davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
THE HORSE AND IT'S COST.

Carefully conducted Investigations
by the agricultural department Of tho
University Of Minnesota, as we'll as
those conducted by the Office of farm
management of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture, show that
under ordinary conditions on Ameri-
can farms work horses are utilized
only about three and a half hours q
day on the average. Horse power Is
thus utilized to less than half its ca
pacity. Per unit Of work done this
power costs more thar twice what 1t
should cost. The full utilization Of the
power actually available would thus
reduce materially the cost Of produc-
ing crops. The cost Of keeping a work
horse is on the average about 1925 a
year. The average utilization Of the
horse Is about 1850 hours a year, at
an hourly cost Of 10 cents per hour.
II we double the number of hours
work the horse does-and this can be
done without injury to the animal
we reduce the hourly cost to FIVE cents.
w. ]. spillman.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
Are You Going to
Your State Fair?

M you are going to the fair. plan
60 visit the things that deal with the
line you are following In farming. If
you are interested in hogs. pay especial
attention to the hog section of the fair.
Study the breeds that are there, and
study especially the men who have
raised these hogs. Ask them the
methods they have used to produce
prize winners, and see IL some Of their
methods cannot proftably be intro
duced on your farm.
Visit the machinery exhibit. More
complex and specialized farm machin-
cry is shown at the state fairs every
year. and ever a man who always
attends the state fair usually can learn
something new. II you don't nave a
water supply system on your farm,
pay especial attention to the water
supply machinery that will be shown.
Ask the men in charge all about the
methods Of operation, and the way the
machinery Is installed. You will be
surprised, unless you have investigated
tho proposition. to find how easily the
systems are to put in and operate, and
how cheap they are. There are some
mighty good water systems on the
market today that are not expensive.
And II you are interested in dairy
ing, you have a splendid opportunity
to set some of the best methods Of
handling dairy cattle. Find out the
methods the owners use Of keeping
dairy records, how often they use the
Babcock test. and the sanitary meth
DDS they use with the milk vessels.
Get familiar with the makes OF sep
arators and churns, and the whole
proposition Of handling milk from
start to finish. II there is a milking
machine at the fair, be ure you sec
It in operation. and inquire If the use
of the machine has any effect on the
milk flow.
And NO matter what you are inter-
ested in, pay especial attention to your
special line, and get the methods that
were used to get the results. And
then see II some OF those methods
cannot probably be USED IN your
farm. For that Is the mission and use
Of agricultural fairs.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
The Care of the
Egg on the Farm

With a view to determining the
causes OF the great loss IN eggs, the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture undertook a thorough investiga-
ton Of the problem. The results of
experiments conducted IN Kansas to
determine what deterioration took
place in eggs when retained under
typical conditions on the farms. in the
country store, and during transporta-
ton, are given here.
The field chosen for the work was
one where the production and market
ing of Eggs was an important factor,
a location where the cooperation Of
several farmers could be secured, and
a town that was far enough from a
central collecting point SO that the
effect of typical transportation condi-
lions could be observed. The eggs
were collected at a stated time each
day from several farms, and every
egg, fertile or infertile, was supposed
to be absolutely fresh when entered
in the experiments.
The different tests included keeping
eggs in dwelling, house, in cyclone
cave, in nests provided for laying hens,
eggs placed under sitting hen, under
corncrib, in nest in weeds or under
brush, in nest in strawstack, and in
stolen nests for periods varying from
two to seven days.
The tests emphasized the fact that
infertile eggs keep better than fertile.
O%ne-third of the annual loss in eggs
Is due to blood rings" A blood ring
is caused by the development and sub
sequent death of the embryo of q fer
tile egg subjected to heat. No embryo
can develop in an infertile egg, no
matter how long 1t may be subjected
to heat. Unless cooled at once and
kept cool, a fertile egg will spoil in
hot weather almost as quickly as raw
milk.
Some of the loss due to "rots' and
spots is caused by contamination in
the nest and is largely, II not entirely,
preventable.
Among the results Of the tests it
was found that:
Eggs kept In the cyclone cave proved
much better in quality than those kept
under other conditions:
Taking the season as q whole, an
unheated room in a dwelling is not
conducive to good quality in eggs:
During the hot summer months the
conditions surrounding the weed nest,
the nest in the straw stack, or under
the corn crib, and the stolen nest, as
we'll as the keeping of eggs in the
house, favor the production OF. spots,
blood rings. and rots-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
WATCH THE YOUNG PIGS.

