davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Food Value of Oils

The relative food values of the differ. ent vegetable oils has been a subject of study by the United States department of agriculture and others They find that all are about equal in this respect. Fats are concentrated food without fiber or other roughage. An ounce of any typical Tat is equivalent to about 255 calories Whiie the same weight of pure carbon hydrate that is. starch or sugar. or of pure protein. such as lean meat, will yield but ll3 calories. From this we see that the same amount of fat gives a little more than twice as much energy as the other elements of diet mentioned. They are not, however, muscle and body materials. Further, the digestibility of the various fats has been found to be about equal The figures are published in farmers bulletin No. 505 are: Peanut oil, 9S.3 per cent; cotton seed oil 97.s per cent; olive oil, 97.S per cent: cocoanut oil. 979 per cent. and sesame oil, 9S per cent. This means that when purchas-
 ing one may forget entirely the food value or the comparative digestibility of the fats and oils available since they are, in those respects, practically identical
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Dill and Mixed Pickles

Some of our folks are real forehanded and are already asking for picking and preserving recipes. Good Lets put Il sag in the preserving closet shelves this year.
 Here are recipes for dill and mixed pickles, which have been asked for. Bet ter save them unless you have some you like better Other recipes will follow Household Editor.
 Dill Piekles.--D Dissolye salt in water suntil you have made brine that win float an egg; then add half as much more water as you have brine; wash your cu- cumbers in cold water Into a stone jar put layer of cucumbers, then one of grape leaves, then layer of dill, us- ing both leaves and stems until the jar is full Pourr the brine over all cover with cloth and a small plate, put on a weight. Remove and wash the cloth as in making kraut.
 Mixed Pickles.-One peck of green to- matees, one and half pecks of cab bage, two dozen onions. two punches celery, two tablespoonfuls each of cloves and cinnamon. and one tablespoonful each Of black pepper and white mustard Chop the onions. tomatoes md cabbage fine, mix well and drain. Dissolve one pint of sugar in one gallon of good vim egar, pour over the pickles; cook one hour and seal.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Pasture Cuts Pork Cost

At the Ohio experiment station pigs averaging c6ls pounds in weight were pastured 62 days on bluegrass, some re- ceiving corn alone and others a mixture of eight parts of corn to one of tankage
 When corn alone was fed the use of pasture increased the rate of gain TEA per cent and lowered the amount of grain required for a unit of gain in weight S2A per cent When tankage was fed with corn the use of pasture still added materially to the race and economy of gains, but not to the extent that it did when corn alone was fed. In later ex- periments in which smaller proportions of tankage were used, better results were secured than from the use of corn alone.
 The hogs fed corn alone in dry lot gained only two-thirds of pound daily, while those fed corn on pasture gained one and a fifth pounds. The value of the gains over the value of feed of the hogs fed corn alone was cents, with corn at s1.54 bushel and hogs at s1f per hundredweight. The gain made by the hogs fed corn on pasture was valued at .s12.S2 above the cost of feed and pasture. which was figured at s16 an acre. An acre of pasture in this case was figured to replace grain worth ss7.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
ter to he united States cepartment Q

ter to the United States department of agriculture, follows:
 Give the chickens no food or water for 24 hours before treating; then feed them half the usual amount of ground feed, in which has been mixed finely chopped tobacco stems soaked for tive hours in all the water they will ab- sorb. One pound of tobacco stems (weighed before soaking) is sufficient for 100 birds. Two hours after the chickens have eaten the medicated mash, give them one-fourth of the usual ration of ground feed mixed with water in which Epson salt has been dissolved, using II ounces of Epson salt for 100 birds.
 ITO reduce the chances of further infestation, all manure and loose dirt should be removed from the chick en yard, and the pens and roosts thor cughly scalded and cleaned with hot water"
 Feed to produce one dozen eggs cost 10 cents with bullets. IA cents with two-year-old hens and 19 cents witt thrce-year- old hens in a three- year feeding test conducted by poultrymcn of the United States department of agriculture. These were the cost fig rres of feed at the time of the expert ment, which began in 1912. and must be corrected to present prices
 Practical poultry raising in this hour ot necessity is the plan which the gov einment seeks to encourage by urging that poultry raisers do their bit in matching early chicks in order that the meat supply may be increased at the earliest possible moment. Not only is our own land in dire need of an in- creased meat supply, but the red meat produced in this country should go to our boys who are fighting in the trenches of France.
 It IS up to usi as poultry raisers to put forth our very best effort to in- cstase this meat supply, and we can do it more quickly than by any other method known. Not only may We use more meat from fowls. but eggs and meat can be transported to our bows to help them win the war Do your bit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Up to the Solth

