davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
BROILERS ON THE FARM.

The early chick is the most profit
able, yet there is profit in the late
chick provided it Is not too late.
There is an exceptionally large de-
mand in some sections for lightweight
roasters and broilers of from two to
two and half pounds. This furnish es
splendid opportunity for those who
wish to rear and market chicks with
out being obliged to house them.
Hatched in May or June, they should
easily weigh two or two and one-half
pounds before October 1. II especially
we'll fed, they should reach that
weight still earlier. This is the most
favorable time to hatch and raise
chickens, as the parent stock has been
out of doors long enough to acquire
splendid health and remarkable vigor.
Eggs, if sensibly set, should hatch al
most perfectly and the chicks should
live and thrive.
The equipment required 10 very
small-a good sized box or barre,
covered with waterproof paper, set in
dry sheltered place, may be used
both to set the hen in and to house the
brood, though the barrel is rather I'M
Luz llc UIOOu dItSI lAc CAACAS
are weaned, especially if there are
many Of them.
Both hen and chicks should be al
lowed free range after the chicks are
a few days ole. to pick up a large
share of their living, but in addition
it is a good plan to feed them at night,
and to give them all they will eat, as
they will grow faster and will either
be marketable at an earlier age or
weigh more, and consequently bring
more, at a given time. Chickens OF
this weight, will not, it is true, bring
a fortune, but it must be remembered
that they cost very little to rear. The
fact that the earlier they are mar
keted, the better the price, should not
be lost sight Of. For this reason. it
pays to feed them little where there
is not an opportunity to pick up abun-
dance of food.-A. c. Smith.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
The Potato Digger
a Useful Machine

Without a digger the work of har-
vesting the crop of potatoes is long
and tedious task and every man who
grows this crop should plan to have
enough acres devoted to the crop to
make it profta BILE for him to own q
machine, or at least an interest in one.
The modern potato digger does
cleaner work than is usually done by
jured and the expense of harvesting
the crop can be reduced about three
cents per bushel.
The use of the digger is equal to
blowing the ground once when a crop
of wheat or rye succeeds the potato
crop in rotation.
The best machines are the ones that
lift the soil and the tubers from the
row and sift the soil from the tubers
and allow them to fall on the loose
soil in a row.
These improved machines cost from
$50 to 500 and are more economical
in the long run than those that can
be bought for less money. There are
numerous makes of diggers in the
field, but the only way to determine
which one is best adapted to the soil
of your farm is to have field test.
Any machine agent should be will
ing to have his machine tested if he
has confidence in it himself.
Clean work should be demanded of
any digger, for after growing a good
crop of potatoes it should not be lost
by using poor machinery in harvest
ing.
If the soil is heavy do not expect
a machine to do good piece Of work
without strong horses that will handle
1t to advantage. The potato digger is
indispensable to the man who grows
a large acreage Of this crop. In this
way he can make the potato digger
an economic utility ON his farm
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
ROUND VS.. RECTANGULAR BARNS
BY w. j. FRAZER

This tendency 70 initiate emphasizes
| the fact that men do not exercise suff1-
cient originality. Because most barns
are rectangular is no reason that this
is the best and most economical form.
In comparing 6O-foot round barn
with a rectangular barn of the same
area, the two barns should afford the
cows the same amount of space on
the platform. Allowing each COW in
the 60-foot round barn feet 8 inches
in width at the rear Of the platform,
it will accommodate ~ cows and leave
space for two passage ways. But in
a rectangular barn, only feet 4 in
cfes of platform space need be al
lowed for each COW, and the 78h foot
barn, with two 3-foot passage ways
across it for convenience in feeding,
will accommodate AZ Tvs. While the
rectangular barn has stall room for
two more cows, the round barn con-
tains space in the center for silo Is
feet in diameter.
The floor space and cubical content
oe the round barn 60 feet in diameter,
and the rectangular barn compared
with 1t as will be seen, are practically
the same. and the barns are therefore
directly comparable. This being true,
the percentages which were figured
from the complete bills of material
for these barns show the exact saw
ing in lumber on the 60-foot round
barn over the plank and mortise frame
rectangular harms 36x7S12 feet. The
lumber bills of the rectangular barns
show an increase in cost of % per
cent for the plank frame and "a :
ent for the mortise frame. The
round barn, 60 feet in diameter, co I'D
tains 1873 u, and the rectangular barn
225 lineal feet of wall. The rectangu-
lar barn has, therefore, 20 per cent
more lineal feet % outside barn wall,
requiring proportional increase in
both paint and foundation.
The 1864 foot rectangular barn
would hold 100 cows, allowing each
COW feet inches in width and pro-
viding for 3 passage ways Of 3 feet
each across the barn.
The 90-foot round barn would hold
100 cows in two rows headed together,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