Cholera frequently makes its ap-
pearance among pigs shortly after
weaving time, especially where chol-
era existed on the premises the year
previous. Sows that have been vac
cinated and have survived an out
break share their immunity with the
young pigs as long as these are nurs-
ing. but when the pigs are taken
away from the lows, n this pro
lection is no longer afforded, the pigs
take cholera very easily If exposed to
any infection lingering on the prem
Uses from a previous outbreak.
If signs Of cholera make their ap-
p%earance, make preparations to have
the single treatment administered
without delay. From fifteen to forty
cubic centimeters Of serum for each
pig will be required. The amount de-
ponds upon the size and condition
Of the pigs.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
Preparing Whole Fruit
For Exhibition

The preparation Of fruit In glass for
exposition purposes is only success.
fully accomplished by a few who have
made a study Of 1t. There are certain
fixed formulas in use. and practice
makes perfect.
The essential requisites to SUCCESS
follow:
It is very necessary that the fruit
Ebe nrst properly prepared. Do not
handle the fruit with the bare hands.
wear q pair Of soft wooden gloves;
clip the fruit from the vine or tree.
leaving the stem. Wash 1t under .
spray or hose Of cold water to re-
move all dust or foreign matter; hang
by the stem until thoroughly dry.
Be sure to select perfect specimens.
placing them In the preserving liquid
~ to 4S hours. Before thoroughly
ripened have your Jars cleaned and
ready, also preserving liquids proper
ly prepared before gathering your
fruit. After fruits are prepared set
in a cool, dark place. Always use dis
titled or boiled water, but Y rain
water.
Don't get discouraged II h hrst
attempt does not prove SUCCESSFUL, but
keep experimenting until you DO sue
coed. Don't fail to properly label the
specimens, giving name. variety. where
and by whom produced.
The formulas follow:
For berries and all fruits - Clear
water, white kerosine is Frequently
used with good results with straw
berries, blackberries, raspberr..es anil
currants. Be sure that no drops vi
water remain on the berries.
All fruits and vegetables-To every
gallon Of water add one-half GUN .
corrosive sublimate. This has given
good satisfaction with nearly all kin =
Of fruit and vegetables and should I
become clouded or dim can be re-
newed. Must be handled with caution.
as it is rank poison. Peas placed in
Jars with pods cracked open maze y
nice display.
For firm, smooth-skinned Fruits
To every gallon of waite ard n
quart Of glucose and one-ha'f t"rce
formaIdehyde. This does w COR
pears, peaches. prunes, grapes. cher
ries. currants and gooseterries. OCT
not for logan berries. black o. rasp-
berries.
For light colored fruit-To every
gallon of water add two ounces ca
Donate of soda, six and a'half ounces
potassium nitrate (saltpeter), one ana
a half ounces glycerine.
For dark colored fruit and berries
To one gallon of water add six ana
one-half ounces potassium nitrate.
one-quarter ounce formaldehyde1 and
one ounce glycerine.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
The Farm Wood Lot

