davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23
Alfalfa Seed-Bed Must Be Carefully
Worked This Year

East Lansing, Mich, May 3D.
More than common care should be
exercised by farmers this spring in
the preparation Of ground for alfalfa,
say soil men of the Michigan Agricul-
tural College. Failure to look to ev-
cry detail, they add, may result in a
poor stand Of this crop and conse-
quent heavy loss to husbandmen.
Because of the wetness Of the
present spring." one Of the M. A. C.
soil specialists has said, "many fields
intended for alfalfa probably will not
be plowed early enough to get them
worked down into a proper seed-bed.
IL the soil is sandy, thorough dou-
BILE disking, followed by roller,
should put the soil in good condition.
IF the soil is heavy, it should be
plowed shallow, from three to four
inches deep, and disked at once with
the disks set straight, 50 as to COM
pact the soil as much a possible. At
ter this, the smoothing harrow ought
to be used as frequently as possible
until seeding time. By this means a
satisfactory seed-bed may be prepar-
ed.
"All these precautions are neces-
sary, for many failuses to secure a
good stand of alfalfa are due to lack
of proper preparation of the seed-bed.
Alfalfa is especially sensitive to the
condition Of the soil, and since the
crop occupies the land for several
years, it is worth while to spend
plenty of time in getting the ground
into the proper condition. 1t is de-
sirable to pillow the land early and
deep, and then to work it down into
a firm, compact seed-bed This i'm
proves the soil, frees fit from weeds,
and conserves moisture"
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23
Agricultural Department
Conducted by G. w. PeLett gricahuraI Teacher
in BeIdng High School

The rape fs usually sowed in three
plots and at intervals of about three
weeks. The Dwarf Essex variety is
used and is sowed in drills twenty
eight inches apart at the rate of six
pounds to the acre. If the pigs are
turned onto a fresh piece after the
first plot has been cropped the plants
will grow up again providing anoth-
er crop of forage by the time the lat
est sown plots are eaten off. The
rape stalks should not be too closely
pastured after the leaves are eaten
off When this plan is followed, the
rape should be from fourteen to
eighteen inches high when the pigs
are turned into it.
Glover is also a valuable crop for
forage and makes good crop for
cheap pork production.
Alfalfa is considered better than
clover and when properly handled
gives several crops for forage in each
season.
Field peas and oats sown at the
rate of one and one-half bushels of
each per acre makes a good feed, es-
pecially on light soils.
The use of clover, alfalfa, rape or
peas and oats should make a saving
of twenty-five or thirty per cent in
the growing and fattening of swine
An acre sown to these crops, proper
ly grown and cared for, should fur
nish forage from the middle of June
until October for fifteen and twenty
spring shoats.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23

(From the Grand Rapids Tradesman)
Where, pray, did you get your blue,
Hidden all the winter through
Meath the forests leafy mold
Where you slept when days were
cold?
Did you by some mystery
Catch the blue from out the sky,
Wooing spring suns genial ray
To bring it to you all the way?
Did thy modest fiowerlets rare
Fairies fashion in the air
Lest forgotten they might be
Gave their beauty all to thee?
Whence did come your perfume, too,
From afar, beyond the blue,
Where very angels smile
By its sweetness dids't beguile?
And your leaf of richest green
By some painter all unseen
Rivaling the grass grown sod?
Twas natures artist and natures
God. Charles A. Heath.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23
F A r M A N d
O r G HI A r D
Plant Beans in Hills

X. Il. Odle, Lapeer produce mer-
chant has a plan which he says will
materially save seed beans without
handicapping the yield, in fact he
insists his proposed economy will in
crease the crop. He writes Governor
Sleeper as follows:
"As we are all interested in t1e
production and Conservation Of the
food supply l want to make the sug-
gestion that the farmers of Michi-
gan change their method Of planting
beans.
GAS you probably know the usual
way is to plant them with grain drills
in continuous or matted rows which
requires one bushel or more seed per
acre.
"But if planted by hand in check
rows, 20 inches apart, each way, with
common hand cornplanters only nine
to twelve quarts per acre would be
required which would mean am i'm
mense saving.
"The great objection to this meth
cd of planting among the farmers
has been that it was. impossible to
get the necessary help at time of
planting-not that the yield is less.
"On the contrary where this means
has been tried out the yield was
greater, the ground kept in better
condition with less work; in a wet
son they are less liable to blight and
mildew and the same is true in dry
season they are less liable to blight
and mildew and the same is true in a
dry season, the ground can be cover
ed with dust mulch.
eff the farmers can be assured of
enough help in planting time / think
they would gladly avail themselves of
the chance to save more than one-half
of the expense of seed.
al offer this simply as a suggestion
to you in an effort to do my bit"
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23