A post rots most quickly at or near
the ground line. 1t does not rot rap
idly near the top, where 1t Is usually
dry, or foot or more below the
ground, where air is lacking. but at
the ground line where both air and
moisture are present In sufficient
quantities, rot flourishes. This may
b, further illustrated by the fact that
wood does not rot under water. The
piling supporting London bridge was
found to be sound after hundreds OF
years submersion in the Thames. and
in some of the Swiss lakes sound tim
beers have been found after thousands
of years.
Since air and heat are not very
easily controlled, it is obvious that rot
that is, fungus growth-must be
prevented by cutting off the supply OF
moisture or poisoning the food. All
the modern methods Of preserving
timber aim consciously at one or both
Of these objects; all the old methods
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

deeper than the lighter types of soils.
Such soils usually have quite COM
pact subsoils, and they are benefited
by being brought to the surface. 1t
is also benefit to heavy soils to bury
the vegetable matter at a good depth,
as this will assist in keeping the SUBJ
soil from becoming too compact.
Lighter soils are very much the
opposite. Their subsoils are usually
not too compact, and it is better to
have the vegetable matter mixed with
the surface soil. Deep blowing Of
such soils has a tendency to make
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ABOUT FLOWING

them too loose, and care should be
taken to thoroughly compact them
before they are planted to crops.
Flowing land continuously at the
same depth every time has tendency
to form hard, compact layer in the
subsoil at that depth. This is an un-
desirable condition, and can usually
be avoided by varying the depth
slightly from year to year. New land.
when first brought under the pillow,
should not be plowed too deeply.
While it may be desirable to ultimate
ly have furrow six or seven inches
in depth. it should be brought about
gradually, by blowing a half-inch or
so deeper every year.
method of draining fields which
has proven satisfactory and inexpen-
sive, is ridging the land while blowing.
The pillow is started in the middle
where two burrows are plowed
against each other. BY turning the
horses to the right when making the
turns at c and D, the dead burrows
will be located at A and B and e and
f. BY continuing this system a SER
les Of years. the bitches are made
deeper year by year. No ridge is
formed on the sides of the ditch. By
commencing to pillow in this way, and
by varying the back burrows one year
little to the right Of G and d, and
another year a little to the left, the
dead burrows will be made broad
rather than deep, making the fields
gently undulate instead of being cut
up by deep bitches and narrow high
ridges.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
BUSINESS NOT PLEASURE,

An amusing and reputedly true
story is told about General r. E. Lee
and one of his soldiers during the
latter days of the Civil War. At that
time when the rations were at low
ebb, the general, observing one Of his
soldiers up a persimmon tree, called to
him that he ought not to be eating
the fruit. as it was still unripe I'D
untouched by frost, but the soldier
replied that ''he wasn't eating it for
food, or because he liked it, but was
trying to shrink his stomach to fit
his rations."
Ore man who does things is more
useful to the community than a
dozen who tell how they ought to be
done
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
GET ONLY THE RIGHT KIND

