davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
The Canny Scots

The canny Scots of West Perthshire district are living up to their reputation. They have organized in an active cam paign to exterminate ratssand save the food and property which they waste. They have demonstrated that 1t Is cheaper to kill than to feed rats, Ac- cording to a report from the American consul at Dundee, which has just been received by the United States depart ment of agriculture, campaign to eN- terminate rats in the district men, toned. for which $1479.4t was appro- priated resulted last year in the kill ing of 1000 rats The board of agri- culture appropriated $4S6.65 for the campaign. It is said that one rat ir the course of 12 months caused damage estimated at $z.43, and as there were approximately two rats to the acre, the amount of damage done was equivalen. to the average amount of rent paid by the tenants of West Perthshire. The campaign has been so successful and the people so pleased with the results that community cooperation to ex- terminate rats is to be continued an other year, according to the report.
 American farmers, who have Ions suffered losses from these food raid- CTS. should follow the example set by this district and organize community campaigns to get rid Of rats. In many sections of this country where similar campaigns have been conducted results always have been gratifying. Methods of destroying rats are described i'll Farmers Bulletin S96, copies of which can be obtained on application to the United States department of agricul- ture. In addition to telling how com munity campaigns can be conducted, this publication tells how to get rid ot rats by making buildings rat proof, by using traps. poison, fumigating bur. rows and encouraging natural enemies
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
For a Family of Five

family of five, including two adults and three children under F years of age, under ordinary living conditions, should have stored for each month of the winter season the following food supplies: One bIshel of Irish potatoes one-half bushei of other root vegetables, such as car rots. turnips and parsnips: % quart cans of other vegetables. and 20 quarts or canned frult and preserves. These figures are based on estimates by the United States department of agriculture, which adds that most of this should come from the home gardens. With these figures as a ba sis, 1t is thought that almost any fam ily may calculate it's requirements. taking into consideration the length of the winter season in any given locality.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
Green Flourishing

M. Banks of Greene county has so fine July After allowing them to graze this crop for 45 days. they were then put on feed of corn and cottonseed meal, and are to be finished on this for about 3C days. They are to be ready for market about the middle of September, and County Demonstration Agent c. l.. Pace states that this method of feeding is proving highly satisfactory.
 Mir. C. Hendricks of Blount county is doing his part in the matter of food pro- dIction and conservation. He has now ready for market 112000 cans of various kincs of fruits and vegetables, says Coun- ty Demonstration Agent Emmet Size more.
 Plans are going forward for the fair, which is to be held at Camp Hill De- planned for one day of the fair. and a tull will be sold at auction. the pro ceeds going to the Red Cross says Coun- ty Agent E. E. Binford.
 Pike county was one of the leading counties in the number of hogs shipped out last year. having shipped the large tctal of BIO carloads. In spite of this large shipment, L. J. Hawley, the county agent, reports that it is expected that more hogs will be shipped out than last year. Mir Hawley reports that they have fewer sick hogs than they have had at any time.
 The people of Marengo county do not mean to take any chances with tubercu- lar cattle. County Agent Frank R. Cur tis is assisting pr. Jackson in listing the herds to be tested More than a thousand head have already been listed for this testing, and a good many more will be listed soon. Practically all oi these are made accredited tuberculin test ed herds. and cattle from them can be shipped from this section to any point in the United States with certificate from the bureau of animal industry There is very little, if any, tubercular trouble among the cattle of this county, as was indicated by the 300 head tested recently without a single case of tuber- culosis being found
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
DON'T LET HIGH PRICES INDUCE YOU TO SELL HENS
ScOur Control in Calves

Hand-feeding of calves has become profitable where there is market for milk of butterfat, but carelessness in danger of digestive trouble.
 The condition of nature should be imi- tated as closely as possible. The diges- tive apparatus of calf is adapted to re- ceive warm milk in small quantities sev- eral times a day. It may be impractical to duplicate these conditions when feed ing by hand. but they should be initiated as closely as possible. Over and irregu- lar feeding. dirty pails. cold. old or sour milk will cause trouble, but these may be avoided
 Calves that are securing should be treated at once before the condition be- comes chronic. Where calves are fed from the pail, it is easy to watch for indications of SCOUTS, As soon as trouble is detected the feed of the calf should be reduced at least half and a dose of castor oil administered in warm milk by means of drenching bottle. This will tend to remove all irritating substances from the bowels.s Feed may then be gradually restored to the normal amount and formaldehyde solution made up of one part of 40 per cent formaldehyde to 3l parts of water, should be added to the feed at the rate of one teaspoon per pound of milk. If prompt improvement does not follow repeat the dose of oil and accompany with another reduction in the quantity of feed.
 The most critical periods in a calf's life are at the age of four to six weeks, when the feed is changed. from whole to skimmilk, and six to ten weeks when the calf is beginning to eat grain and hay. Calves are always greedy and for that reason overlooking should be avoid ed, particularly when alfalfa hay is be- ing fed, as it is very palatable and the calf Is apt to gorge itself
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
Texas Cattle Not High

