davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05
Raider Destroys Harmful Insects
and Need Not Be Exter.
minated.
LIFE HABITS OF EXPLORER
LeYelina Of Ridges by Means Of Roller
ends to Discourage Further In
eursions Of AnimaIs-Ready
Market for Skins.

prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.)
The case against the garden mole is
not clear-cut. The damage that it does
by burrowing In the soil and uproottng
plants Is somewhat offset by Its help
full habit of feeding upon insects and
in working the soil. A specialist In the
bureau of biological survey Of the
United States department Of agrieul-
ture, who has made a careful study OF
this underground explorer, concludes
that judgment against the mole may
be rendered when it actually invades
the lawn or garden--the overt act
but that no general warfare against
an insect-eating mammal should be en-
couraged. In Farmers Bulletin 5S3,
1.-THE Common Mole OF Eastern United
States" a report is made of invesn-
cations in the life habits and meth
DDS Of destroying this animal when
necessary. r.,.
Trapping is the most effective means
for putting an end to mole depreda-
lions. Although this bulletin consid-
ers the common garden mole Of East
ern United States, to a great extent
the instructions for trapping it apply
to all American moles. Three general
types of traps-the harpoon, the scis-
sors-jaw, and the choker-are on the
market, and most Of them give good
results. Specific instructions for
handling any particular make should
be obtainable from the manufacturer.
Successful Mole Trap. q
In general a mole trap en- be sue
cessfully operated only when set on
that part of the runway that Is near
enough to the surface to upridge the
sod or soil. A~little observation will
soon enable one to distinguish the new
er and more frequently used runways
from those that have been partially
or wholly abandoned. In placing the
trap, n Of the stretches Of the run
that seems to be leading in some def
mite direction should be selected rath-
err than one Of the turns OF a LADY,
rinth that may not be traversed every
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05
Mole Traps-a, Harpoon; b, Scissor
Jaw; G, Choker.

time the mole comes into the vicinity.
Before setting the trap it Is well to
ASCERTAIN the course Of the burrow by
thrusting down a lead pencil or a stick
of about the same size. The trap &C.
lected should then be lined up with
the course as nearly as possible; that
is, the jaws of the s~clssorEjaw type
should be astride 1t, the loops Of the
choker type should encircle 1t, and the
spikes Of the harpoon type should be
directly above it. II the harpoon type
is used, it is best to'force the i'm
paling spikes into the ground once or
twice to facilitate their penetrating
into the burrow when the trap is later
sprung. This type Of trap Injuries the
pelts Of moles, and Is not recommend
ed for use when it Is desired to pre-
serve the fur.
Repeated leveling Of the mole ridges
on the lawn by means Of q roller not
only tends to discourage the animals
from making further incursions, but
prevents that injury to the grass
roots which otherwise would result,
and restores to the lawn Its more
slightly appearance.
UnJustIy Blamed.
The mole Is blamed for much DAM
age It does not do, the specialist ex-
plains, because other small animals,
particularly voles or meadow mice,
deer mice, and sometimes ordinary
house mice use the convenient run
ways of the mole for marauding. Most
of the injury to seed grains, tubers'
and roots Of cultivated plants is di,
rectly chargeable to these intrudins
rodents, as an examination Of the
toothmarks on the damaged prod
ucts will show.
From an examination Of the stomach
contents of 200 moles taken in all
months Of the year it was found that
earthworms and white grubs constitute
the bulk of the food. Beetles anc
their larvae anG other insects that en-
ter the ground, spiders, centipedes
cocoons, and puparia also form a par
of the diet. In one stomach were found
the remains of III small white grubs
in another 10 cutworms, and In an
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05

other II earthwormA. TIE presence
Of starchy material in some Of the
stomachs is proof that the mole oc-
casionally finds vegetable food, as GER
tain seed grains, softened by con-
tact with the moist soil, ar acceptable
addition to its worm end insect diet.
Seed coats Of corn, wheat, oats, and
peanuts have been Identified I'm a few
stomachs.
Market for Skins.
Moleskins have found a ready mar
ket in recent years owing to the grad
ually decreasing number Of wild fur
bearing animals. A new industry
amounting to many thousands Of dol
lars annually might be developed In
this country in the utilization Of mole
skins, the specialist believes. 1t Is not
feasible to attempt to breed moles for
their pelts, but farmers boys or 9TH
ers may easily earn small profits by
capturing moles found damaging crops
or seriously interfering with garden
plants, cemeteries or lawns. In
formation regarding addresses Of firms
that will purchase moleskinsr the care
of skins, and home tanning Will be
furnished by the biological survey on
request.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05
ORDER FRUIT CRATES EARLY
UnIted States Department Of Agrieul.
ture Urges Farmers to Make Nee
essary Preparation.

