davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11

There is perhaps no branch Of poul-
try work about which more questions
are asked or information is more
wanted than diseases. There Is also
no branch Of work that 1t is better for
the poultryman to keep away from
than doctoring sick fowls. Poultry
men throughout the country suffer
heavy losses from disease at times not
so much because they do not know
how to cure disease as because they
do not understand the principals Of
sanitation and the importance of pre-
ventive rather than curative measures.
The Importance Of sanitation has in
creased with the growth Of the poultry
industry, and further increases in the
number of fowls kept will only in
tensify the importance Of this sub
tect
Poultry houses must be built with
view of providing plenty Of fresh air
and sunshine for the birds and the
houses must be kept absolutely clean.
While houses have been mentioned first.
the ground around the buildings is per-
haps more often to blame for troubles,
both with the chicks and with adult
fowls. In fact, it is being recognized
more and more that the condition Of
the soil can very largely make or mar
success in poultry raising.
Failure to realize this, and that soil
originally in good condition for poultry
raising may, by misuse and neglect. get
into such a condition that profitable
poultry keeping on it is impossible. is
responsible for many Of the failures
we have with poultry. While this con-
dition becomes apparent more quickly
and Is more often found among f1ocks
kept on limited quarters. such as
town lot. 1t is not by any means I'M
known among farm flocks.
Many people who make a success on
the start with a few fowls very quickly
get into trouble for which the ground
is resron~. 8 when they increase their
flock and do net take precautions to
prevent the ground from being tainted
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
C0lORED AND WHITE MUSCOVY DUCKS.
By g. A. HOWARD.

doing great harm to each oeho1S 6Dd
this fighting, quarrelsome dtsposftSon
is inherited by tho domestic duck. Tho
temper Of the drake 10 spoken Of -
ahominable: his persecution OF oshor
poultry Is never ceasing, and no ID
credited with having attacked sve0
children when his "dander was ny.
The flesh Of the muscovy 10 considered
very good when they are young. ana
compares favorably with that OF any
other duck. They do not lay nearly
80 many eggs as the common kinda
When raising these ducks their wings
must be clipped to keep them from
flying.
The head Of tho n1uscovy duck =
rather long, and in the drake Il =
large, the top being covered with long
cre.t-like feathers, which rise ana fau
,,har the bird is alarmed. The face
ia the most distinctive part OF these
ducks. the cheeks being naked, WIN
scarlet heshy space around the eyes.
and the base Of the bill caruncuated
also with scarlet folds. This large
red face gives them savage appear
ance and to some it is hideous. me
drake does not have the curled fsatn-
ers In the tail as do other duchA
standard weight Of the adult drake +"
~ Wounds: adult duck, POUNDS;
,,o,np drake, pounds: young DUCK
pounds
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
WINDOW AND PORCH BOXES,

When providing window and YER
anda boxes remember that those made
of metal or stone heat and bake the
soil in warm weather. Plain wooden
boxes painted green with holes for
drainage do very we'll. Be sure to
have vines to trail over the sides of
the boxes to keep the soil cool and
moist. Trailing Vincas. Verbenas,
Lobeoias. Linaria, Saxifrage, Trades
cantia, Petunias. Ivy and Ivy Geran-
iums are suitable for planting along
the edges Of the boxes. Chose the
plants carefully and give them enough
room and plenty of water and press
the soil firmly about the roots.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11

Cultivate frequently a. long a. It
can be done without injuring the rip
ening fruit, perhaps until two or three
weeks before picking time.
During the time that the crop Is be-
ing gathered. the canes for next years
harvest will be getting tall. The patch
will need to be gone over several times
during July and August and the ends
of the canes shipped off to about three
feet high. in order that new shoots may
come out to make larger. healthier
bushes.
After the crop Is harvested, take out
the old bushes with !ong-handled,
short -bladed knife. made for the pur-
pose. being careful not to harm the
Young canes. However II there are
too many young canes in hill. re-
duce the number to four or Ave. IT
we'll cared for. a patch will last six
wears. ...-.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11