During the years hat have passed
many men have been engaged IN
fighting the forest, cutting and clear
ing and of timber, preparing 1t for
the pillow. In other words, making
farms and homes. The work still
continues in the heavily timbered Sec
tons.
Much bad judgment was used In tho
early clearing, often rather steep
hillsides were denuded Of timber and
the soil put under h pillow, while IN
many instances more level portions
Of the farm were left in timber. Wash
Ing soon followed the cultivation Of
such rough tracts, and today many
Of them are badly scared by deep
gullies and much Of the surface soil
has been carried away.
Every farm should have a small
wood lot. Forestry on the farm is
today an important feature Of agri-
culture and ought to receive consid-
crate attention from farmers. A
wood lot is very convenient to have.
not only as a source of fuel in times
Of scarce and high priced coal as at
present, but to furnish fence posts
and timber~for various uses and 70
duu OC0uIy ~ IAS o"A
premises, afford shade, shelter and
comfort to a large extent for all tho
occupants of h arm.
Those who are clearing landsfin the
newer sections are not apt to prop
erly consider the subject in their de-
sire to get rid of the timber, but
there will come a time whan they will
wish they had been more ~considera,e
not only of their own welfare, but
that of their children. The day Is at
hand when men who are looking for
farms want a nice grove of trees
thereon and will pay more for a
farm with this feature h otherwise.
A woodlot properly cared for will
continue to grow and produce sufi-
cient for the needs of the farm for
a time. And a little study Of the SUBJ
ject of forestry will greatly aid in
maintaining the trad in good condi-
ton.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
HOG DISEASES.

lust as DON as 1t is noticed that
a hog is sick, 1t should be separated
from the herd and kept isolated un-
til the exact nature of the trouble can
be determined.
Diseases which are most frequently
mistaken for hog cholera are intes-
final worms, various digestive dis
turbances, lung worms, Inflammation
of the bowels and necrobacillosis. The
last named disease is caused by the
same germ that Is responsible for
sore mouth and bull-nose of pigs.
Most OF the confusion of the two dis
eases arises from the fact that in
some cases pigs affected with necro-
bacillosis will show the s%peckled ap-
pearance of the kidneys which has
been looked upon as so characteristic
of hog cholera.
Eog cholera serum is Of no value
in combating any disease except hog
cholera
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
FRUIT MUST BE HANDLED WITH CARE

To prevent bruising, apples should
not be dropped or thrown into a
bucket, box or barrel, and In pouring
be taken that the apples are as close
as possible to the bottom of the vessel
in which you are placing them before
the pouring begins. II a pail is used
to pick in, 1t should be small enough
to lower into the boxes and, even then
holding back the apples with the
hands is a good idea. as 1t breaks the
fall and lessons the bruising. No apple
which falls from the tree should be
allowed to go into the first grade
apples.
First-class fruit in first class shape
will probably develop an inquiry for
more of the same kind.
There is almost as much In the
selling Of apples as in the growing.
Watch the markets and always have
your fruit ready to sell when the
prices are most favorable.
It is folly to spend years in bring
ing up a good orchard ard then allow
the uyers to come in and take them
at their own price.
OF course it pays we'll to raise fancy
apples If all the details Of packing
and selling are attended to, but 1t
must be remembered that the bulk Of
the fruit consumed is Of the standard
variety.
When apples are shipped from the
orchard in bulk the packer makes a
very nice profit in sorting and packing
in clean boxes or barrels-a thing the
grower. should do himself.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

States entirely lacks representatives Of
these grasses. They require lime,
however, and hence reach their best
development in regions where that
mineral is plentiful. H.
Musk grasses belong to the great
group of plants which include forms
known as frog spit, green slime, and
seaweeds. Most OF the musk grasses
live in fresh water. These plants are
translucent and fragile, dull green In
color, and are often incrusted with
lime. This has given them one of
their common names, limeweed. Other
names are stonewort, fine moss mich
igan), oyster grass and Niger wool
North Carolina), and skunk grass
(Massachusetts). The latter name and
the name musk grass, refer to a strong
odor given off by a mass Of the plants
when freshly taken from the water.
FrOgbit.
Frogbit Is an abundant inhabitant
Of some Of the shallow cypress-mar-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

bruised tissue. Probably the greatest
damage from bruises, however, results
from the fact that the bruises furnish
an entrance for fungus OF rot spores.
These spores, or fungus Seeds" are
as fine as dust and float in the air. If
they happen to lodge on a bruised or
broker spot on the apple, they take
root and row and spread through
the apple, causing it to rot. Wrapping
or covering the apple may not always
protect it, as the spores may have
lodged on the apple before 1t was
picked. However, If the skin and flesh
of the apple can be kept intact and
not bruised or broken, there is not
much danger of the fungus or rot find
ing it's way into the apple.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
Pasture Mixtures