Fruit growers are again being urged
by the United States department OF
agriculture to place their orders for
fruit packages at the earliest possible
moment in order to insure their de-
livery when needed. 1t seems that the
supply Is likely to be scarce and the
price high. Shipments should be made
early as there is likely to be a slow
delivery of anything that looks Ike
non-perishable freight
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05
SEED CORN
Care Should Be Exercised to Secure
Good Results.

A walk through the average corn
field of South Carolina will convince
the observer that very little core has
been exercised in the selection of the
seed corn. Very few perfect ears will
be found in an entire field. Much of
the seed that is planted is purchased
already shelled, therefore the planter
has no knowledge as to the type Of
ar it came from.
It is none too early for the farmer
to begin thinking about the selection
of his seed for the next crop. As
soon as the corn has hardened and
before any frost has touched it 60
through the field and select only
those ears that are well rounded on
both ends, where no particle of the
cob is exposed and where the rows
of corn on the cob are absolutely
straight. Every grain should be uni
form in color. Select only those ears
that have a deep grain and a small
cob. It will pay to take a whole day
to do this work properly. Do not linn
it your seed supply, have enough
and to spare.
Strip the shucks back On the ears
and tie them together, which makes
a splendid hanger. Secure a dry
place in the barn where the corn can
be hung up on racks to dry thorough
" and where it will be kept away
from the rats.
A month or so before planting
time, secure a box and make 10 to
"a pigeon holes, like you find in the
p~ostofice, making each sufficiently
large to hold an ear of corn. Num-
Der these pigeon holes and fill with
ears. Select a warm place and lay
off into small squares with strings to
correspond with the number Of pig
con holes and number these squares.
Shell three or four grains from each
ear in the pigeon holes and place
them in the squares leaving the same
number, then cover with wet saw
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05
SOILS FOR. MILLET
Plants Are Heavy Feeders and Need
Full Supply o. Plant Food tor
Their Best Growth.

hIillet does best on the lighter soils
and those that are well drained, loans
and sandy loans giving the largest
Yields. Heavy, poorly drained soils are
entirely unfit for the crop. The plants
are heavy feeders, and need q full sup
ply of plant food for their best growth.
On DOOR land, finely rotted stable
manure should be plowed down before
planting.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05
CAREFUL SOIL PREPARATION
WILL HELP THE WHEAT
AND RYE YIELD

Washington, Sept. Especial care
to place the soil in good condition in
preparation for planting wheat and
rye will go a long way, says the
United States Department OF Agrl-
culture, toward assuring the pro-
duction of the bumper crops of those
grains which the Department hopes
to see harvested next year.
If winter grains are to be grown
on lands devoted to similar grains
during the preceding season, the
land should be plowed as soon as the
old crops are removed and occasion
ally surface cultivated to kill weeds
until planting time. Flowing should
be to a depth of about 7 inches. Just
before planting time the land should
be narrowed if fairly moist and free
from weeds; otherwise it should be
disked and narrowed.
Wheat and rye may follow practl-
cally any crop which may be got out
of the way in time. Where a choice
is possible, however, it is better to
have these grains follow a cultivated
crop, preferably a leguminous crop
such as soy or other beans, or cow
peas. To have them follow corn is
a common practice in parts of the
corn belt. In the South they may
follow cotton and in the southern
Great Plains region, the sorghums.
In some sections farmers find it a
good plan to follow potatoes with
wheat or rye.
If the wheat and rye follow b cul-
itivated crop which has been kept free
from weeds, it is best not to plow
the land. The land may simply be
disked and narrowed, narrowing to
be performed again just before seed
ing.
Under all conditions drilling IS
preferable to broadcasting as a me-
thod of planting, and, if the farmer
has no drill of his own, it will be
worth while for him, in most cases,
to rent one. When a drill is used
less seed in required, the seed are
covered betterand may be planted in
contact with moist soil, and a more
even stand is obtained.
Fertilizer is used on many farms
east of central Kansas and Nebraska,
but is used less frequently in the re-
eion to the west, Fertilizer is not
generally used in growing rye. In
growing wheat where fertilizer is
used acid phosphate is considered of
chief Importance. Under present con-
ditions it will hardly pay the farmer
to use potash. From 200 to $50
pounds of phosphate to the acre is
the usual rate. 1t is best applied
through the drill at planting time.
Lime should be used on land on
which wheat is to be grown if acid
conditions prevail. The lime or
ground limestone may be applied at
the rate of 1000 to 1000 pounds
to the acre with a lime spreader or
drill, two or three weeks before
planting time.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05
News for the Farmer

dust. Thus you will discover the ears
that will terminate, discarding the
ears where the grains do not germi-
nate and filling the pigeon holes
with other ears until all have been
testde. This will insure a good stand
and a v considerable time and
work.. W. H.-The. State.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05