One of the factors that make it neces- sary for the south to produce it's own 1ood and not to rely upon the north in any degree is the extent to which the railways are being called upon to trans- port the men and the supplies of the army. The total present army of the United States is given by the war de- partment as practically 1,5O0 GOO men. Of these S00,00o men are estimated by the department of agriculture to be in the southern states. On the basis of trans portation figures given by the war de- partment, it is estimated that to carry the men from southern camps 62.2sO cars or 366O trains, locomotives and train crews would be required
 In addition to transportation of troops. there is the problem of supplying them with food for themselves, and feed for their live stock. It is estimated that for the maintenance of the American army alone. transportation will be re- quired for 1,704,32c tons this year. On the basis of 4o.fJD pounds per car this would require S5.2l6 carloads For the maintenance of animals used by the army. transportation will be required for 1cS,S S33 tons per month. With hay and grain averaging 32O00 pounds per car this would require S052 cars month or 9c,6S4 cars a year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
THE ART OF BUTTER MAKING

need of excessive worlSing which in- jure the grain and make 1t "salvy."
 Before, or during the churnIng. the bowl (which should never be used for anything else) in which the butter is to be salted, should be filled with scalcing water, which should remain, for 10 min utes, then pour out and rub both bowl and paddle with hard, coarse salt, which prevents the butter from sticking. Rinse thoroughly and fill with cold or ice water to cool. After washing butter free from milk, remove to this bowl. having first poured out the cold water The butter bowl and paddle should occasionally be secured with sand or ashes, washed thoroughly with soap suds, and rinsed until all smell of soap has disappeared.
 One-haif ounce of salt to tAe pound of butter is sufficient. Use only tho best grade of dairy salt, pulverized after soaked iu cold water, and set away in temperature of about 60 degrees for l. hours. Work the second time 1ust enough to get the remaining butterniilk out. This, however. must be done thor oughly. as otherwise the acid of the butt termilk will make the butter rancid At the end of the second working 1t is then ready for use, and should be kept in sweet, clean place we'll ventilated and where the sun cannot reach it.
 Butter soon absorbs bad odors and be- comes tainted The air of a cellar in which deeaying vegetables are found soon ruins the sweetest butter. It should be kept away from coal oil, turpentine onions and anything liable to taint 1t, and should be kept in a dry place.
 When preparing butter for the mar ket it should be both attractive and sau- itary. Some favor the round one-pound mold. To my mind nothing looks more attractive than the oblong ohe-pound mold and wrapped in white tissue paper If you cannot command a profitable price at home for your butter, parcels post rlaces you in touch with the city customer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Three Good Recipes