The usefulness of the Babcock tester
is threatened by interruptions manu-
facturers who sell test bottles that
are not accurately marked. In some
states the law provides that all bottles
should be tested by the experiment
stations, but it is often evaded. Writ
ten guarantees should be demanded
by every manufacturer that his bottles
are accurate. The various experiment
stations will test bottles without
charge. The dairymen should every
where organize for protection in this
matter alone If for no other purpose.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

The depth at which land should be
plowed depends much upon the sea-
son of the year, the kind Of soil and
the physical condition Of the subsoil.
Fall blowing, except for fall-sown
grain, should invariably be deeper
than spring blowing, as there is more
time for it to become sufficiently set
tied and compacted. Whenever land
is plowed quite deeply, and the eli
matte conditions do not thoroughly
settle the burrows, it should be thor
oughly worked before it is planted
Heavy soils need to be plowed
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

Showing How This 6O-Foot Barn
May Be Arranged to Accommodate 40
Cows in Stalls. To Supply This Sized
Herd and the Necessary Young Stock
with Silage for Eight Months Would
Require a 37O-Ton Silo, or One IS
Feet in Diameter and Sc Feet Deep;
with Seven-Foot Feed Alley and a
2h-Foot Manager, the Circle at the
Sanctions Would Be 80 Feet in
Diameter, or 118 Is Feet in Circum-
ference; Allowing Az Feet for Two
Passage Ways, the Stalls Would Be
Feet 1917 Inches Wide at the STAN
chion, and 8 Feet Inches at the
Drop.
requires 20 per cent more wall and
foundation to enclose the same space;
and that the cost Of material is from
"a to So per cent more for the rec
tangular building?
In a community in which everyone
Is engaged in the same occupation,
one person is likely to copy from his
neighbor without apparently giving
thought as to whether or not there is
q better way.
In one. district of Illinois. a certain
type of dairy barn is used by nearly
everyone, while in the next County
distinctly different type prevails, and
the dairy barns of another adjacent
county differ from those Of either Of
the former, simply because the early
settlers Of this particular locality came
from an eastern state and started
building the style of barn then COM
mon in Pennsylvania.
In certain community in Ohio
where a milk condensing factory is
located, a large number of farmers
have barns 36x60 feet, with an IL"
the same size. The loft of the IL"
is used for the storage of straw, and
the cows run loose in the lower por-
ton. These barns are all built on
practically the same plan and IRE
usually Of the same size, and this is
the only community known to the
writer where this form Of barn is
used in this manner.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
NOTES OF THE SHEEPFOLD.

Give the ewes plenty of exercise.
Nothing is better unless it Is plenty
of good grass.
Let the ewes have the run Of the
corn fields after the grain is taken
out. They will get lots Of good feed
there.
A prominent sheep breeder once
said that he had long lane from the
sheepfold to his winter pasture. This
gives the ewes plenty of exercise in
going to and from the pasture.
Give the ewes little sulphur in
their salt. 1t helps, the growth of wool
wonderfully.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

The rotting of timber is caused by
the work Of fungi, very minute living
organisms, which get into the crew
ices Of the wood. Rot in wood is very
different from rust on iron. The fungi
feed on certain substances in the wood
and cause it to break down or rot.
Like all other living organisms these
fungi require heat, air, and moisture,
in addition to their food supply. II
the soil contains the right amount OF
air and moisture for the best growth
of fungi the decay of fence posts Is
rapid, but in very dry soil the decay
Is slow. Hence the life of post
depends somewhat on the kind of SOIL
in which It Is set, and the success OF
any preservative treatment depends
on the degree to which it excludes air
and moisture as we'll as its effective
ness In poisoning the wood.
The kind of wood, rate ok.zrowth,
age of tree, and seasoning, influence
the rapidly with which the rott1ng
Of wood proceeds. Natural preserva-
tives may be present in the cells, as
in the case Of catalpa and black 10
Gust Generally speaking, the dark
colored woods are the most durable.
Sapwood contains more ready-made
food in forms acceptable to fungi
than heartwood. so that old trees
with much heartwood and little sap
wood make the better posts. Tests
show that slow growing wood Is much.
more durable than fast growing wood
Of the same species. Even black To-
Gust when rapidly grown Is rather
short lived.
Thorough seasoning, or drying, IS
the cheapest method of frightening
the life of wood and is a necessary
preliminary to any further treatment.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
GREAT HELPS TO THE BOYS.