The enhanced value of garden pro-
ducts increases the Importance to the
Trainer of an accurate knowledge of
the vitality of the seeds he uses in the
production of these crops. Because of
the large amount of hand-labor given
to the garden plot it is relatively
more important to make certain that
the garden seeds be tested than it is
to try out the seed corn. However,
both should be carefully done and
during the days before actual field
work starts it is very wise farmer
who not only secures his seeds and
grades them, but who also makes ger
mination tests Of every kind he is to
plant or sow.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23

en- on permit from state game, fish
and forest commissioner when they
are destroying brook trout or other
fish.
Possession at one time limited as
follows: Quail, 10; partridge, ruffled
grouse. and spruce hen, 10 in all;
plover, 20; woodcock, 20; snipe and
other shore birds, 20 in all; geese
and brant combined, Id; and ducks,
20 in all.
Fixed number of game birds which
NAV be taken in one day as follows:
Quail, 6; partridge, ruffled grouse and
spruce hens, s; plover, 6; woodcock,
s.; snipe and other shore birds, 10;
geese and brant combined, 6; ducks,
Closed season on fox, black and
gray squirrels, and on pheasants,
quail, black fowl, capercailzie, hazel
grouse, spruce hens or Canadian
grouse, prairie chicken and wild tur-
KEY, killdeer and wading shore and
meadow birds and woodcock until
1920.
Netting of suckers in st. Joseph
county permitted.
License fee of 81 and $500 bond
required of frog farms and regula-
tions established.
Spearing prohibited in Pleasant and
Elk lakes, Lapeer county, In Missau-
kee lake, Missaukee county.
Open season on rainbow trout and
steelhead in Charlevoix county, made
May / to September Is, length seven
inches; spearing permitted in por-
tions of Manistee, Pere Marquette,
Pentwater and Muskegon rivers desig-
mated by game commissioner upon
payment of 81 fee.
Open season is as follows: Deer,
November 1890, inclusive; rabbits or
hares, October to February /; quail,
October Is to November L; woodcock,
partridge, ruffled grouse, October
/ to g; spruce hens, October ! to
November 30; ducks, geese, brant,
wilson or jacksnipe, coots and gal
linules, September Is to December
81; black-breasted and golden plover
and yellow legs, September / to
December IS; rails, September to
November 80.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23

Many changes in the game and fish
laws of the state were made by the
last legislature. The laws as amend
ed have the following changes:
Note.-Game legislation is largely
taken care of by a provision for OPP
tional closed seasons by counties.
Catching of perch less than nine
inches long prohibited.
Provision made for establishment
Of wild game farms and sale of stock.
Deputy game warden in Wayne
county given $4,000 salary and $500
expense.
Season closed on large and small
mouthed bass and wall-eyed pike
March / to July.
Bounty on wolves made $50, under
six months, $25; coyote, $50 and $25;
wildcat and lynx, S. each; weasel, 80
cents.
Size Of fish nets in Saginaw bay
regulated.
Provision made for fish hatchery
in Schoolcraft county.
Seizure of illegal hunting and fish
ing apparatus authorized.
Fishing restricted in south arm Of
Pine Lake, East Jordan.
Use of firearms, spears or smok-
ing out devices forbidden in catching
muskrats or other fur-bearing ami
mails.
Declare a nuisance any cat which
pursues small game or birds during
closed season and provides it may be
killed.
Hunting of deer at night by artifi-
cial light prohibited; one deer a week
allowed each group of six hunters,
for camp use.
Use set net extending mile from
shore forbidden within five miles of
river with ten-foot channel, any net
forbidden within sixty rods Of such
stream.
Prohibits molesting with dog any
animal as well as game bird during
closed season.
Required that state game depart
ment be maintained by licenses and
fees and amended hunting license act.
Blue heron, shelIdrake, kittiwakes
or terms and mergansers may be TAX
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23
Pork Production in Michigan

