davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21
T r. E E INJURED BY RODENTS.

Every year thousands of fruit trees
are injured by mice and rabbits. Some
are damaged to such an extent that
there is no chance of recovery, while
others are not injured to an appre-
ciable extent. but for those trees
which are not completely ruined, what
means can be used to save them
Prof. c. c. Vincent says that by re-
sorting to the following method the
trees may be saved:
First, If the injury extends only
around portion of the tree and is
near the base, it will heal over in one
or two seasons, by banking up the soil
over it. This should be done before
the wood becomes dry. The soil should
be piled about foot high and pressed
firmly around the base Of the tree. In
case the wound cannot be covered
with soil, it should ba covered with
soft grating wax and wrapped with
three or four layers of burlap. New
bark should soon form under the COW
er if the exposed surface has not be-
come too dry. Trees completely
girdled have been saved in this way.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21
Value of the Skunk
to Agriculture

The skunk, which Is represented
throughout the country by a number
of varieties, genera. and species. Is an
animal of great economic Importance
It. food consists very largely Of IN
sects. mainly Of those species which
are very destructive to garden and
forage crops Field observations and
laboratory examination demonstrate
that they destroy immense number Of
white grubs, grasshoppers, crickets
cutworms hornets, wasps, and other
noxious forms. The alarming increase
Of the white grub in some localities IL
largely due to the determination Of
this valuable animal.
1t is a matter OF common observa-
ton where white grubs are particular
ly abundant in cornfields to note little
about hills Of corn. These are made
by skunks in their search during the
night for these grubs. During the
recent outbreak Of grasshoppers in
Kansas 1t has been determined that in
food Of skunks consisted Of thess
grasshoppers.
Some of the most destructive in.
their work below ground and out of
reach Of any method that the farmer
can apply and it Is against many Of
these that the skunk Is an inveterate
enemy. Notwithstanding all of this
there Is probably not an animal that Is
as ruthlessly slaughtered as Is this
one.
In connection with the work of the
{,,ry too tow to
northeastern New Mexico it has been
found that skunks destroy a great
many of the pupae (chrysalis) Of this
caterpillar, and in fact. during Sep
TENDER and October. when this food
is easily available, they prefer it to all
others. About the middle of September
it was discovered that many webs
were empty, the pupae having been
neatly extracted from the web and
either carried off or eaten. In many
areas containing hundreds of acres
from 25 to rs per cent of the pupae
had been carried off. while in a few
isolated places as high as a5 per cent
Of the Eemileuca-Me:>ilan I''m-e
caterpillar-pupae were gone. .'c'-
lowing these observations. ri IS !!
skunk eXcrcment were found VII i
consisted in some cases almost entt,e !
of pupae shells. Subsequent cuu. Is
made show the eXcrement found
rave from 60 to 95 per cent 81 l.;
contents consisting Of these crushe
shells. On the Crow Creek ltaT' 4
there was not an area observed Z
what had some Of the Heni' u
pupae destroyed by these aninls' . 500:
is thus seen that the common sk.lt
is at the present time one Of the me-
important factors looking toward t =.
control Of Hemileuca outbreaks ar.i
should be protected by the rancho. 5
in the infested distric.. a~
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21

In general, spray nozzles are of two
kinds: the hollow-stream, and the
solid-stream types. The former, var
iously known as the mist, whirl or
disk nozzle. breaks up the liquid into
fine particles which leave the nozzle
as hollow cone Of spray. Obviously
such minute particles lose their mo-
mentum, because Of the resistance Of
the air, and thus nozzles Of the mist
type have but a short range. They
are. therefore, not adapted to a sys-
tenn of spraying requiring penetration.
The solid-stream nozzles used for
spraying are commonly known as Bor-
deauX nozzles. In these a stream of
liquid is forced against a DETECTING lip
which produces a fan-shaped, coarse
driving spray. Not until it reaches
some distance from the nozzle does
this stream break into drops and these
retain their penetrative power at long
range. Such noZzles are suitab BILE for
penetrative system of spraying.
Most buds and blossoms point up
wards To spray up into the trees
from the ground does not place the
spray behind such buds nor into the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21
SOUTHERN CATTLE COMING TO THE FRONT