The purpose OF the boys corn CLUBS
is to teach the boys how. to grow corn,
and that they have prof1ted by the IN
structions given them Is we'll proved
by the figures given in the last re-
port Of the general education board,
which, in speaking Of the movement
in the Southern states. shows how the
boys doubled and trebled the average
yield The big yields were In some
instances produced at little profit, but
the principles Of corn production which
the boys learned, were of greater
value than the money value Of the
crop.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

Of as contact sprays. The most im-
portant of these are probably lime
sulphur, kerosene emulsion ana the
miscible oils
It is impossible to give any accurate
estimate Of the cost of spraying un-
less the size of the tree 10 known. 1t
is usually necessary to spray four
times year. Where bitter rot 10
present, two or three more sprayinss
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

lust thirty-three miles west of Pres
colt Arkansas, in the center or the
great fruit belt. is tho famous H1sn-
land peach orchard, the largest oody
of peach land in the worlds mics
wide, miles long. 100000 EloeFta
trees.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
THE KICKING HORSE.

The cure Of kicker" Is difficult
task. There are many remedies ad-
vised, but even the best Is sometimes
Intellectual. 1t may arise from vice
or from excessively nervous DISPOSE
ton. One of the common appliances
used Is to swing a bale Of straw be-
hind the horse so that he may kick
until he Is tired without doing injury
to himself. The bale will swing to
and fro and firritate to the point Of
persuasion that there are more profit
bile vices than kicking.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

The p1annrns. construction, and ar
eangement Of farm buildings do not
usually receive the thought and study
these subjects warrant. How many
dairymen have compared circular.
40-cow barn with the common rec
tangular building containing the same
area? How many understand that
the circular structure is much the
stronger; that the rectangular form
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

Farming Is now many sided
proposition. No other occupation re-
quires so varied knowledge. No
other develops more fully the best that
is in man than farming properly car
ried on. In no other are there
greater possibilities or more per-
manent rewards.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
BRAN FOR THE POULTRY.

Sometimes beginners in the poultry
business are lead to believe that
ground clover or alfalfa meal will take
the place Of bran as poultry food.
This is an error. II only basis for
something moro substantial Is wanted
then the alfalfa or clover will per-
haps answer. but when it comes to the
feeding value they are not in the same
class with bran.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
4 CHEAP HOUSEHOLD CEMENT.

Plaster of paris and gum abrabic
in the proportion of four parts plaster
of paris to one of gum arabic makes
a very good cement for mending china
and other articles. The ingredients
are mixed in a pulverized form, water
added and used at once If smoothed
over with an old knife blade while
soft. this cement will be glossy and
hard as china when hard.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

Stone fruits, especially the plum.
when severely pruned, as peaches fire.
quently are, are very apt to do poorly.
and often die.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

Upper Fruits Ready for the First
Spraying for Curculio; Lower Fruit
Still Retains the Calyx Tube (Shuck)
So that Spray Could Not Cover 1t.
will be necessary. With trees varying
from twelve to eighteen years OF age
growing in reasonably good soil, the
cost Of material will vary from nine
to thirteen cents tree for four spray
ings. The cost of labor is usually ten
to fifteen cents per tree. The total
cost then of the four sprayings for
labor and material would range from
eighteen to twenty-e eight cents tree.
The labor cost will be greater with the
small spraying outfit than with the
large one. For the large spraying out
At the labor cost will vary from two
to six cents for single spraying,
while with a good hand pump and
good tank the labor cost will be from
four to twelve cents tree Tor one
application. With a barrel pump the
cost will be still higher.
It is difficult to give close estimate
of the profits to be derived from spray
ing, since with some orchards the dis
ease and insects have not become as
serious as with others In no case,
however, that the writer has ever OBJ
served where spraying has been prop
erly done. has the orchard failed to
give larger net income.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

