davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16
ONE CAN'T GEAR" DISEASE
ON SELF.

"The belief that disease may be
brought on by merely fearing that one
may contract 1t Is curious relic of
barbarism," says DR.. H. w. Hill of the
Minnesota Public Health Association.
"You cannot fear a disease on your
self any more than you can wish a
disease on any one else.
THE infectious diseases are due to
forces, germs, wholly distinct from
ourselves The fear Of smallpox could
never bring a smallpox germ to the
body any more than mental defiance
of it could prevent its growing once it
was in. The germ Is as real q particle
more susceptible to hypnotism by the
human mind"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS.


One of the most notable movements
in agricultural education has been the
boys and girls clubs organized in ag-
ricultural communities for the purpose
of learning to farm by actually farm
ing. Fostered by the department of
agriculture and taken UP in various
forms by state, county and even pri-
vate agencies. the movement has
spread to almost every section Of the
country.
The boys and girls who belong to
any of these clubs are building foun-
dalton for future success in farming
which was beyond the dream of the
last generation. They are learning
to do by doing. They are finding out
the fundamental principles Of crop
production in their young and i'm
questionable years, and are learning
to work with their heads as well as
their hands
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16
COWS AND BEES FOR NORTHERN
SECTIONS.

Francis jaeger has a plan for making
farms out of northern cut-over lands.
The two things on which success de-
ponds, according to his plan, are cows
and bees. He suggests that farmers.
seeking to subdue the cut-over lands,
plant clover and other forage crops
among the stumps, and put beehive
on every stump. Cows and bees alike
Will! thrive on the inter-stump crops.
The bees will also gather honey far
and wide from millions of wild flowers
From the start, says Mr.. lager. the
bees will produce and bring a cash re-
turn. Two hundred pounds of honey
to, the hive at ten cents a pound would
mean $40 to the hive. Ten hives would
bring cash. return of 5000, and fifty
hives a snug return of $1,000. With
such returns and the profits from a
dairy herd, no farmer should fear the
northern stump.
Whether one wishes to adopt the
entire program or not, the busy bee
IS worthy Of consideration by the
Iettler who is taking up northern
ands.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16

The grain should be soaked for
twenty-four hours, or even thirty-six
hours. in warm water. when spread
in shallow boxes and kept in a warm
place. Keep moist by sprinkling two
or three times day with warm water.
Feed when the sprouts are about two
inches long.
The hens will eat grains and sprouts
both. and by the process of sprouting
the amount of feed is greatly in
creased without increasing the cost.
Sunfiower-seeds.: # raised in the odd
corners where nothing else will grow
to advantage. really cost US nothing.
Hang the heads up where the hens
will have to work a little to get them,
or scatter the seeds in the litter.
If these seeds are fed mixed with
the other grains that are scattered
in the litter, or as a change from the
others, it will Of course not be neces-
sary to feed so much Of the expensive
grains.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16

All kinds of grain, both whole and
ground, are so high in price that it
will pay us to study how to feed the
hens as cheaply as possible and still
secure good results.
Bran is heavy expense, and the
amount used can be greatly lessened
by feeding cut clover, or cowpea hay.
These contain the same elements as
wheat bran and are very palatable for
the hens when steamed.
Cut or break the hay into small
pieces, pack into tub or bucket and
pour over 1t all the boiling water it
will absorb, then cover closely and let
stand thirty or forty minutes before
feeding. In the winter when the hens
can not get green grass they relish
this very much.
Sprouted grains are another cheap
food. This was sold a few years ago
as poultry "secret" Of feed at fifteen
cents a bushel. Oats are generally
used for this, although wheat. rye and
other grains are as good.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16
Only Milk Transmit.
Plague.
Man Cannot Get Foot and Mouth Dis
ease by Eating Meat, Says Doctor.