Willie Williams, Abbeville. 3.
Jas. Clarence McAllister, Iva. E..
Joe Earle Lewis, Lowndesville.
Timothy Ware, Honea Path.
Acy B. Minor, Lowndesville.
Thos. Susewell, Due West.
John G. Bonds, Lowndesville.
Jas. R. Wilson, Abbeville. -.
Jesse johnson, Lowndesville.
Emmett Gordon, Abbeville.
Caesar Glover, Lowndesville.
David Chiles, kbbeville.
Harrison Williams, Lowndesville.
B. C. Branyon, Honea Path.
Jas. M. Marina, Honea Path.
Eugene D. Woodward, Abbeville.
Joe Williams, Lowndesville.
Neuffer Black, Abbeville.
Jesse David Bell, A~ntreville.
Robt. Neuffer Mcneil, Abbeville.
Ernest Scuddy, Antreville.
Roy Mattison, Honea Path.
T. B. Osborne, Abbeville, Rt. 5.
Hartford Cam, Antreville.
Nelse Casey, Antreville.
Willie A. Bonds, Lowndesville.
Sam Leonard, Abbeville,
Walter Forest Clary, Jr. AbBeville
Charlie Raindrop, Calhoun Falls.
Luther Cowan, Honea Path, R. 8.
Richard Davis, Jr., Abbeville.
Joe Rapley, Due West.
Geo. Scott, Abbeville.
Jas. Kay, Due West.
Julius Martin, Antreville.
Ben Lee Norwood, Abbeville, RID
Charlie Williams, Abbeville.
Robt. H. Martin, Abbeville. g.
Lewis Reeder, Due West.
Jack. S. Smith, Honea Path.
Willie Napoleon, Calhoun Falls.
R. E. Agnew, Donalds.
John Burno, Donalds.
Reese Hill, Lowndesville.
Milton Bailey, Abbeville, Rt. 8.
Foster Allen, Abbeville, Star Rt.
Jas. W. Davis, Abbeville.
Thos. DuBose, Lowndesville.
Charlie Gordon, Level Land.
VIM. B. Croker, Lowndesville.
Burlie Smith, Abbeville.
Oliver E. Jones, Due West.
Thos. Cannon, Abbeville.
Jas. Reese Hall, Abbeville.
Paul Wilson Cox, Calhoun Falls.
Arthur P. Rosenberg, Abbeville.
Eddie B. Nickles, Donalds..
Charlie Hunter, Hester.
Amaziah Garrett Fisher, Level L.
J. A. MCGOWAN, Antreville.
Joseph Ferguson, Antreville.
j. R. Eakin, Donalds.
J. B. McCord, Abbeville.
Augustus Smith, Abbeville.
John Smith, Level Lnad.
Dave Tribble, Lowndesville.
Hartford Cam, Antreville.
Ritch Mitch, Lowndseville.
Walter Gordon, Due West.
Lem Reid Stevenson, Abbeville.
Robert Bolden, Antreville.
Burt Thomas, Calhoun Falls.
Erskine S. Young, Due West.
Ben. o. Berry, Calhoun Falls.
Samuel Calhoun, Hester.
Raymond Browhlee, Lowndesville
Ulysses Aiken, Donalds.
Furman Ellis, Due West.
Bishop Belcher, Lowndesville.
Eddie Yeargen, Abbeville.
Mahlon W. Gordon, Antreville.
Jas. j. Roche, Abbeville.
VIM Albert McClain, Lowndesvillt
Clement Patterson, Lowndesville.
Thos. D. Williams, Due West.
c. B. Wilson, Abbeville.
Phillip Pressly, Abbeville.
. John Elmore, Abbeville.
Scott Scotland, Lowndesville.
Floyd Bonds, Lowndesville.
Jim ". Bolden, Calhoun Falls.
Raymond Carr, Antreville.
Ned Jennings, Abbeville.
Jessie Clayton, Calhoun Falls.
Marvin LeroyS, Lowndesville.
Jas. G. Bell, Latimer.
Willie Brown, Lowndesville.
Earl Martin, Lowndesville.
VIM. H. Patterson, Hester.
Ernest Coleman, Abbeville.
Jas. Johnson, Abbeville.
Clarence Stuart, Due West.
Willie Linzy, Abbeville, R F D.
George Blue, Calhoun Falls.
Elisha Davis, Calhoun Falls.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05
OATS AND PEA HAY MIXTURE
Rather Hard to Cure On Account OF
High Moisture Gontent--Handle
Hay Carefully.

