the only dose allowed
Is little bits Of brick.
We do not want the doctor or
The nurses in our home;
We have decided not to pay
One cent If they should come.
SO send your name, do not delay.
But send II soon, my friend,
II won't be very long until
These chances all will end.
Wen soon have several hundred ic5
This bully club Of ours
TO lay beneath the shady trees
And pass the pleasant hours.
No other order in the tcwn
Where you'll have such a chance
To learn most everything that's nice
Except II is to dance.
For Tango Hugmetight. and such
Just looks to our eyes
Like work, and is against our rules
To have such exercise.