ground and get 1t back into such a
grow chickens on.
Chickens grown on ground which
has become tainted generally have an
unthrifty, sicllly appearance. and in
this condition are much more subject
to disease. Chicks raised on the same
ground for a number Of years without
precautions being taken TO freshen It.
are usually more or Jess subject to
gapes and roup, and in fact to any
disease to which fowls are subject.
Another important thing is the dis
posal of all dead fowls One of the
most destructive poultry diseases we
have is called limber-neck. This trou
BILE is attributed to the fowls eating
decaying animal matter. The most
common source of the disease Is a
chicken that has gotten out Of sight
and died. The other chickens eat the
carcass and the insects which infest it
soon after death. Care should be
taken to see that any fowls, or even
larger animals, which die are removed
and either burned or deeply buried
Most states have a law requiring that
all QeaQ animals De buried or burned
or disposed of in such way that they
ere not menace to the health Of the
THE farmer who has abundant range
fo- his chickens, where they may So
cure plenty of green food and insects,
- where the range may be changed
+. IN season to season. has a great
advantage over the man who must
keep his stock in a small space.
If only one place is available this
may be kept In sweet, healthy condi-
ton by the use Of lime and by blowing
and cropping between seasons. If not
possible to plow up a large space at
one time. divide the lot and freshen
up one part Of it, then turn the stock
into that portion-and plow and rem
ovate the other half. Even when
cared for in the best possible man
ner, this is not as desira BILE as q change
to new ground or ground that has been
used a season or two for growing
crops.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11

the musk duck. owing to the odor OF
musk which pervades the skin, but
which Is not noticeable when cooked.
In Brazil they are extensively domes-
ticated and are priced very highly for
eating. In this country and Europe.
particularly In Germany, they are bred
in large numbers. Wild muscovies
are easily frightened and very good
flyers; they fly into trees when
alarmed and remain there for long
periods Of time before leaving their
place of concealment. They some
times build their nests in branches of
trees, and also in hollows near water.
Muscovy ducks are very unsatisfac-
tory birds to keep on the farm with
other poultry, owing to their quarrel
some and pugnacious natures. In the
wild state, the males fight desperately,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
Building Up a
p Good Beef Breed
BY J. L. TORMEY.

To build up herd Of good cattle.
select pure bred sires Of the type and
breed desired. Mate these with COM
mon cows. II better cows Of high grade
or pure breeding are not available.
Save the female calves which most
closely conform to the desired type.
Continue to mate these with good pure
bred bulls and save the best female
offspring as before. Although total
purity Of blood will never be attained
in case only common or grade cows
were available for foundation stock.
the desired type can be obtained and
a world Of good along the line Of I'M
provement can be accomplished.
In selecting bulls for breeding pur-
poses, choose from the so-called spe-
cial beef breeds. viz. Short Horn,
Hereford. Aberdeen Angus and Gallo
way. The West Highland breed IL
also c!assed with beef cattle. The
Polled Durhams may be classed with
the Short Horns and tho Polled Here
fords with the Herefords.
Anyone who expects to Feed cattle
prof1ta bly, for the market should not
try to feed an animal that n not by
conformation and other physical char
acteristics naturally adapted for fat
tening. In short. only good feeders
should be selected.
The good feeder comes from parents
that are good feeders and whose an
cestry is Of good feeding stock, accus-
toned to consume large amounts OF
feed and deposit 1t upon their bodies
as meat Of good quality. The import
ance Of good breeding upon the quail
ity Of animals kept for a specific pur-
pose cannot be over estimated, and
the use of pure bred sires in establish
ing good working herds cannot be
overvalued.
The mating Of common ancestor
or one Of no known breeding with
pure bred sire and continuing to use
pure bred sire on the following genera
lions of offspring Is known as grad
ing" Good common cows bred to Wig
orous pure bred Short Horn, Hereford.
or Aberdeen Angus bulls show in their
calves remarkab Improvement over
themselves in type and quality. 1t
should be remembered that the value
Of the grade is due to the characters
derived from pure bred ancestors.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
This Is Not
A Good Practice