This mixture is rather hard to cure
on account Of Its high content Of mois-
ture. It should be cut when the oats
are In the milk and net Later to make
the best hay. The hay should be ham
died carefully and kept cooked If the
weather Is unfavorable. The less 1t is
exposed to rain after being cut the
better hay 1t makes.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05
CULTIVATE EARLY and OFTEN
Constant Work Will Keep Soil In Ideal
Physical Condition ard Keep
Out Harmful Weeds.

Constant cultivation should be the
rule, for this will keep the soil in an
ideal physical condition for the roots
to grow n, besides keeping the weeds
sn check. Cultivate early and persist
emily and keep ahead of the weeds.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-10-09
Another Regiment.

A certain ledger, whose butter dis.
appeared in the most mysterious and
appalling manner, contrived to STOP
the business by adopting a rather in.
genious and original plan. Whenever
he had finished with the Wand he
stamped the end with a regimenta]
button which he had, and for a time
all was well, says London Tit-Bits
One night, however, he thought the
roll looked rather shorter than wher
he left it, and yet the impression of 9
button was there right enough.
Then summoning his landlady, he
said:
"This is not my butter, Mrs. Scott
"Oh, yes, it is, Mr.. Wild; there's the
mark of the button on it,
"Just SO, Mrs. Scott; but, bless me
this button belongs to quite a differ.
ent regiment from mine. Yours be.
longs to the r. A. F.; mine to the r.
A. M. c."
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-10-09
BOSTON TRADITION IS HIT
eespectacIed schooIboy for Which
Hub Has Been Known Throughout
Country, Is Almost Extinct.

Another Boston tradition was shat
tered when DR.. William 81. Devine, d.
rector Of medical inspection in the
Boston schools, reported to the school
board that IS per cent Of the pupils
now in school have normal vision.
The bespectacled Boston schoolboy,
one of the sacred traditions of the Hub.
respected everywhere else, is no long
er honored at home. He has become
almost extinct, like the messenger boy
who quotes Browning.
Even the fad for tortoise shell rim
glasses Of the style that grandfather
used to wear and which were supposed
to give Bostonians who wore them that
owllfke look Of wisdom, could produce
only 6,O36 bespectacled children out
of total Of 80, 10 examined. It looks
on the face of the report as If stafd
old Puritan Boston was cutting loose
from all her honored traditions and
going in for athletic, red-blooded,
healthy boys and girls.
Doctor Devine reported that out of
a total of 89,179 pupils examined, U.s.
1872 had normal vision. He also re-
ported that out of total Of 89,1O8 pu-
pills whose hearing was tested 1881
had normal hearing in both ears. Only
376 pupils suffered from both defec-
tive vision and hearing.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-10-09
mo GOOD OF THE OPENWORK'
That Was Why Queenie, Dark-Skinned
Put on Pair Of Pink Stockings
: Under the Black Ones.

Queenie, seventeen, comedy, a pleas
ant dark-brown in complexion, ap-
peared in Openwork stockings at the
apartment of her employer and pre-
pared to scrub the floor.
The labor entailed considerable
showing of stocking. The mistress of
the house, glancing at this display,
observed the openwork and was mys-
tilted by an extraordinary color effect.
Queenie is very pretty negress, but
she is obviously of pure African strain.
Yet through the interstices Of the OPEN
work there undoubtedly were to be had
gllmpses of delicate pale flesh color.
Could it be strange example of ra-
cial admixture? Was Queenie afflicted
with f1esh-colored supporters for her
brown body?
what in the world, child" demand
ed her mistress; "you aren't pink un-
derneath, are you,''
Got pair of pink stockings on I'M
derneath the black Ones" grinned
Queenie. when I fust put 'em on by
thcireelves I didn't got no good of the
OpenWOrk."
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-10-09
Why He Joined Air Service