Form is essential, color is helpful,
but vigor and digestion are indis-
pensable in the making Of high
class dairy COW.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

If the cattle show rough, hard
coats be sure there is something wrong
change the feed or increase 1t.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

sect could not eat any poison placed
upon the leaves, but must be destroyed
by spray that kills by coming in con-
tact with its body. so insecticides for
sucking insects are sometimes spoken
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

More than 100000 young trees
and 10000 pounds Of seed were
planted on the national forests in
1914.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

Drag all the fallen logs out of ths
woods to the roadway to be worked
up into stoveWood.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

Did you ever know a scrub farmer
who believed n thoroughbred stock z
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

Begin right now to keep book
account Of the FARMS productioE-lr
will save money for you.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

65 Of which would be in the outer
circle. and have 3 feet inches each
in width at the gutter. This leaves
sufficient room for feed alleys and
walks, and two passage ways. one
3 feet and the other Z feet wide for
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

II spraying is properly done. its re-
turns are large.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
PROF LONGING THE LIFE OF FENCE POSTS

BY E. G. CHEYNEY
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-09-16
Electric Sparks are
Quite Dangerous
By C. e. VAL. Fea coIlias. Ceiessde


electric spark gnes the The effect the when sparks are
produced by stro cat combng hair rubber com
when it is quite dry.
The electric sparks formed in the above manifestations
static electricity This is sometimes serious thing number Of
industries particularly where volatile and nhammable solvents are
used When the Of such liquids gasoline alcohol ether carbon
dlsuphd mixed with they burn extreme readiness
and most often with the y which describe the Explosive
violence The heat of the electric spark sufficient ignite such mix
lures quite readn fact constantly all of gas and
gasoline engines
Fires and explosions anng establishments resulted
from the ignition of gasoline by sparks of static electricity
thing sometimes garages printing shops mills -four
mills powder mills mines and number of other industries
In the of -four mills coal mines the burning of dust
particles Friction dry atmosphere appears be favorable for
static sparks moving machine belt a source Friction
OF dry paper woon silk goods blast of air. other
known Another Of danger the ignition explosive
mixtures such named above by the sparkling of motors coils
circuits, etc.
To avoid diminish sparks Of static electricity atmosphere
often made Of To avoid the dangers of the
a sparks must possible precauon and plan
his plant that there be possible contact explosive vapors
solids with any possible of electric spark
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-09-16
Scientific Authority
on Ongin Of Man
By Allen F. LeneheeL. Mlwsukee. Wa

ape but the slightly ethereazed hypothesis would
extinct anhropod mammal purely hypothetical ancestor
Ernest aecke his Last Words Evolution canddy admits This
the generally accepted scientific conception of mans origin Man and
considered the divergent branches the stem FORM
The anatomical mar embryooga development and paleonoog-
zeal evidences ALL in the opinion of scientists strongly corrobora
contentious that descended from apee pogenor long
extinct nowhere be found he missing link" question:
pure suppoton Night these facts prove equally well the
theory that originally produced the whole higher mammalian stock
as one OF body of thinkers whose be considered here
CAL do not deny the facts and finds unearhed science
given facts deduc with equal logic different conclusion If the phe
antopus erecius the opinion OF comparative anaoms nderen
apke manke ape it not just plausible assume
the absence of proof the contrary that generated the remote
ancestor of the modern ntropod which thereby constituted
grese departure from the human type spurious unnatural osoo
CRATER the human STRIPS which gave in the of evolution
the different prmae existing?
should refer who interested this subject he Human
Species by the French naturalist De Quatrefag wherein they will find
the views of fearless scientific authority orthodox the
origin of man.