For best mashed potatoes: Peel the boiled potatoes. mash and beat until very light, adding salt, butter or oleo margarine and hot milk. a half cup of milk to six potatoes. If dinner is not ready to serve pile lightly in pan and Set in the oven to brown
 Potatoes, left over or fresh, may he combined with cheese or nuts or meat or other bacterial, often to make the main dish of a meal.
 Potato Sausages-f cup mashed pota- toes, cup ground nuts,- fish or meat; egg, well beaten; lis teaspoons salt, fs teaspoon pepper. salt pork, bacon or other fat
 Mix the mashed potatoes and season. ings with the ground nuts. fish or meat. Add beaten egg. Form into little cakes or sausages, roll in flour and place in greased pan with small piece of fat or salt pork on each sausage Bake in a fairly hot oven until brown.
 Scalloped Potatoes and Cheese-Ar- range a layer of sliced raw or boiled potatoes in greased baking dish and sprinkle with grated cheese and little flour. Repeat until dish is nearly full Pour milk over the whole, about one- half cup to every three potatoess Skim milk is good. Bake in a moderate oven until done. The length of time required depends upon whether the potatoes are raw or boiled and whether the baking dish used is deep or shallow Boiled potatoes baked in shallow dish will take only % minutes Raw potatoes in a deep dish may take as much as one and one-half hours.
 Potato Puffs--1 cup hot mashed pota- toes, well seasoned; 1 egg. F teaspoon salt and a dash of paprika. F teaspoon parsley, chopped fine
 Beat yolk into the mashed potatoes and add seasonings. Beat the white of egg very stiff and fold into the potatoes Drop by spoonfuls on a greased pan and bake until a golden brown
 Shepherds Pie--Grease a baking dish: :: cover the bottom with mashed potatoes Add minced meat or fish seasoned well and mixed with the thicl,ened meat stock or with white sauce. Pile the mashed potatoes lightly over the top to cover Bake in oven 20 to 20 minutes until a delicate brown on top.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04

against bad weather but allows venti- lation. In the side a door should be pro- vided. A shed or single slope roof is best because easiest to build A height of feet in front and feet in the rear is ample. If desired the house may be built higher so that it is more convcn-
 tent to work in; the increase in cost will be slight. The ventilator in the rear is not needed in the northern part of the country, but is desirable in the south, where summers are very warm.
 The complete bill of materials needed to build this house are listed piece ny piece in Farmers Bulletin SS9, Back Yard Poultry Keeping of the United States department of agriculture. The bulletin also tells how to build dropping boards roosts. nests, and the other equipment needed in a poultry house and makes suggestions about the location of the house and yard
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
ARE YOU RAISING ALL YOU CAN'T

Raise holgs and more hogs" is the advice given farmers by one who has spent nearly half century in the hog business. r. r. Russell, secretary of the National Swine Growers associa- tion. is in Washington as a member of one Of she war boards connected with the department of agriculture.
 The American hog grower is in a TO- sition to render real service to his coun- try said MT Russell. we must have l5 per cent more hogs next year, which means the farmers must produced ll o0O.- ooo more in 1918 than in 1917 The gov ernment will require the packers to do bushes according to rules laid down by the food administration, The food ad- ministration expects to stabilize prices. pay producers for hogs now on hand and not let the average on the Chicago mar Ret go below s15.50 For hogs farrowed next spring, the food administration will try to maintain a price so the producers Will receive the price of 13 bushels of corn used in producing every 100 pounds of live weight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Fighting Cotton Pests

Farmers bulletin No. S90 of the Uni tee States department of agriculture. or How Insects Affect the Gotten Plant and Means of Combating Them" gives the following summary of the hest methods for contrilling cotton in- sects:
 Keep down weed gsowth around the farm.
 Flow in the winter to break up the winter cells in the ground.
 When necessary set out poisoned baits to trap cutworms, grasshoppers' May beetles, etc.
 Plant as early as it can be done safetly and yet avoid killing frosts. Plant the variety which is found to be the best producer in your own locality, and which has the qualities of rapid and prolific fruitins.
 Space the rows in accordance with local experience.
 Cultivate frequently but not deeply.
 Continue cultivation until the crop is made. CT as long as possible. Watch for the first appearance of worms.
 Dust the cotton with powdered ar senate of lead as soon as grasshor- pers or worms" begin to attack, un : less worm attack starts late and would hasten ripenins.
 keep down the weeds.
 Pick the cotton out as soon as DOS sibje.
 Destroy the plants by blowing under or grazing as long before frost as pos sible.
 Where practicable blow the fields and plant cover crop.
 Where feasible, follow a three-year rotation With cotton following some crop other than corn. Clean up all turn rows and fence rows.
 Cut and burn all weeds
 Flow under all stubble fields that are not to be used otherwise.
 Grub up old stumps.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04