ease ny tatlnE Meat, says DoCtOr.
That the foot and mouth disease
cannot be transmitted to human be-
ings by eating the flesh of diseased
animals. but can be contracted by
drinking unboiled milk or butter
made from the milk of an infected
COW. is the statement made by DR..
E. j. Danek, of Chicago, who has
studied the disease.
THE symptoms in man." he says,
"are as follows: There is fever; this
is usually low, but may reach as high
as 104. 1t may be accompanied with
a chill. loss OF appetite, pain in mus
cles, back and head, with a cramplike
pain in the abdomen Nausea and
vomiting are common. The primary
seat Of infection is the mouth. The
disease when uncomplicated is mild.
It's average duration Is two weeks
from the onset. Severe cases may
last six to eight weeks.
This disease IS transmissable to
man through unboiled milk or butter
and cheese and also directly from the
saliva or contents of the vesicles Of
infected animals gaining entrance
through abrasions of the skin. 1t is
especially frequent in children and in
those whose work brings them in con-
tact with diseased cows. It appears
that this disease cannot be trans
mitted by eating the flesh of infected
animals"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16
REDUCE P0ULTRY-YARD EXPENSES

The small potatoes and the potato
parings and trimmings from other
vegetables used in the house can be
boiled. sailed and peppered. as for the
table, and a little bran and cornmeal
mixed with them, Just enough to take
UP the surplus moisture, so that the
mixture will not be sloppy. This
makes a good, and also a very mex
pensive mash feed With 1t may be
mixed the meat-scraps.
Beef-bones and scraps should be run
through bone-eutter, or be chopped
up by hand into small pieces. before
giving to the hens.
Skim milk costs really nothing on
the farms. and If the hens have all of
it they will drink, they will not eat so
much other food.
If these cheap feeds are handled
right, 1t will leave only the last feed
at night to be Of the high-priced
grains, and II we'll fed during the day
eat so much of 1t then.
They should have a good feed Of
grain, mostly corn. for their supper, in
order to keep them healthy and sup
ply bodily heat during the cold
weather.
BY following these suggestions, the
hens can be almost entirely kept On
the waste products of the. farm, and
what is received for the eggs will be
nearly all profit.
If properly housed and given plenty
Of clean water to drink, they will lay
we'll on this bill Of fare, and we can
rejoice over a good supply of eggs
when the prices are soaring.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16

plant but little, since the moisture
does not reach the roots.
A week or ten days before the time
to transplant into tho field, or earlier.
If the weather permits. the sash
should be removed during tho day TO
harden off the plants. It 10 also .
good plan to stop watering at this
time, and then wet down thoroughly
just before taking to the held.
Different materials are used FOR
covering hotbeds. A cheap and quite
common one Is light canvas or heavy
sheeting which has been oiled. A.
more substantial covering is the hot.
bed sash. which Is coming into use
more and more, as 1t is more reliable
than the cloth, and makes 1t possible
to control the temperature with more
certainty.
A cold frame differs from q hotbed
in that no artificial heat is used. They
are usually started and the seed sown
the last Of march or first of April.
otherwise their construction and care
is the same as that given above for
hotbeds.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16

There is less difference between the
various breeds of lard hogs than there
is between individuals of any OF these
breeds. In fact when properly ham
died, there is so little difference be-
tween the breeds, that whether the
results are good or bad will usually be
due to management rather than to the
merits Of the breed. The most de-
sirable market hogs are those Of uni
form conformati ton, finish, quality and
breed type.
Having selected a breed which suits
his conditions and fancy the farmer
then should carefully select the
foundation stock for his future herd.
BY the use of only pure-bred sires of
the chosen breed a splendid herd for
pork production will be established
in the course Of a very few years. No
farm animals improve and thrive
more readily and rapidly than do
swine when properly bred and ham
died, This being true, the pure bred
boar is, in reality, more than half of
the herd for he stamps his conforma-
ton and characteristics on all Of his
offspring.
Ill-shaped, poorly developed boars
should not be used for their pure
breeding may help them to transmit
inferior characteristics. For the best
results breeding and individuality
must go together. The boar should
possess the characteristics Of his
breed. such as color, markings, etc,
and should be of the type desired by
the market. 1t is also very important
that he combine size with quality.
Sires of the lard type should be rug
ged and compact and at one year of
age should weigh from $50 to $50
pounds.
General appearance is of first I'm
po,tance in the selection of an animal.
The market hog should weigh 200
pounds or more, should be SYM
metrical in conformation and evenly
covered with firm flesh. The finish
of the animal, however, is more i'm
portrait than it's weight. Well fat
tened animals of the lard type should
dress from so to IS per cent of their
live weight
The head of a hog or pig, although
OF little value for meat, should be re-
garded as an indication Of what the
animal is or may become A short,
broad head usually indicates early
maturity, and as a rule goes with a
vide, thick body. A long nose,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16