Pork Production in Michigan
If properly handled, hogs will pay
profit on most Michigan farms. Be-
cause they consume feed which other
wise might be wasted, reproduce
abundantly, mature rapidly and usu-
ally return a substantial profit, hogs
ars exceedingly useful and profitable
animals on most of the farms of the
state. In fact on dairy, cattle or
truck farms generally swine can be
kept at a profit and although many
successful farmers as yet are not
raising hogs census statistics and
general observations show there is a
great interest in swine production.
Before engaging in swine raising
it is well to take an account of avail
able feeds, accommodations, and
market facilities, for of course the
Michigan farmer cannot afford to
purchase high-priced concentrated
feed for the sole purpose Of growing
and fattening swine on it alone.
The farmer who has skim milk
clover or alfalfa, and grows corn
will need to purchase but little feed.
Middlings, oil meal and tankage are
all valuable heterogeneous feeds and
should be fed as supplements to corn.
Of course too liberal feeding of corn
in the early growing periods is injuri-
Gus. Usually, for the first six to
eight weeks after weaving, it is not
best to make corn more than one
third of the grain ration. When the
pigs are five months old, the amount
of corn may be increased gradually
and then after two months of feed
ing and to the end of the fattening
period corn may form sixty TO ninety
per cent of the entire ration. A ra-
ton compound of seventy-five pounds
of corn on the ear, fifteen pounds of
wheat middlings and ten pounds of
oil meal is a satisfactory combina-
I.tion for fattening swine. Ground
or soaked rye or ground barley can
replace corn with practically the
sameresults.
Skim milk is always a splendid
feed for swine; and if available in
sufficient qualities to form the great
er part of the liquid in the above ra-
tions, oil meal need not be fed. One
hundred pounds of skim milk are
sometimes considered equal in value
for pig feeding to one-half q bushel
of corn. Although not considered as
good for young pigs, buttermilk is
squal to or better than skim milk for
fattening swine. Whey, when il does,
not contain too much water or wash
ings, has value for pig feeding
usually considered less han one-half
that of either skim milk or butter
milk.
Forage Crops for Swine !.
Forage crops provide an important
part in the food supply for swine.
Since there is little or no profit in
feeding hogs on grain alone, the
swine raiser should arrange to de-
velop his market animals as much as
possible on dairy and farm products
and forage crops, leaving the heavy
gain feeding for the fattening and
finishing period. Most forage crops
are suited to swine feeding and in
proper condition and stage Of growth
provide at least a maintenance ration.
June grass furnishes che first green
feed and is always relished but it
soon dries up and must be supple
mented with other forage crops.
Rape has proven a valuable forage
for swine. The animals are kept on
June grass or clover until about July
/, and then turned into field Of rape.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23
w. C. T. u. ITEMS
Responsibility of Parents


Often intemperance begins in the
home. By the use of rich unhealthful
food the digestive organs are weak
ened,, and a desire is created for food
that is still more stimulating. Thus
the appetite is educated to crave con-
tinually something stronger. The de-
mand for stimulants becomes more
frequent and more difficult to resist.
The system becomes more or less filled
with poison, and the more debiliated
it becomes, the greater is the desire
for these things. One step in the
wrong direction prepares the way for
another. Many who would not be
guilty of placing on their table wine
or liquor of any kind will load their
table with food which creates such a
thirst for strong drink that to resist
the temptation is almost impossible.
Wrong habits of eating and drink
ing destroy the health and prepare
the way for drunkenness.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23
Pork Production in Michigan

Attention is called to the article un-
der the above caption in the agricul-
tural department of the Banner this
week. Mr.. Pellet, who conducts the
department, because of his training in
M. A. c. is enabled to give farmers
and stock-raisers some most useful
information. His articles should be
read each week. Better yet they
should be kept for reference at later
times if desired.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23
Disconcerting

"Do you dictate your speeches to
stenographer 2"
"No," replied Senator Sorghum
when / talk / am so accustomed to
demonstrations of approval that the
absence Of applause disconcerts me-"
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23

AS long as you refrain from say
ing anything you keep the other fell
low guessing.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23
PulIets. Egps for Hatching