Usually at this time of year hog prices are much depressed. The prrce has been pounded down s a hundred in two weeks, but there was reaction, and now the prices are higher than they have been.
 Every farmer should remember that he cannot get out and back into hog raising in month or even year. Amer plentiful nor are the people of the allied as they would ordinarily if it were more plentiful nor are the people of the allied countries and the neutrals, but after the war these countries will consume a lar greater amount of pork products than at present. The demand also will De great with the central powers The re- suit must be better profits.
 The American farmer has been re- spending to the call, but I sometimes think how small are our efforts and sac riflces compared with those made by the men on the firing line. who offer their iives Will any American farmer hold back and let the boys at the front want for food?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04

Here is a house that can be built quickly and easily and inexpensively to house flock of 20 to 9 hens. The ac- companying plan shows how to build Ii. It is feet square and can be made of 2x4-inch pieces and 12-inch boards. Yhe 2x4 pieces are used for sills, plates, cor uer posts, and three rafters. No stud- ding is required except that necessary to frame the door and window space. The boards are run up and down and give the house sufficient strength They are used also for the roof, which is cov cred with roofing paper. The back and sides of the house also can be covered with roofing paper or the cracks can be covered with wood battens or strips IF to 5 inches wide.
 In front of the house there should be left a window or opening which can De closed, when desired, by muslin screen or curtain which serves as a protection
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
HOPPING JOHN

This famous southern dish is wheat less and meatless, good ration that combines the food values of both wheat and meat. Use two cups of beans and one cup of rice; boir to the two sepa- rately until both are nearly done; turn the two together, season with a table spoon of fat, pinch of pepper and a teaspoon of salt, and complete the cook ing.
 Use pink beans brown beans, yellow beans, black beans in these recipes White beans are much higher than pintos and needed in great quantities by the army.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Chickens for Red Cross

4 plan of raising money for the Red Cross among the farmers by inducing each farm family to set hen and de- vote the chickens produced to the benefit of the Red Cross, comes from Walter J. Fairbanks of Jamestown, N. Y, Last year he induced 50 farmers and their wives to join in a movement of that kind. The result was 229 chickens which produced that much extra food for the people and s175 for the Red Cross.
 This year" Mir. Fairbanks writes, ''my own endeavors will be to increase the output at least six times in numbers. shall make sI0G0 our goal this year. ] intend to get 300 Red Cross flags and nail one on every house where there is Red Cross hen sitting The plan has the indorsement of the poultry ex- perts of the food administration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Poisoning Rats
By l.. l.. LEWIS

ny ts. w Is
 Care is necessary in putting out poison to prevent the loss of other anil nals. The posons most commonly used are strychnine. arsenic and bar ium carbonate Barium carbonate Is probably the best, as it is cheap and has no taste or smell. The poison may be given by mixing it with any ma terial the rats will eat A good way is to take four parts of corn meal or oatmeal. one part of berium carbonate arc sufficient water to make n stiff dough. A small amount of brown suGai, may be added. Place this mixture i, the runs where other animals will rot get 1t.
 Hawks and owls are the most active enemies of the rat. A pair of monkey faced" or barn owls' in a barn is worth more to destroy rats and mice than half a dozen dogs and cats.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04

At LIoyds. the marine insurance ex- change in London. bell is toled when ship is reported lost. or when a ship long overdue and considered lost unex- pectedly reaches port. The bell used at Lloyd's belonged to the ship Lutine which was wrecked near the Zuyder Zee in 1T9a. while taking specie from England to merchants in Hamburg. When a ship is posted as lost the old bell is tolled once. and on that day the insurance money is payable and all who were on the ship are considered legally dead. In the unusual event of a vessel arriving in pert after being posted as lost, the bell is tolled twice and the announcement is cried aloud by an official in uniform.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Cornmeal Dumplings

Greens, corn meal dumplngs and tow food experts will tell you is perfec combination of food values The dunn plings are made as follows: Pod a e of boiling water over two cups NJ meal and teaspoonful of salt. ad tie more water if 1t swells t Mold into dumplings while hot, # the hands in cold water every msS prevent burning. Drop dumplinE$ the liquor in which greens were eoon s.,. and cook l5 minutes, closely covered Lift from pot with skinner and serve on dish with greens.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04