narrow face, and coarse ears COM
monty indicate poor feeding qualities
and coarse conformation. The eyes
of most swine are liable to be deep
set and small
The shoulders should be smooth,
deep, we'll covered, and Of medium
width. Ideal shoulders blend so we'll
with the body that 1t is difficult to de-
termine where one begins and the
other leaves off. The breast, located
just between and in front of the front
legs, Is always liable to be tucked up.
1t should be deep, wide and we'll
covered with flesh. The legs Of q
typical lard hog should be short,
clean and neat at the knee and hook
and strong in the pastern (the portion
between the angle joint and hoofs.)
The body and hams of the hog pro-
vide the choice cuts Of pork, and their
proper development is of the greatest
Importance. A broad, strong. slightly
arched, thick -heshed back gives the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16
Cement Feeding Floors Save Feed.
The V-shaped Troughs Are Desirable.

The v-Shaped 1rOugnS Are DeS1raDle.
best practice to keep a boar as long
as he can be used to advantage. The
boar should always be kept healthy
and in good condition.
Although she need not be pure
bred the SOW, as we'll as the boar,
should have marked characteristics Of
the chosen breed. BY carefully Sc
lecting young sows from the most
typical and largest filters and properly
developing them splendid herd Of
females can be developed in a few
years time. To avoid any possibility
Of mistake the choicest sow pigs
from the best sows should be marked
while they are still nursing their
dams. They should not be penned or
yarded with those which are being
fattened for market but, II possible
should be given freedom and exer-
else in the open where a growing ra-
ton of green feeds, ETC., are available
The sow should not be as compactly
built as the boar and may be some
what finer in conformation and bone
When in fair flesh at maturity, the
most typical sows of the lard type
weigh $50 to $50 pounds. "A good
breeder and mother cannot be picked,
with certainty, until she has been
tried out. Besides having the proper
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16

spread it evenly and to have the cor
ners we'll filled. After the manure has
again warmed up It should be firmed
by tamping. The bed is now ready for
the soil.
Five or six inches Of rich soil con-
tanning much humus and sand are
then placed upon the manure, and
after the temperature Of the soil has
dropped to 90 degrees F. the seed may
be sown. The bed should be prepared
early In the spring. good soil for
hot bed purposes may be prepared
eight or nine months before it is to be
used, by making a compost heap con-
sisting of layers Of grass sod and barn.
yard manure. This gives a loose, rich
soil very we'll adapted to hotbed work.
On warm days the bed should be
ventilated to make the plants grow
stocky and prevent them from whiting.
In watering the aim should be to
water thoroughly, but not often. The
practice of adding small amount OF
water each day should never be fol-
lowed, as it encourages the growth or
insects and diseases, and benefits the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16