Pullets' eggs should not be used
for Matching. 1t is a sound doctrine
to say that we should breed only
from hens. The hens do not lay so
many eggs before the breeding sea-
son and consequently have a tend
ency to lay larger eggs and produce
better chicks. A clue is also given,
where the hen is over two years old,
as to her tendency to longevity and
production in later years. 1t is the
general opinion that the pullet year
is the most productive and most pro-
fitable year of the hens life. The
second year is also generally conced-
ed to be her last profitable year. In
some instances some poultry farms
keep the hens three years, but in
rvery few instances do they knowing
keep hens more than three years:
The life of hen is too short, and
when once an Individual is found TO
be in good condition, having remark
able vitality and laying well IN her
third or fourth year, she should by
all means be kept in the flock. The
period of production of the hen must
be increased. Two years is not a
sufficient period for production. Bet
ter make it FIVE or six years and
the cost of producing the pullet VIII
be materially decreased and our pro-
fits greatly increased.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23

Women have such a good time
talking because they have so little to
say that they do not care how they
say it.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23
POULTRY
CONSULTING DEPARTMENT
Test Said To Indicate Vitality OF
Unmatched Chicks

Unmatched Chicks
How to tell vigorous chicks be-
fore they are Matched is an ingenious
method originated by Frank L.
Plumb, Mountain Grove, Mo. That
this is an important problem among
poultry raisers has long been recog-
nized. Weak chicks are more sus-
ceptible to disease which the vigorous
chicks are more apt to contract if
the disease is encouraged by the
presence of weak chickens in the
flock. Then, too, weak chicks will
do better if separated from those
more vigorous. 1t is also important
that this culling be made as early as
possible because some chicks will
very soon apparently outgrow a
weakness which they possess. If it
can be done before Matching and
done accurately, the value Of Mr..
Plumb's discovery can hardly be esti-
mated.
Briefly speaking the theory is this
AS the chick approaches complete
development in the shell it becomes
more and more responsive to the law
of gravity. 1t will continue to right
itself in the shell when the egg is
turned. Therefore if the egg after
the eighteenth day is placed in a
basin of lukewarm water the chick
within the egg. In attempting ia
right its position its movements
cause the egg to move up and down
with a series of quick jerks. Chicks
of strong vitality cause the egg ia
rise and sink nearly one-fourth the
diameter of the egg while those OF
weak vitality scarcely move the egg
This is simple test and can be done
with no injury to the eggs.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-23

There are a whole lot Of ways to
acquire a black eye. But you can't
make man believe that you didn't
get yours the way he thinks you did.
Mans sojourn on earth IS one con-
tinuous round Of temptation.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-07-24
COMPANY c SALE
At LEHAHARD STORE
II. A. Lehnhard Will Give 10 Per
Cent of Cash Sales to Boys
Of Company c.

Through the generosity of the L.
A. Lehnard clothing store, Company
C is to get 10 per cent of the cash
taken in by this business house dur
ing the week Of July 25 to July 81,
inclusive. The sale IS similar to the
weeks campaign put on by the Mer-
camille company and Russell's gro
Gerry recently, when a per cent of the
proceeds were given to the Red Cross.
Our soldier boys are going to leave
us soon. There Is deficit in their
treasury to the amount of 800 and
they hope to be able to raise this
amount from the Bernhard sale. The
boys will also need some money with
which to start south. They don't
want to leave Webster City dead
broke" so they are taking this op-
portunity of urging their relatives
and many friends to patronize the
Lehnhard sale and thus help swell
the exchequer Of Company c.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-07-24
Win Be Required to Supply No Men
(, Under Fint Call for the
selective Army Now
Being Formed.
TOTAL FOR THE STATE IS 25,421
This County'a Share Il 221, and 249
Men Have Already Enlisted
10 Serve Their Country.

Hamilton county will not have to
furnish any soldiers under the first
call for the army Of $4,000 men
drawn yesterday. Twice the num-
ber Of men required to supply the
demand were drawn, the total num-
her being 1,374,0OO. Half of these,
It is expected, will be exempted from
service for various reasons.
The Freeman Tribune received the
following dispatch from Frank p.
Lyman. in charge Of publicity in the
office OF the adjutant general:
Dess Moines. July 21.-Iowa will
furnish 1919 men for the national
army to fight Germany, in addition
to the 1862 men in the national
guard and regular army.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-07-24
Extended Auto Trips.