The distressed beef cattle of Texas are coming into Alabama in a wholesa' e way. Just recently c. C. Clay of De mopolis bought 800. and they were brought to this state in a special train. This is the largest shipment of cattle made so far this year.
 The drouth-stricken sections of Texas are in terrible shape, and these cat e<absolutely must be sold by the Texas breeders, either to the packing houses or to farmers in some other sections who will feed them out for few months. At the rate that they are now coming into Alabama and other southeastern states, 1t is believed that only small portion of the cattle will have to be slaughtered before being fed out
 In this connection the government has made a new rate on the shipment of these distressed cattle to points east ot the Mississippi river The rate is 70 per cent of the usual beef cattle freight rate, and the reduced rate went into effect September [. This is done for the purpose of encouraging farmers in the southeast to buy and feed out as large a number as possible of these cattle.
 Quotations of August 2S on these cat tie at the Fort Worth stock yards, which is the distributing point for most of the cattle give the following prices: Cows thin in flesh but vigorous enough to stand hard shipments, weighing rom 550 to 700 pounds, to cents per pound; stocker heifers of good quality and weighing 400 to $50 pounds, es4 to "A cents per pound; stock steers in thin flesh weighing from 45o to FOO pounds, : to cents per pound. Stock steers heavier than TOO pounds, are not to ! be had in any large numbers. Grade stock calves of good quality, weigh ing around 300 pounds, can be obtained at 71a cents per pound, and few young bulls, suitable for breeding purposes, but not registered, can be obtained at prize of to cents per pound.
 With good crop of velvet beans, hay, etc, in Alabama. it is believed that the farmers in this state are going to purchase large number of these cattle. Additional information concerning these cattle can be secured by telephoning, telegraphing or writing Prof. c. s. Tenn pleton of the Alabama extension service at Auburn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
Agents Doing Great Work

The home demonstration agents of the state are doing some powerfully inter- esting and constructive work In fact, it is hard to conceive of a work that is more interesting, and where the pos abilities for good are greater than in this work with the girls and women of the country and small towns
 A recent report sent in to extension headquarters at Auburn by home dem onstration agent, Miss Eva Caldwell of Jackson county, states, that very thor ough plans are. being nladeA for the ex- hibit of the club girls products at the community fair to be held this fall. One club girl in this county recently made the following significant statement to Miss Caldwell "I have canned this sum Der 100 jars of fruit and vegetables, and papa said if it had not been for me there would not have been tomato on our place." It can easily be seen what the canning club work has meant to this place.
 The work in Lee county is progressing nicely, says Mrs. Bessie c. Moore, the home demonstration agent. Continuing. Mrs Moore says: Everyone seems in- terested, and we are gettingf splendid co operation. I felt encouraged recently when one of the county commissioners remarked, You can just look around and spot the communities that have had the advantage of the clubs. It gives them a different standing.
 Just recently the canning club at Shot well gave picnic in connection with an all-day demonstration. Tomatoes ap- ples, soup mixtures, etc, were canned and there were 125 people present. Fall gardens came in for extensive discus sion, and Mrs. Moore states that very nearly all, if not all, of the club girls have planted fall garden, and that she is encouraging them to start straw berry beds. The 25 members of the can ming club at Shotwell have pledged them selves to buy $125 worth of War Savings Stamps, showing their patriotism not only by canning something Nt to eat, but by buying War Savings Stamps to help s.Can the Kaiser"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
Hoover Oatmeal Cookies

One cup sugar E cup syrup. la cup lard or butter. egg, 11s cups sour milk, 1 teaspoon soda, 1 cup raisins, F. cups oats, 1 tablespoon vanilla (unless very strong), l teaspoon baking powder. flour to stiffen, pinch of salt eff lard is usedl.
 Cream sugar syrup and shortening Mix in beaten yolk of egg, stir in sour milk into which soda has been dissolved and pinch of salt. Add oats and flavo'. ing Mix baking powder and flour R~,,t well, stir in raisins and then lightly sold in well beaten eggs.
 One half cup of raisins and E r1p black walnuts are very nice used in piaea of all raislns.-Mildred Bernice Russell
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
Boomers From Sacks

%eMifat cotton is very high. friend ss q h#s several small girls did not see hqs Sese e1uld afford to buy the usual
 ofs o black sateen for bloomers. so after mach thought. she dyed several NGSr aAcltM black and from these she Ns8ds 1ollers for her girls. She says 4htg ne lly look well, but they wear rtaeni aagsr and when they get gray or sflas ,king. she will dye them over ws i0 piss she dyes more sacks for this 1urpcse lat tsrs on.
 I tao0ghs this suggestion might help scrfe or khe other mothers who have btnanters to make. She also used the Sniaf socks in which the cereals and ssar efe in for making waists to 5ss sss sSifts on.-Mrs. Margaret Palmer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
War Health Bread