A number Of poultry raisers have
been in the habit Of putting on tho
market infertile eggs that have been
tested in incubators from three days
to q week. As soon as the breeder
finds that the eggs will not hatch he
takes them out and sends them to
market along with his fresh spring
eggs. After the eggs have been in the
incubator for this period they are dis
tinctly stale and rot very quickly II
kept any length of time. Even when
Just taken from tho incubator these
infertile eggs are not fit for boiling
or poaching. although they may be
used for frying. and are good for
cake or certain other baked foods.
These eggs when they reach the mar
ket, however, are classified as low
grade No. 2.
The mixing Of incubator eggs with
fresh spring eggs leads the egg pack
ers, who get their principal cold stor-
age supply in the spring. to cut the
price they pay the farmer. The
spring eggs designed for keeping for
winter consumption must be absolute
ly good. Moreover, the egg packers
In the spring do not candle eggs but
hold them three at a time in the hand
and clink them to discover any crack
and then judge their freshness by their
fresh powderly look on the shell. The
mixture Of infertile incubator eggs with
fresh eggs interferes seriously with this
clinking and forces the packer to
candle the eggs. He then deducts
this added expense from the price he
offers to the producer. Eggs which
have once been subjected to the heat
of the incubator cannot be stored,
even though frozen.
The farmer who sells incubator
eggs to the dealer, therefore. Is very
liza BILE to injure his own market for
fresh eggs. When dealers find a per-
centage Of low grade incubator or
other eggs in their fresh spring egg
supply they lower the price for all
eggs so that they will be certain that
they have covered themselves against
losses from this cause. The depart
ment's specialists advise farmers to
use any infertile eggs they may take
from their incubators for home con-
and to send only fresh eggs
to market.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
THE HouDAN FOWL.

The Houdan is one Of the best taoie
breeds we have. It Is also an exceiient
LAYER, producing eggs Of not only
large supply. but Of generous size, IN
the latter very much like the Minorca.
AS a farm fowl, however, they are not
recommended for the reason that 1t IL
a crested Fowl. The young 1all easy
prey to hawks on account OF tnese
clests preventing them from seeing
what is above them. The old fowls
IL given q free range. are apt to %
caught in rain storm and their crests
become water soaked. which generally
leads on to louD.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
Good Roads and
Good Schools

That improved roads would beneflt
our country school system, there would
seem to be no doubt. Improved roads
make it possible to consolidate or CEN
tralize the schools and to establish
graded schools in the rural districts.
Such schools centrally located will ac-
comodate all the children within q
radius Of from four to Ave miles. In
many communities having the advant-
age Of improved roads. commodious
buildings have been provided. more
competent teachers have been en-
ployed. and modern facilities for
teaching have been supplied at q
minimum cost. For instance. since
the improvement Of the main high
ways In Durham county, North Caro-
lima, the number Of schoolhouses have
been reduced from IS to ~. Of which
II are graded and have two or moro
rooms, and employ two or more
teachers.
There are at the present time about
1000 consolidated rural schools in the
United States. 1t appears that Massa-
chusetts, 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 agri-
cultural department there was ex-
pended in 1899. $22,116 in Massachu-
sets for the conveyance Of pupils to
consolidated schools, but in 1908 the
expenditure for this purpose amounted
to $292,213. In Indiana, the expendi-
ture for this purpose in 1904 amounted
to $50, 900, while in 1908. 100000 was
expended. This expenditure for trans
portation reflects. in a general way.
the extent and progress of this new
educational movement. It must not
be understood that this Is an add
tional burden, as the expenditure
thus made is saved in other directions
that IL, by the decrease in the num-
Der of schools and economy In their
operation. .
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11