the early extensive beef production
in the United States followed the lines
OF least resistance, or of greatest
profit with least expense of labor and
capital. 1t remains for the present
stc':kmen to develop to the fullest the
latent posi- bilities Of land once passed
by for greater opportunity elsewhere
insofar as beef production was con-
cerned. Some sections Of the country
have not raised great numbers Of
cattle because other farming pursuits
offered greater temporary induce
ments. This is especially true of the
south, meaning those states regarded
as the cotton states.
significant feature of the recent
International Live Stock Exposition at
Chicago was the fact that, for the first
time, two herds of cattle from below
the old Texas fever quarantine line
were exhibited in competition with
cattle from all over the United States
and Canada. The competition was
very keen, as all kinds Of animals were
exhibited. The Shorthorn herd of the
Lespedeza farm, Of Hickory Valley,
Tenn. won a number Of prizes at this
exposition. This farm, three years
ago, was said to be the worst tick-in-
tested farm in the state, but Is now
free Of ticks and has been released
from quarantine.
The farm was released from quaran-
tine only year ago. The herd of
Herefords from this farm at the In
ternational won the grand champion
ship for Hereford bulls with Point
Comfort 18th. This bull was bred and
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21

In making Q hotbed the gardener
should be governed by CD climate,
90 location. (s) kind Of material
used, a. requirements of plants
grown. 60 time the bed is made. A
hotbed has artificial bottom heat
while 4 cold frame does not This
heat may be Supplied in a number of
ways but tho farmer will find stable
manure from tho horse stable the
most satisfactory for heating.
Tho common type Of hotbed frame
10 made six feet wide, twelve feet long
with twelve and six inch sides respect
lively. The depth Of the frame varies
according to the plants to be grown
Two by three-inch cross bars are
placed at intervals to support sash and
give the frame frmness. If frames
are to be used each year, it is advis-
able to make them of good two-inch
material with bolted parts so they can
be readily taken apart and stored
until needed. Standard hotbed sash
are made three feet by six feet. Thus
twelve-foot frame requires four sash.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21
WHITEWASHING A GOOD PRAC.
TICE.

The old-fashioned New England
h a b t of withdrawing everything,
from the front yard fence to the
stable, at least twice year, was a
most excellent one, and is one Of the
old-time customs which the present
generation might we'll adopt.
T. The following is the recipe for
making whitewash published, by the
United States Department Of Agricul-
ture.
Stake half a bushel Of unslaked
lime with boiling water, keeping it
covered during the process. Strain it
and add a peck of salt, dissolved in
warm water: 3 pounds of ground rice
put in boiling water and boiled to a
thin paste; half a pound of Spanish
whiting. and a pound of clear glue,
dissolved in warm water. Mix these
we'll together, and let the mixture
stand for several days. Keep tho
wash thus prepared in kettle or
portable furnace, and when used put
it on as hot as possible with painters
or whitewash brushes.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21
Gasoline sprayer equipped with tower.

deaux nozzle, at two hundred and fifty
pounds pressure, amounts to nearly
three pounds. Without the crook
this recoil is added to the weight
of the rod and the hose. With the
crook the back action. operating at
an angle at the end Of the extension
rod. lifts the rod and relieves the
operator Of most of the weight.
The purpose of high pressure is two
fold. 1t assures quickness Of applica-
ton, and it gives penetration to the
spray. Doubling the pressure pract1-
cally halves the time required to spray.
With a given pump. it takes about
twice as long to spray at fifty pounds
as if the spraying were done at one
hundred pounds. or four times as long
as if the work were done at two hun
dred pounds. In each case. the same
amount of spray material is required
to cover a tree.
High pressure means as much press
ure as the pump will produce. The
ideal high pressure is two hundred and
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21
SUNLIGHT.