Instead Of seeding timothy alone
the following mixture is suggested,
per Gro Timothy, 10 pounds; red
clover, s pounds; alsike, 2 pounds; or
chArd grass. 4 pounds: Italian rye
grass. s pounds: English rye, 4
pounds; meadow fescue. 4 pounds.
Such a mixture will give a heavier hay
crop and hay Of better quality than
timothy alone, and when left as pas
ture will afford q much greater guam
tity Of forage throughout the growing
season besides being earlier. Ken
lucky bluegrass will usually come into
the pasture Of its own accord out can
be hastened by seeding about 5 pounds
with the mixture mentioned above. If
the grasses mentioned above are not
available, then a mixture of IL pounds
Of timothy, s pounds OF common red
clover, I pounds Of mammoth clover,
and I pounds of alsike may be seeded.
Tho grasses should be seeded in the
fall with the winter grain and the
clovers In early spring when the frost
goes out, or both may be seeded to-
gether with the spring grain. If a
igrass-seed attachment to the grain
drill is not available, the seed may
be mixed In h proper proportions
with the grain in the grain o and
allowed to run down the grain tube
with the grain.
The timothy m clover will be avail
able for hay the first year after the
grain Is cut. BY the third year a
good permanent sod will be secured
that. II properly cared for, will i'm
prove with age. Such pastures will
not produce much feed during periods
Of intensive drought, but If they have
~ properly cared for will begin to
grow again as soon as rains come. To
avoid as much as possible the injury
from drought 1t is essential that pas
lures be not grazed too closely. There
should be a good green cover or
grass mulch in order to protect the
roots from the hot sun. Such a pas
ture will remain green longer during
dry weather M will begin to grow
as soon as the drought Is broken, thus
shortening the period Of bare pastures.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
SUNLIGHT NECESSARY.

Sunlight is natures great germ de-
stroyer. 1t Is the cheapest disinfect-
ant al mans disposal and should be
taken advantage of at every oppor-
tunity.
In the construction Of barns or
shelters for any kind Of animals, am
pie provision should be made for the
admission Of the maximum amount
of sunlight. A southern exposure is
desirable; that is, an arrangement by
which most Of the windows race
south. The warmth thus provided IN
cold weather is desirable and much
of the heat Of summer can be avoid
ed by the use Of curtains or screens.
Most disease germs are entirely
killed by direct sunlight. n has
been repeatedly shown by expert
ments.
The farmer should bear this In
mind in building his barn. stable, hog
house, or poultry house..
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

Many plants may be successfully
used as food for wild ducks In locali-
ties where now they are not grown,
and this will be a strong inducement
for the ducks to congregate in Sec
tions where they are unknown at this
time.
Musk Grass.
The small tubers of musk grass
are eaten in large numbers; more than
1000 were contained in the stomach
of one goldeneye and more than 1900
in that of a pintail duck. However.
all parts of musk grasses are eaten.
In September, stomachs Of ducks
found in North Carolina, contained 50
per cent Of musk grass; October, 30
per cent.
Probably no part Of the United
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
BEWARE OF LEAKY ROOFS.

A house with a leaky roof is not a
At place for fowls. 1t will get them
out OF condition, they will suffer more
or less from colds. and, naturally,
there must be a curtailment Of the
egg crop. Dampness is one of the
worst evils, and 1t will certainly be a
wise move to either get a new root or
properly repair the old one.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

gined lakes In Louisiana. It produces
spherical fruits filled with gelatinous
matter in which are a multitude Of
seeds, eagerly sought by ducks. Nearly
Is per cent Of the food Of sos mall
,lards collected in that locality from
October to March, inclusive, consisted
of these seeds. From 5000 to 10000
were found in each of several stom-
achs and one contained $4,000.
Twenty-Five stomachs Of ringneck
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

same as game. The age Of a guinea
fowl can be told in the same way as
that Of a chicken. If young the
breast bone is flexible, the feet soft
and tender with short, sharp claws
and the outer wing feathers have
pointed ends After a bird Is fifteen
months old the helmet On the head
changes from black to a lead color.
A. j. L., W. Va.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
LICE AND MITES.