Chemists discovered by research years ago the process of making artifeia' '-s' go, but it was only when thermometer broke in the solution that they iv out to make the indigo cheap enough to be commercially valuable The mercury so increa sed the yield of certain acid that the process was cheapened suffic- Antly to make artificial indigo less expen- siveSthan natural indigo.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04

One of the most modern paper mills in the United States is in operation at Bogalusa La The new plant repre- sents an expenditure of over $1,500.- eco. It employs 500 men and is oper- a'ed with electricity. It will have d daily capacity of 125 tons of container board and 75 tons of pulp
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04

Since the outbreak of the war the di- rector of contracts for England's armies has made the following purchases: Cloth. cos. GOO 600 yards; flannel l15 O0O yards: knives, forks and spoons, 25,0o0 . o0o; bacon. 4oo.ooo.00o pounds. cheese, 1s7. .. 0Oc. GOO pounds; jam. s6o, o0o 0oo tins: pre- served meat. 50o.0o0,000 rations; boots, B. .0OC.000 pairs: smoke helmets. 35.0o0 GOO. horseshoes, 100000.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Come butter, come,
 Man at the gate . With. a knife and plate, Waiting for the butter to come. ,"

Four things are necessary to become good butter maker. The first is hav- ing the cream at the proper temperature and the other three are cleanliness. The least impurity tants the cream and de- tracts from the sweetness of the butter.
 If there is cream. enough each day. 1t should, of course. be churned and this plan makes the better butter Although it takes longer to churn.
 If the cream foams and "swells' and runs out of the churn, the cream is too sweet. If necessary the churn can be set into a pan of warm water to bring it up 10 the right temperature A little huttermillS can be added as a Starter
 When the butter comes put q quart or two of cold soft water (ice is betterl into the churn to harden the butter and make it easier to gather" After gathering it as well as possible with the dasher 1t should be removed to the bowl and thoroughly worked with flat smooth wooden paddle. Do not use a seany pad- dle, as they are good lurking places for germs.
 Never work butter with the hand. as the precipitation will more or less ia mt the butter and destroy it's firmness
 Use an abundance of cold soft wnter 10 wash out the buttermilk and harden the butter. By this process the butter milk is removed quickly. and there is no
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Citizens Will Save

From Life.
 Is it true that the government is building new revenue cutter? Yes
 Have you any idea what they are going to name it?
 Prohibition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04
Bibb Farmers to Meet

Bibb County Farmers union will meet with Antioch local on Thursday, April II, at 9;30 a. m.
 We extend a pressing invitation to all union and nonunion farmers to meet with us It is very important that all farmers should attend this meeting. Will have dinner on the grounds, and the best speakers in the state will be on hand. No political talks will be allowed.
 w. R. K. STANFORD, President Bibb County Farmers Union.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04

Licorice root is found in various parts of the province of Cape of Good Hope. After it's introduction there nun Der of farmers planted it and then, probably on account of the lack of market, neglected it. Later 1t so spread In certain localities as to become nest difficult to eradicate. Now, it's useful ness has been recognized and the dig gers pay cents pound for the priv ilege of digging 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-04

Not a visitor at the huge and rap idly growing plant of the United States Motor Truck company at Covington
 Cincinnati. O., but comes away startled by the immeasity of the bus. mess now being done by this con- ccrn Every visitor comments upon the three great assembling floors. one above the other. and each 800 feet in length and 9S feet in width. comments uron the buildings covering one and a half blocks square and each en- gagged in some portion of the work of putting out the company's product and then gains enthusiasm over the plans to build an addition across the street from the main plant one and one-half blocks square and three stories high. When informed of a prospective addi- dion a block and one-half long and tlree stories high and of other plans of the company for expansion, the wis. i,or promptly makes up his mind that this company has arrived in the ranks of the four or five leaders in the field.