the sows. They should be fed
separately by penning OF a small
space on the feeding floor or hog lot
where the young pigs have access to
the feed. The feed should be given
In small trough which can be
cleaned easily before each feeding.
The length Of time pigs should be,
allowed to suckle their dams dependsI
largely on whether one or two littersl
year are to be raised. II but one,
litter, the pigs may nurse IL or Is
weeks; where two litters are pro.
duced, the pigs can not nurse longer
than eight weeks. The sows should
be separated from the pigs only re-
turning to them two or three times
and then only long enough for the
pigs to empty the udder.
After weaving time the sows are no
longer given the rich, heavy ration
supplied during the nursing period.
They should be put on grass with
plenty of fresh water to drink and
until their milk flow stops given but
limited allowance of dry feed.
After the pigs arc weaned. they
should be continued on the ration
which had been given them whom
running with the mothers. The ration
can be most satisfactorily given in tho
form of a thick slop and fed in
v-shaped troughs placed on q cement
feeding floor. shelled corn also may
be fed on q clean spot on the floor.
Either wood or corn cob charcoal
broken into pieces about tho sise Of =
hickory nut, Is greatly relished by the
early pigs while still confined in the
spring before pasture grassss arel
available.
The farmer who has skim milk,
clover or alfalfa, and grows corn will
need to purchase but little feed for his
swine. Middlings, oil meal and tank
age are all valuable heterogeneous feeds
and should be fed az supplements to
corn. OF course too liberal feeding OF
corn in the early growing periods 10
Injurious Usually, for the first six to
eight weeks after weaving, 1t Is not
best to make corn moro than one
third of the grain ration. Skim milk
is always a splendid feed for swine;
and If available in sufficient quantities
to form the greater part Of tho liquid
In the ration, oil meal need not be
fed. One hundred pounds Of skim
milk are sometimes considered equal
in value for pig feeding to one-half .
bushel Of corn.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16

Roughage Feed Rack for Swine.
For Feeding Hay or Other Coarse
Feed, Rack Is Handy and Prevents
Waste. A simple Rack May be Con-
structed Against one Side of a Build
ing or to the Pen Partition.
condition Now, it is much better to
keep her hungry than to overfeed her.
In fact, the only way to keep early
spring pigs from growing too rapidly
and becoming too fat when the sows
are confined is to fed the sows spar
ingly.
Under ordinary conditions when
sows and pigs are given plenty of ex-
ercise, the feed may be gradually In
creased until from ten days to two
weeks after narrowing liberal feed
ing of heavy ration is being given
When the pigs are from four to six
weeks old they will begin to eat with
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16

less bedding. Fine rye, wheat or oat
straw or shredded corn fodder makes
excellent bedding, but barley straw
and wood shavings should not be
used. Dusty beds are likely to cause
coughing or pneumonia. Individual
sows differ as to the amount of bed
ding needed at narrowing. Some make
bad use of 1t and should be given but
little: others can be allowed a liberal
supply. Little pigs are very sensitive
to the cold and If they arrive during
the cold weather they must be given
special attention to prevent them
from getting chilled.
A SOW should be kept quiet and fed
very little during the first "a hours
after narrowing. She should be al
lowed drinking water, and when she
shows signs of hunger a limited
amount Of a thick slop ration, largely
Of bran, may be given her. This will
satisfy her appetite, and keep her
digestive tract open and in the proper
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16
HOW TO MAKE AND USE A HOT-BED

The safest and surest way of get
ting an early start with many plants
IS by the use Of hotbeds. These can
be constructed Of 2-inch planks nailed
or bolted together in the form OF
rectangular box, generally six feet
wide and as long as desired. The box
should be so made that when the bot
tom is level, the sash will slope one
inch to the foot, which will make 1T 8
inches higher on one side than on the
other. This slope permits the suns
rays to enter more freely and allows
water to run off quickly. inc pea
should be located on southern slope
II possible and run east and west. Win
the lower side of the frame toward
the south. If southern exposure
can not be secured, a w1ndbreak may
be constructed on the north side and
the ends to shut off the cold winds from
these directions. The beds should
also be near the house and near
plentiful supply of water in order that
the plants may be carefully arid easily
cared for.
Common stable horse manure con-
tanning no litter, mixed with from
one-third to one-half its amount OF
straw or leaves, is used for providing
the artificial heat. Straw or leaves
should be added to prolong the heat
ing period of the manure and to Keep
it from heating too violently The
manure is gathered fresh from the
stable, piled up. and allowed to heat
When heated through it is forked over
and allowed to heat again. During
the heating it should be kept under
shelter, as heavy drenchings make 1t
almost worthless. After it is well
heated through the second time. it Is
put in the hotbed excavation almost to
the sash level, care being taken to
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16
INCUBATOR HINTS.