Sunlight Is one of the best and
cheapest disinfectants at our disposal
and we should take advantage Of this
fact at every opportunity. In the con-
struction of barns or shelters of any
kind for animals, ample provision
should be made for the admission of
the maximum amount of sunlight.
Southern exposure Is desirable, that is.
having the majority of the windows
facing the south. The warmth thus
provided in cold weather is desirable.
and much Of the excessive heat in
summer can be avoided by providing
suitable curtains or screens. Most dis
ease germs are easily killed by direct
sunlight. as has been repeatedly shown
by experim Preston Hoskins.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21

The modern farmer measures the
value of his spraying by the results ne
secures He sprays to protect HIS
fruit and trees from insect ana luns-
ous diseases. satisfactory spraying
systeh1 must give this protection VIII.
the least expenditure of money, ana OF
labor.
The KEYNOTE to successful spraying
Ia thoroushness, and thoroughness
means one hundred per cent OF clean
fruit. Every wormy or scabpy apple
every curled or scaly peach tree IN
creases the cost Of production ana
lessons the quantity of marketaole
fruit.
While most Of the pests occur on
the surface of foliage and park
within easy reach Of the spray.
great many are located within cracks
and crevices, under bud-scales, and IN
the calyx cup; or are SO oily that they
are hard to wet. In the matter OF
practical control it is these protected
pests which must be reached. me
spray must wet through the wool OF
the woolly aphis, reach the aph1s eggs
behind the swelling buds, Thoroughly
coat scales and fungous spores. wet the
orchard mites hiding in the innermtost
crevices of the bark, and place arsenic
for the cooling worm beneath the
fleshy stamens Of the apple blossom.
Any spraying system that will reach
these pests will easily -ontrol those
on the exposed surface. Thorough
ness in spraying. therefore, implies
penetration.
The method which. in our expert
ence, has proved the most effective In
producing these results calls for the
following equipment: 1. A nozzle
which will produce a coarse penetrat-
ing spray. 2. A crook. 8. A high
pressure pump. l.. A tower" for tall
trees.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21
CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF HOTBEDS

soil or in small shallow boxes, COM
monty called FLATS" The method Of
sowing the seed depends upon the
operator and kind of seed. The frame
will need ventilation on bright sunny
days. The grower should watch the
frame each day. for 1t should be
handled as local conditions require.
Ventilation can easily be given by rails
ing the sash few inches. If possible,
avoid dull cold days for watering the
plants. Lower the sash in time to re-
tain ample heat throughout the night.
Endeavor to maintain growing condi7
tons in hotbed at all times. This
will require close attention to ventila-
ton and watering. When plants are
stunted in hotbed the best results
from them in the garden cannot be
expected. In brief. the points to con-
slider in management of hotbed are:
% Maintaining proper heat. (2)
Ventilating. CD Watering. (4)
Hardening off, (5) Transplanting.
Beginners are apt to start their
plants too early in the sea son. Plants
should be stocky. strong and vigorous
when they leave the frame. II plants
are poorly grown or growth retarded
very little is gained by the use Of q
frame.
Buying cheap seeds is poor eco
nomy. Good seeds must be true to
name, virile. pure and be Of the
greatest possible longevity. Buy the
best seeds that a reliable scotsman
has to offer. Endeavor to secure the
superior and improved strains at all
times for in this way only can unde-
sirable seed be avoided. 1t is seldom
wise for the farmer to grow his own
seed. Careful judgment should be ex-
ercised in choosing garden seeds. and
they should always be ordered in am
pie time before planting to secure a
good choice and receive them in due
time.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21

The manure used should be made
uniform in composition by forking 1t
over several times before placing it
In the pit. Hotbeds which are in
tended to last for two months should
have from two to three feet Of
manure. The longer the heat re-
quired the more manure should the
bed contain.
A layer of coarse material is first
placed in the bottom of the pit to
Keep the manure from coming in con-
tact with the ground. When fermen-
tation has developed sufficiently in the
manure, place it in the pit, tramping
1t firmly. A layer of leaf mold or
some coarse material is then placed
on top Of the manure. Soil Is then
placed to a depth according to the
requirement Of plants to be grown.
An average depth Of soil is six inches
The temperature will rise quite high
at first. Planting should not be done
until 1t has fallen below 80 degrees
Fair.
Seeds may be sown directly in the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21
CONVENIENCE HELPS.