A rcd clover root. There 10 nearly ~
much plant below a. above ground.
These large roots open up the subsoil
and add vegetable matter. Tho nodules
on the roots are caused by nitrogen
gathering bacteria, which enable clo-
yer plants to take nitrogen from tho
air and add Il to the soil.
the small clover and grass plants
better chance to grow. Placed in tho
order in which they are generally used.
which indicates approximately their
relative ve'ue as nurse crops, tho COM
mon grain crops would como a. fol-
lows: spring wheat. winter rye. winter
wheat, fax, oats. Wherever clover Is
sown in the spring on winter grain. tho
grain is narrowed very lightly after
the clover seed IL sown broadcast, or
the clover seed may be put IN with
double disc or shoe grain drill. The
selection of a nurse crop for clover
must be determined quite largely from
the crops best adapted to the soil ana
needs Of tho farm; and, at the same
time one that will materially assist tho
clover in meeting the usual climatic
condition OF the locality should be
used.
Younx clover should never be pas
tured or cut for hay tho year OF its
seeding, unless it should show signs OF
blossoming after the nurse crop has
been removed. Then it Is safer to clip
off the heads with q mower than to
pasture closely or cut for hay. Neither
should 1t be pastured tho second
spring, before It has a good start and
the ground 10 we'll settled.
Clover Is an excellent pasture crop
for all classes Of stock. as It furnishes
4 luxurtant growth of highly nutr1-
ttous food from early spring until late
in tho fall, providing it IL not pastured
too closely. During tho heat OF the
summer It should not be pastured
closely. as this win curtail the fall
feed, Tho after crop that comes on
after taking off tho hay crop makes
excellent fall pasture The grave dan
ger from clover pasture Is bloat.
Where stock IL turned on to 1t gradu-
ally until they are accustomed to it.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
CULTURE OF BLACK RASPBERRlES

The soil for the berries should be
fairly fertile, free from sod or roots
such as quack or blue-root grass and
all foul weeds. Plow rather deep, and
harrow until the earth is perfectly fine
and pliable. Too much manure has
been known to bring on "the yellows"
1t besaid right here, II any yellow
plants are ever discovered, they should
be pulled up at once and promptly
burned.
Mark the ground with a corn
marker three feet each way. Set every
row one way, and every other one the
other way-making the rows three
feet by six feet
Plants should be set as soon In the
spring as they are large enough-say
from four to six inches high. Put them
in deep; six inches is good depth.
They must have a good, firm roofing
hard winds the following years.
Cultivate and hoe often enough to
keep the field free from weeds. The
more often the soil is stirred, the
greater will be the yield. In a dry
season. frequent cultivation draws the
moisture to the surface, and helps to
tide the plants over until the rain
comes. Sod will soon run out" berry
brushes. Keep the land level and
clean.
If no young plants are wanted for
the next year, this finishes the first
season. If, however, new sets are de-
sired, either for home use or for sale.
this is the way TO get them. BY the
way. plants in the spring sell all the
way from SO to SO a thousand. &C.
cording to supply and demand.
Early in September, bury the ends
in the ground about two inches. A
trowel makes good tool for this pur-
pose.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
PLANT FOOD IN SEEDS.

Much Of the food Of very young
plants comes from the seeds to which
they are attached. To prove this,
plant two beans in a tin can contain
ing sandy soil; water and keep in a
warm, light place. Soon after the
beans push above ground take a
sharp-pointed knife and carefully cut
off the two half beans without injur-
ing the rest of the plant. Allow the
plants to grow for a week or two and
note the more rapid development of
the plant to which the half beans are
attached. ..
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
MANY EXCELLENT USES FOR CLOVER
Its Beneficial Action On Long Of Ussu
Its Excellence a Hay and Pasture Crop. Make
1t Valuable Plant