When the incubator has been pros
perly heated the drawer is filled with
the eggs and played In the machine.
The lamp must be kept burning
steadily and the temperature main-
tanned at about 1913 degrees. This u
the correct heat for incubation, ana
1t should not be allowed to vary more
than one degree either way. Night
and morning the eggs must be turned.
The lamp needs daily attention. Tbs
wick will be found to require trim.
ming and the oil container will need
more oil. Each day the eggs should
be aired, ten or fifteen minutes being
allowed as II more time Is given It
takes too long to get up the proper
temperature again.
When the chickens begin to hatch
they should be left alone. They will
need no food for twenty-four hours
after Matching. If these suggestions
are followed, I am perfectly confident,
from practical experience in my own
poultry operations, that one will have
success in artificial incubation.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16
,ep for Feeding Small Pigs.

Creep for Feeding Small Pigs.
Little Pigs Begin to Eat Grain at
From Three to -Four Weeks of Ago
and Should be Provided With Sepa-
rate Enclosure From the SOws.
conformation and belonging to pro-
life family the ideal sow should have
ten to twelve well-developed nipples
The essential feature of the sow is
that she regularly produces large,
strong litters Of pigs and mothers
them we'll.
The proper time to have sows breed
will be determined quite largely by
the market demands which are more
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16
COMPENSATION FOR DISEASED
CATTLE IN ILLINOIS.

In the present outbreaks Of foot and
mouth disease all infected and exposed
cattle, sheep, or swine are appraised
by state and federal authorities at
their actual value. Arrangements
have been made by the United States
bureau Of animal industry to indem-
Nifty the owners of live stock slaugh-
tered on account of foot and mouth
disease to the extent of SO per cent of
the appraised valuation. COmpensa-
ton on the part Of the state for the
remaining SO per cent will depend
upon the action of the next general
assembly looking toward the appro-
priation of sufficient funds to protect
the live stock interests of a1e state of
Illinois.
0. Il. DYSON. State Veterinarian.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16
THE FARMERS THE MAN.

A financial journal commends a let
ter which. e. c. Simmons, the big
hardware man Of st. Louis, recently
sent to his statesmen:
Don't worry. War or no war,
freight rates or no freight rates. tariff
or no tariff, baseball or no baseball,
grape juice or champagne-the farmer
is still on the job. Don't forget him.
Mr.. Simmons might have been even
briefer than this, and yet have made
his letter as effective. All he would
need to say is: Remember that this
Is the United States. Don't Worry"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16

or less constant from year to year If
two filters a year are to be raised, a
fixed system Of breeding and manage
ment will have to be followed strictly.
The circumstance under which pro-
duction can be carried on most eco
nomically will determine whether it
is more profitable to raise one or two
filters each year. For example.
where feed is expensive, skim milk
not readily available and the winters
are long and cold, the farmer should
not try to produce two litters per
year, but under conditions where
skim milk or buttermilk Is available
most of the year and the farmer has
communications and help to give the
proper care and attention to the sows
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-16

Fencing in the Feed Lot.
Portable Fences Are Almost Indis-
pensible in the Hog Lot.
and pigs then two filters may be pro-
duced
Healthy sows that have been pro-
perly cared for during pregnancy will
have little difficulty at narrowing time.
They should be housed in proper
quarters and up to narrowing time
have their usual feed. Knowing the
date the SOW was bred, the date she
is due to farrow can be determined
easily. The period Of CESSATION for
swine ranges from 112 to 116 days.
AS narrowing time approaches, the
sow should be put into a clean. roomy
pen in hog house or into a separate
portable pen. When the udder Of the
SOW becomes distended and milk can
be drawn from the teats she may be
expected to farrow in about "a hours.
She should be watched closely now to
see that her bowels are operating in
the proper manner and that she may
be comfortable. At this time slop
ration Is better than dry feed.
The narrowing pen should be sup
piled with fresh. dry. clean and dust