Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-03-06

those from other departments, con-
siderable attention has been given to
the different classes of publications.
Interesting lists Of the government
books on travel, which may be pur-
chased at prices varying from five
cents to s1.75, have recently been is-
sued, and the publications may be Sc
cured by addressing inquiries regard
ing these books, or any other govern
ment publications, to the Superinten-
dent of Documents, Washington, DC.
GRADING APPLES
Recently convention was held in
Washington composed of people en-
gagged in fruit growing. All classes of
industries that have 10 do with agri-
culture are given careful attention
when they arrive at Washington, and
this was the case with the fruit grow
ers. One of the subjects that attracted
most attention was that of growing
and marketing apples One gentleman
from New y ork was emphatic in his
declaration that the New York grad
ing and branding law should be uni
versal. The apple sizing proposition
was provocative of much discussion
by the delegates, and the general sense
Of the convention seemed to be for the
elimination of the small sizes Some
of the growers declared that the rea-
son they have mixed sizes packed in
the same barrels was that foreign
buyers seemed to feel that the small
apples in the barrels filed up the
holes. This lead one Of the leaders to
declare that he would just as soon sell
holes as apples.
THE BLUE BIRD CONES BACK
When the news was published last
spring that census would be taken
of the bird population of The country,
the first thought was how" The ar
rangement was made that in certain
period representatives and volunteers
Of the Agricultural department should
count all the birds within a given
area. In this manner careful esti-
mate was made. The government of
ticials say that the statistics show
that only few years ago nearly the
whole blue bird population of the
eastern United States was destroyed
by a severe winter there are now sew
eral million bluebirds in this locality,
AS for density of population, on
each acre of farm land covered by the
census. there was an average of one
pair Of birds. The record for density
comes from Chevey Chase, Maryland.
where l6l pairs were found nesting on
- acres, Thirty-four species Of birds
were represented.
While there are no previous official
censuses Of the Federal Government
that are comparable with this one.
several censuses have before been
taken by individuals, on more or less
limited areas One census taken in
1901 by specialist. agrees very close
~ with the Governments census as
far as the total number of birds is
concerned. 1t differs. however. re-
gard!ng the number of English spar
rows. showing 100 pairs to the square
mile or Is to every 100 native birds
while the new census, as previously
stated, showed only 60 pairs TO the
square mile or seven 10 every 100.
PACKING lee
The Agricultural Department at
Washington believes that most people
who pat up ice for use in summer do
not know mneh about he subject, and
| beyond the well established fact that
the minimum of surface should be ex-
posed to the air. it is recommended
that the most easily accomplished
method is by piling the ice in the form
/ of a cube That is, a mass of ice twelve
/ feet 10y twelve feet exposes less sur
/ face than the same tonnage formed in
any formation less nearly he shape of
tube OF a globe Ice. to keep, must
be protected from heat and air and
this depends upon the completeness
OF its Insulation, and the latter cannot
be obtained unless there is drainage.
There must he no circulation of air
through the mass The Agricultural
Department people declare: The
keeping power of ice, then. depends
upon the shape of the mass. its insula-
lLnn- lis arainara- and rs snhditxn