First Of all the poultry keeper
should have a convenient place to
keep pOultry-a house sufficiently
large for the number Of hens sheltered
therein; not necessary a fancy house,
but one, that is coy, properly venti-
lated, we'll rooted, free from drafts,
handy to get into, easily cleaned, and
with good interior arrangements. Such
henhouse, be it ever so cheaply con-
structed, will make convenient home
for the flock. Convenience tends to-
wards making poultry keeping a
pleasure. 1t saves time, labor, and
often disappointments. 1t helps to do
things well which otherwise might
only be half done.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21

blossoms. Effective spraying calls for
a downward directed spray. With a
straight rod this downward direction
is attained only by the falling spray.
and such spray has lost it's pen "trative
power. When the nozzle is joined to
the rod by a crook, the spray can be
thrown downward, squarely into the
desired places.
Not all parts Of the tree. of
course, can be reached by down.
ward directed spray. but the crook
makes it easily possible to point
in any other direction. also. Any
sort of spraying will reach the
easy places; the crook is needed to
put the spray into the difficult places.
The crook. Furthermore, very greatly
lessons the labor OF spraying by it's
lifting action when spraying down.
ward. The back action of a Bor-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21
convenient plan for feeding sorghum hay SOUTH

raised In Arkansas below the quaran-
tine line. He won strictly on his
merits as southern bull, bred, raised.
and fitted on southern feeds and pas
lures. A yearling bull by Point Com
fort 14th sold for $575, and bull calf
by the same sire sold for $44O. These
facts show the possibilities Of the south
as breeding ground for fine cattle.
The control Of the tick has opened
a new vista for the southern farmer.
Not only is diversified farming re-
CURED to control the boil weevil, but
also to build up the once fertile soil
that has become depleted by continual
cropping and the removal Of the entire
crop from the farm, Consequently.
successful stock raising offers a means
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21

that determines how we'll the applica-
ton is made. but the lowest pressure
recorded.
When trees are over thirteen feet
tall their tops should be sprayed from
an elevation and not from the ground.
Usually detachable platform or
tower" Is built over the spray wagon.
and is provided with waist-high rail-
ing, or with a straddle built like a
saW-horse, to enable the operator to
reach out over the trees. The lower
part OF the tree. however. should be
finished from the ground.
When spraying a tree, the operator
begins at the tips Of the branches,
stroking down the branches, first on
one side. then on the other. AS the
spraying progresses he passes around
the tree, repeating the stroking on the
remaining branches = With a good
equipment, on trees less than fifteen
feet in diameter, .such sweeping from
the tips of the branches down will
drive the spray through most of the
tree, so that groups of branches can
be sprayed at one time and no par
ticular attention need be given to the
inner portion of the tree. The strok-
ing movements should not be too
rapid or they become firing to the
operator.
When trees are so small that they
can be sprayed from the ground it Is
advisable to complete each tree before
passing on to the next. When the
trees are larger, so that it is difficult
to drag the hose around sideways, it
is better to spray that half of the
tree nearest the outfit, leaving the
other half to be sprayed on the re-
turn trip. Most Of the high pressure
pumps which are in use today use
some sort Of gasoline engine as the
source of power.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21

Cowpeas are particularly we'll suited
for use in localities where they will
mature crops and both their nutritive
value and cheapness. as well as their
good flavor and the numerous ways in
which they can be used should rec
ommend them to the housewife.
Though favorably known as a staple
food in the southern states. the cow
pea has not come into general use
throughout the United States. 1t is
we'll worth greatly extended use as it
is wholesome. nutritious and possesses
a peculiar delicate and pleasing flavor.
CoWpeas are used on the table in
three forms. In the pod shelled
green. and shelled dried. In these
three forms they correspond respect
lively, to string beans. sheiled green
peas, and dried navy beans. and call
for much the same methods of prepa-
ration for the table.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21
Starting the -. =
New Incubator