and then Kept on II continuously, VIM
access to some kind Of dry feed, sakt
and water. there 10 very little. 4 any.
danger from bloat-
Glover makes splendid hay when
properly cured and stored. Ono ton
Of well-cured clover hay IL worth. for
feeding purposes. nearly one-han -
much a. q ton Of bran. Glover hay
Is especially valuable for feeding dairy
cows or young stock. Tho quality Of
clover hay depends on tn palat1hdlSty
and nutritive value. Much Of the
clover hay now used II very poor. %.
ing to tho fact that many try to oa5o
clover hay In the same way they eose
timothy hay. Glover hay 70 oven moro
valuable as q feed than h Indicated ~
the amount Of digestibis nutr1msnts d
contains. This 10 due to the fact thak
clover 10 rich in protein OF muscle
forming food. Such forms Of rough.
ago a. corn stover. timothy and tod
der corn, are lacking IN protein: and.
If one using them ~ the roughAgs IN .
ration. protein must be supplied b.
feeding such high-priced grains -
oats, bran or oil meal; while II clovsr y
fed a. tho roughage. corn and baS3sH
which are cheaper grains may b
used. Glover for hay should BE- cut -
soon AZ the nrst blossoms begin 70 turn
brown. and tho hay should be cursd IN
tho shade. After tho clover has bsen
cut, It should be turned with toddsP
az soon a. tho leaves In ths upper part
of the swath are well wilted. Before
the leaves and stems become dry and
stiff. the hay should be raked into
windrowA This will shade most Of the
hay and allow q good circulation Of air
through It. Clover cured IN tho Wind
row docs not yet stir like that exposed
to the sun in the swath for . day or
two. With good weather the hay
should be left In tho w1ndrow over
night and turned a time or two the
next forenoon. It should thsn b
ready for the stack tho second a3ssE.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
Flies and Disease.

Flies play an important part in the
transmission of disease. They can
carry a disease from one person to
another, from an animal to q person,
from one animal to another, or from
person to an animal A fly can
carry thousands Of germs on its feet
depositing some Of these on every
thing It touches. The majority Of these
germs may be harmless. but the pos
sibility that there may be some disease
germs among them Is the point to lie
kept in mind.
Another way In which dies and
other insects do a great deal Of dam
age is by the worry they cause an ami
NAL. One lily can cause horse or COW
q great deal of annoyance. Think
what a hundred flies can do. The
solution Of the fly question lies in the
destruction of their, breeding places,
as q good example. This would seem
to suggest just one more good reason
for the proper disposal of manure,
which may be q breeding place not
only for flies, but for other insects
and different forms of bacteria, as the
germs of certain diseases leave the
bodies Of the affected animal with the
bowel discharges.
Don't allow the flies any spot In
which to make a home. Clean up
every particle Of the manure about
the premises and keep it cleaned up,
by removing It every day to the fields.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
CLIMBING VINES.

Nature intended most vines to climb
upwards, but if you wish a vine to
spread and branch freely, grow the
Japanese Hop-humilus Japonicus. 1t
is an annual and wants to be sown this
month where 1t is to grow.
Were I allowed but one climber. I
would choose the monthly honey
suckles. They pay best in beauty Of
flower and sweetness Of perfume.
The wild grape is SO hardy and Its
flowers SO sweet, it should be given a
place about the farmhouse.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11

According to tests made by tho In
diana experiment station. 1t was shown
that through incorrect operation OF
the speed indicator a dairyman owning
twenty cows lost $554.10 in one year,
because he guessed" at the speed OF
his cream separator.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
SANITARY SURROUNDINGS FOR POULTRY
Poultry Raising Can Be Made Profitable Depends Upon
Good Many Different Conditions But Perhaps the Most
Important of These Is Proper Sanitation.
BY j. JEFFREY.

become unfit for raising poultry on. 1t
will be best to give up this line Of
business for time. The free use Of
lime and the growing of crops, with
the necessary turning Of the ground,
are the best ways to freshen the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11
BRIEFS ON JLNE AND LINING.

If much lime is to be used. buy a
lime spreader
Use burnt lime with caution.
Ground limestone and mari are
harmless materials.
The coarser the mestone, the more
should be applied per acre for quick
results.
Rarely does lime act as a true fer
t!lizer.
Lime cannot inoculate.
To grow alfalfa on acid soil, lime
first, then inoculate.
Lime. only. corrects acidity in soils.
Lime is not cure all" for every
soil ailment.
Buy lime in carload lots.
Buy the lime. If finely divided,
which will give you the most carbon
ates for your money.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11

The trouble with the usual method
OF planting the home grounds is not
30 much that there Is too little plant
ing Of trees and shrubs, but that the
planting Is meaningless.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11

In the spring. sever tho young set,
"here It Is four or six inches high.
from the mother plant. Trim all the
other ends on the old plant as far
back as they are dead
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-11

larly those growing in the nursery
row. Such trees should be sprayed
three or four times with bordeaux
mixture $3.50 or either of the lime
sulphurS