The free use of an effective lice pow
der g always in order in the poultry
house.
A dust bath is very essential In rid
ding the fowls of lice.
In applying powder hold the fo"l by
the feet, head down, n work tne
powder we'll down into the
The free use of kerosene en- the
and in the cracks will extermln-
ate mites.
whitewash is very effective against
vermin.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

ducks collected in December contained
35 per cent Of these eagerly sought
seeds. Frogbit is extensively used In
aquaria and water gardens, and may
be obtained from dealers in plants for
such purposes. The plants themselves
should be set out in water a few inches
deep over a mucky bottom or in soft
mud near the waters edge. Frogbit
has been found in parts Of New York.
New Jersey and Delaware. but tho
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

ana even lagoons where the water is
far less salt tina the sea-.
Watercress.
knowledge of the Importance Of
watercress as q duck food Is derived
entirely from breeders OF wild ducks,
who almost without exception consider
1t a valuable plant for a duck farm.
Not only Is 1t relished, but it is said
to grow so fast in some places that
the ducks can not eat 1t out. Water
cress occurs practically throughout the
entire United States.
Watercress is usually propagated
by seed, which may be obtained from
most seedsmen. The plant Is easily
t~ransplanted by cuttings. It grows in
springs, brooks, small streamx and
shallow ponds. Waters in which It is
found are usually cool and have some
current. 1t may be sown in similar
situations at any time during spring
or summer.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

Few people realize h Importance Of
handling apples with care while pick
ing, packing, and marketing. Apples
are bruised very easily and especially
those varieties having a tender flesh
or skin. Bruises mean not only an un-
attractive appearance, but a real waste
Of fruit by having to cut out the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14
THE BITE OF SCORPIONS.

The bite Of a scorpion less thsn.
two inches in length is nc more irri-
tating than a bee sting. Large scor-
pions may carry a dose of poison ca
pable of producing a good deal Of To-
cal irritation and causipr some dis
turbance Of the system. strong soda
water should be applied locally. Arc.
matte spirits Of ammonia may be CIV
en- internally II the face il pale.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

house during the day in search Of
food, but come near the house to lay.
Gu1neas are marketed at from six
to eight months old. Broilers weigh
ing about one pound are in great de-
mand as their flesh Is then tender and
somewhat "gamey." Old birds are
dry, tough and tasteless. They should
be marketed with the feathers on the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

closer than. that existing between the
noted fresh-water pair. the canvas
back duck and wild cherry. All nor
NAL stomach contents of the common
brant thus far examined consisted ex-
clusively Of e~el-grass.
Eel-grass consists OF punches of long
tape-like leaves which rise from q
Observation-Disclosures creeping stem.
The leaves grow in small bundles from
the end of the root-stock or its
branches. and may reach q length of
6 feet.
This plant grows only In salt water.
In North America 1t Is found from
Greenland to the Gulf of Mexico, and
from Alaska to southern California.
1t is common along shores facing the
open ocean, but also grows in bays,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

normal range probably Is from North
Carolina and Missouri southwark.
Thalia.
The writer's only experience with
ITALIA as a wild-duck food was in
Florida. Here a slough filled with a
tall growth Of these elegant plants
was a ~favorite resort Of ducks, es-
pecially mallards. The evidence Is
sufficient to show that italia mas great
possibilities as a wild-duck food. The
seeds are large and nutritious and
are borne in great abundance. The
leaf is much like that of Gamma, and
may measure s inches wide and Is
inches long. The plant is native from
Florida to southern Arkansas and
Texas, and doubtless it will thrive as
far north as South Carolina and Mis-
souri,.
Water Elm.
That trees should produce food for
wild ducks is at first thought surpris-
ing. but many do, as oaks, thorns,
hollies. ashes, hackberries and others:
is of more value for this pur-
pose, however, than the water elm.
The range of the water elm extends
the lower Wabash valley In In
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-14

falls in a month or six but 1t
has been found on the as late
as August. The fruits. .ich are
very numerous, drop into the water
Immediately upon ripening.
Eel-Grass.
Few who have written of the habits
Of sea brant have failed to mention
its fondness for eel-grass. The rela-
ton between this species Of bird and
plant seems to be as close as, II not