Mr.. and Mrs. John Al Wille and
children leave Thursday overland on
will visit Salt Lake City, Yellow-
stone park and many other places
of national interest before returning
home by way of Minneapolis. They
will be gone five or six weeks.
DR.. Belle H. Conrad and mother,
Mrs. Rosetta Conrad, with Raymond
X. Kinsey as driver, left today on an
extended trip to Montana points.
Before going west, however, they
will visit Weyerhauser, Wis, and
later Yellowstone park and other
places of interest before reaching
their destination,
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-07-24
ATTEND DEFENSE
COUNCIL MEETING
Hamilton County Representatives
Go 10 Des koines in Response to
Call for Gathering.

Hon. Rube McFerren, Jesse w. Lee
and John ID. Porter, members of the
Hamilton county council of defense,
went to .Des Moines Friday to at
tend the meeting of the state coun-
Gil Of defense, held in the house
chamber Of the state capitol. Ev-
cry county in the state, except
Mitchell. was represented, which
shows that the people Of Iowa are
alive to the seriousness Of the war
In which this nation is now engaged.
Members of the state and county
councils to the number of 453 were
in attendance. and matters OF much
interest and importance were dis
cussed. A resolution calling upon
Iowa to adopt Belgian orphans was
adopted and q number of interesting
patriotic addresses were made. Gov.
Harding delivered one Of the strong
speeches, - did Judge Wade. Mrs.
F. =. Whitley Of this city. chairman
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-07-24
HAMILTON COUNTY HAS fURN-
ISHED MORE Than QUOTA

Adjutant General Guy E. Logan,
|by direction of Governor w. l.. Har-
ding, has prepared the sheets dis
|tributing the quotas of men to the
various counties and seven cities,
using the recent state census as a
basis instead of the estimate Of
population furnished by the war de-
partment, which is based upon the
registration and not population.
In making the ALLEGATION it was
found that five counties and cities
had already furnished volunteers for
the guard and army in excess of
their gross quota, and as result
there were 164 men to be distribut-
ed to the other counties and cities
in proportion to their population,
cutting down the draft just this
much.
The cities and counties which have
already furnished more than their
share Of the 25,241 men the state
will furnish in all are Hamilton
county, Story county, Page county,
Cedar Rapids and Council Bluffs.
The credits for the national guard
and army up to June 80 when cred
its ceased were, guard 6,SOS, and
army 1858, but no credit is given
for men enlisting in the navy or for
men in the army before war was de-
clared.
Hamilton county's quota is 221
men, and the county has already fur
nished f249.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-07-24
MIDNIGHT LIGHT
Ming. !. BOLT |. | HITS barn /
Bayn on John I. Richardson Place
on East Side Il Burned to
-.-.:.. the Ground.

Lightning struck q barn on the
John L. Richardson place on the
east side. just south of the Illinois
Central viaduct, few minutes after
midnight Friday night, and before
the fire department could get to the
scene the building was half burned
down.. 1t was medium sized barn
and contained small amount of
feed, q supply Of wood and ,cobs,
some chickens and COW. The COW
and chickens were gotten out before
the flames reached them.
Knowing the barn could not be
saved, the firemen turned their at
tention to the surrounding build
ings. Chemicals were used, and af-
ter the big blaze had subsided some
what. 300 feet Of hose was laid and
water pumped from the creek on the
place to extinguish the fire in the
wood and cobs, which would have
burned indefinitely.
A, demonstration of the new fire
trucks capacity along this line was
new to, the crowd Of people who
went to see the fire. Pressure Of
$50 pounds was used to pump the
water from the creek. This, how
ever, is not the capacity of the
truck. A great deal more pressure
could be developed.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-07-24

shall provide patrolmen with such
tools and equipment as are necessary
to carry out the provisions Of this
act, and said patrolmen shall receipt
to the board of supervisors therefor.
Said patrolmen shall give bonds for
the faithful performance of their
duties and for the care of tools and
equipment in such sum as the board
Of supervisors may direct, which
bond shall be approved by the board.