In warming up the machine for the
first time start with a moderately low
lamp flame. taking care that 1t is not
80 low that there will be an offensive
odor from the lamp. Allow the ma
chine to heat up very gradually. Don't
be In a hurry about this. In cool
weather with the machine directly off
the cars 1t will sometimes take three
or four days or even a week to get it
heated up so that 1t can be depended
upon to regulate properly. Adjust the
regulating device Of your machine
when 1t reaches the proper tempera-
ture by carefully following the printed
instructions furnished by the manufact-
ursr Of the incubator. In handling,
be sure that you follow these direc-
lions implicitly. This is a very impor-
tant matter. Do not be in too great
. hurry to get the eggs into your ma
chine. Be sure that you have 1t prop
erly set up. adjusted and running uni
formly before you intrust any eggs to it.
After = . MAJ hine Is thoroughly
warm. operate It for "a hours. at
least, Just a. II you had the eggs in it.
opening the door. removing the trays
- II you were about to turn the eggs,
rsturning them to the machine. and
closing the door again. BY doing this
yeU will make sure that tho regu-
laktns device 10 working a. 1t should
and holding the heat at tho normal
ineubA&or temperature. This temper
AtarA By the way, varies with different
machines and sometimes under differ
en4 conditions from 101 degrees to
lel degrees, depending upon the ar
fragment, Of the egg chamber and
the relation Of the eggs to the Their
momstsf. In the matter Of tempera-
turs Of the egg chamber the beginner
should Be guided entirely by the
printed instruction. or in event Of its
faillnG % give sausfactory results he
should advise the manufacturer Of his
machine Of such failure, explain the
conditions under which he Is operat-
ing his lncu bator, and ask for further
instructions - to operation in his par
tfcular location. There IL one thing In
connection with incubator temperature
that the beginner should always bear
In mind: Don't lot tho heat get too
high. Prolonged exposure to excessive
heat over-forces tho embryo and i'm
pairs its vitality. Exposure for some
time to temperature of 104 degrees F.
or over at any time prior to piping
10 liable to injure the hatch or result
in loss in vitality in the chicks.
So far a. possible, all Of the eggs
placed in the incubator, or at least in
one tray Of the machine, should be Of
the same age within q day or two, as
this will insure more uniform devel-
opment Of the EN- bryos. Eggs for
Matching should seldom b. kept longer
than three weehE. The older the egg
when set the less likely it is to hatch
well. Too much handling of eggs
prior to incubating is liable to result
In disappointing ha.ches.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21

of bringing the soil back to its normal
productivity.
Not only can stock be grown in the
south, but there is every opportunity
to finish steers for the market. Corn
properly tended does quite az well a. It
does further north. Cotton seed meal.
OF course, is cheap and readily available.
Consequently, with corn, cotton seed
meal. and a variety Of legumes avail
able. the southern cattle feeder has
all the feeds that the corn belt cattle
feeder could desire for finishing cattle.
There seems to be no logical excuse
>for the south not to furnish meat for
the people within its limits, and even
ship the product to northern markets,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-21
The New and
the Gid Hens

AS breeder I consider the yearling
hen superior to the pullets, as he
eggs are usually larger and will pro-
duce better developed chicks. In fact.
the vigor Of the offspring is not de-
creased if the hen is kept three or four
years.
Considered as a breeder alone her
value does not depreciate as long as
she produces good chicks. But 7e
must judge her value also by the
total amount of her egg yield and we
know that the older she grows the
fewer eggs she will produce.
|. Experiment station results and prac-
teal experience go to show that 1t
seldom pays to keep hens after they
are two years old, except for breeding
uses.
Notwithstanding the fact that pull
lets will lay more eggs than yearling
hens, I believe it pays to keep as many
yearling hens in the flock as puHets.
Many who keep farm flock do not
consider the cost Of raising the pullets
to an egg producing age while the
yec old hens are making profit -or
them.
Keeping about the same number OF
yearlings as pullets enables me to
market about one-half Of the. older
birds during the summer when they
are in GOOD condition and will bring
the highest price.
In this way I have plenty Of room
for the young pullets early in the fall
and get them into their houses and
ready to begin laying before cold
weather comes on.
BY planning my reproducing
flock in this way I am able to supply
regular customers and maintain
fairly uniform egg production during
the entire year.
After the older birds are marketed
| the yearlings alone must be depended
| upon to supply egg customers until
the pullets begin to lay in the fall.
I have found it unsatisfactory to
depend upon pullets alone to main
tain uniform production during the
| whole Of year.