!. Few men, am sure, would confess
to so strange an immediate cause for
Joining the aviation service as that re-
lated to me by Drew, as we sat over
our coffee and cigarettes, on the eve
ming of our first meeting, writes James
N. Hall in the Atlantic. He had come
to France, he said, with the intention
Ct joining the Legion Etrangere as an
rinfantryman. But he changed his
mind, q few days after his arrival in
Paris, upon meeting Jackson of the
American Aviation squadron, who was
on leave after service Of six months
at the front. It was all because of the
manner in which jackson looked at a
Turkish rug. He told him Of his ad-
ventures in the most matter-of-fa ct
way. No heroics, nothing of that sort.
He had not a glimmer of Imagination,
he said. But he had way of looking
at the floor which was Irresistible
which Fascinated him with the sense
OF height He saw towns, villages, a
network Of trenches, columns of toy
troops moving up ribbons Of road-all
IN the patterns of Turkish rug. And
the next day, he was at the headuuar-
tiers Of the Franco-American corps. in
the Champs Elysees, making applica-
ton for membership.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-10-09
Killing Seals in Fraser River.

The European war has furnished
an idea to the provincial authorities
who have for years been seeking to ex-
terminate the hair seals, which kill
enormous quantities of salmon at the
mouth Of the Fraser, says Vancouver
dispatch to the Buffalo News,
Note was taken of the favorite bask-
Ing places of the seals on the Fraser
sandheads. One Of these was mined
with high explosives and charges of
metal were placed in cans below the
surface of the sand, which the next
high tide smoothed over. At low tide
the seals returned to their place in
the sun and were not disturbed.
The next day nearly 200 seals gath
cred on the sands and the explosion
was touched off by battery from
which wires led to the seal ground.
The explosion killed every seal.
Other blasts will be set off, for this
Is the big sockeye salmon year, and
protection of the run is vital.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-10-09
Soldiers Fool BootbIacks

Three invalid soldiers in wheel
chairs propelled themselves RAPIDLY
through a crowded railway station
here to a bootblack stand and de-
manGed that their shoes be shined in q
hurry. Three bootblacks rushed for.
ward, pulled aside the coats thrown
over the laps Of the soldiers, and found
that two Of the men had no legs, while
the third had only one. The soldiers
laughed uprcaricusly, the crowd join
ing il the demonstration Of mirth.-
London Cable to New York World,
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-10-09
HER PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE
Lesson Seen for the Weary World in
the InvarIabIe Ending Of Little
Three-Year-OId's Stories.

A writer in the Atlantic Monthly
described, some months ago, q little
person of some three years who was
1nsatiably fond Of stories. When there
was no one to tell them to her she
made them up herself The writer
was impressed with the fnvariable end
Ing of these stories, which was al
ways, "'And him went home to him's
muvver.'" "Bears, lions, tigers, even
elephants and crocodiles pass through
the most agitating and unusual adven-
ture, but in the end they all go home
to their mother" And the writer adds
that this is an astonishing bit of wis
dom to be evolved by a person Of
three.
There have been many pretentious
PHILOSOPHERS of life offered us these
last few years, and it may take some
of us no little time to come down to
one so modest. But the signs are
thickening fast that the whole world,
disappointed with it's grand policies
and enfeebled with its PHILOSOPHERS, is
beginning to long for something like
this. It may be q blow to ones pride,
but the greatest philosophy of life has
long since been stated. "When he
came to himself he said, will arise
and go to my father."-The Sunday
School Times.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-10-09
Food Economy.

The advice Of Herbert G. Hoover re.
garding food economy is superfiuous to
certain denizens of the Bronx in New
York. It was on an express subway
train to that borough that one under
ground commuter read with seeming
1rreverence the rules for saving the
odd ends in the kitchen.
Keep the ice box clean,'" he req
TO a companion. "Why, say, my ice
box is cleaned out every night before
! even get whack at it, and l have
TO send out to the delicatessen for
my olnner. And look at these rules
Tor economy. Take it from me.
there's only one way to economic
these days. Send the wife and tho
young 'uns on a visit to the kinfolks.
put the dog On half rations and %
home for dinner with anybody who
asks youo'
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-10-09
Unfortunate Force Of Habit.

Two girlhood friends were exchang-
Ing condolences over their afternoon
tea.
Il saw you in church, dear, yester-
day." murmured the younger one.
"Oh, you were there? I didn't see
you" gurgled the other.
YES. And I was glad to see
that you finally induced your husband
TO accompany you to divine wor-
Ship
Yes, Frank came along with me.
He'd much rather go to the theater,
but the theaters are not showing any
thing on Sundays now. But he dis
graced me-"
Really? In church? How pray %
"The minister read four chapters
from The Acts Of the Apostles and
my husband insisted on going out aft
er every act."-Harper's Magazine.