Original Recipe.
 One cup roman meal, cup cornmeal, cup rice or oatmeal, 2-3 cup molasses. cups sour milk, buttermilk preferred. eggs, spoons shortening, unless milk is creamy. salt and soda to taste.
 The batter should not be stiff Bake slowly until thoroughly done. This recipe makes two dozen gems. Excellent for school lunches. for spreading isn't neces- sary.
 When wheat is plentiful, use White flour and graham meal instead of corn meal and substitutes.-Mrs. N l.. Jones.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
Green Tomato Soy

This is very good to eat with almost every kind of meat and fish: Take gallon green tomatoes (without peeline) sliced thin, and G. large onions. also sliced thin. add 1 quart best cider vine gar, l pint sugar (white or brown. l tablespoon salt l tablespoon mustard, tablespoon ground black pepper. I tea spoon ground allspice, and 1 teaspoon ground cloves. Stew very gently until tender. stirring often to prevent burn ing. Putin small glass cans. The mus. tard can be omitted if desired.-Mrs c. F. .Pocock.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
SAVE THE SWEET POTATO CROP

quire less attention than cheap, poorly constructed one. It would be possible to keep the potatoes in a cheap and less carefully constructed house. but the attention required and the>additional fuel used would soon exceed the tlof the extra labor and material necessary for building the better one. The chances of loss are much greater in poorly-built than in a well-built house.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
OVERCOMING OBJECTIONS

Objection is frequently raised to the keeping of poultry in towns and cities because of the odor which may result, and also because of the noise which is made by roosters growing, particularly in the early morning. There is no-neces- sity for the poultry flock to become a nuisance to neighbors F
 If the dropping boards are cleaned daily and the houses and yards are kept in a reasonably clean condition there will be no annoying odors. The soil in the yard should be stirred or spaded mp frequently If not in sod in order to keep it in the best condition This will not only tend to keep down any odors which might arise, but also allow the droppings to be absorbed into the soil more readily and therefore; keep the yard in better condi- tion for the hens
 The male bird need not be a nuisance. Unless it is intended to hatch chickens from the flock it is unnecessary to keep a male bird. The fact that there is no male in the flock will have absolutely no effect on the number of eggs laid by the hens. The male bird should be sold or eaten just as soon as the matching season Is over.
 This is desirable not only for the pur- pose of eliminating noise, but also to save
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
Griddle Cakes

One cup of milk one egg, one scant cup of barley corn, rice or potato flour. two teaspoons of baking powder. one tablespoon of fat. one-half tea spoon of salt one-third cup of white flour. Add egg and melted fat to milk. sft dry ingredients into liquid. Fry on griddle only slightly greased. If the first cakes are too thick add more liquid
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
SOUTHERN FARM SUGGESTIONS

ceding fall. Seasonal rains in these attitudes are apt to occur in the early fall rather than the late fall or winter. and a safe system of farming indi-- cates the desirability of preparing the
 land in such way as to receive and
 retain this moisture
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
Cream Cheese Salad

Make soft paste of cream cheese and fill the halves of a green pep per. which has been carefully washed take a. sliced canned pineapple and place on lettuce leaf. With a sharp knife slice the peppers and place ths green and white. slices on the pineap- pie. Dot it with mayonnaise and dash of paprika.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12

What has become of the old-time bowl of cornmeal mush and milk? It is an American dish. cheap, nourishing and palatabe The older generation loved it; and for economical, sentimental and patriotic reasons, we should now go back to 1t and take all America with us. Mush
 and milk furnishes a balanced ration, yet contains no wheat. no meat no su- gar. It is whole meal in itself, and while the war lasts it should be used more largely in this. country. Its larger use here will release other and more concentrated foods for our armies and
 the armies of our allies. We are prodlc-
 ing an abundance of food: we will save i. for our boys across the water: and
 food will help to win the war. The Aus
 trians, Bugarians, Turks and Germans
 are beginning to see this, and the Kaiser believes and trembles.
 Mush and milk for breakfast or lunch makes a simple dish fit for king but like ali other simple dishes it must be made just right or the king won't like it. The secret of serving corn meal this way lies in plenty of milk and not too much mush. In the first place see that the mush is not too thick-try out your recipes until you find the knack of cooking it just long enough. No one enjoys dry, thick mush Then serve mod crate portions with generous amount or mix or cream on tOp-and nave plenty more in the pitcher to add later on. Raisins, dates. figs and other dried fruits give variety to the dish and please the children. They sweeten the mush and save sugar.
 MOST COMMON WAY The most common way of preparing mush is to allow the water to come to the boiling point and to add the meal slowly, stirring constantly. The objec- ton to this method is that there is considerable danger that the mush will become lumpy and oftentimes it is in- convenient and unpleasant fo stand over hot stove and stir the mixture suf- ficiently to make it smooth better method, therefore, is the following: Put the corn meal, cold water and sat together in the top of double boiler. No stirring is necessary. Put the top of the double boiler into the lower part and allow the mush to heat slowly, cooking half an hour. or longer, if con- venient, Many people cook it as Ions as four hours. Just before serving re- move the top of the double boiler from the lower part and boil the bush for two or three minutes. In boiling it at this time there is no danger that it Iw;l lump,
 Method No. 1-1 cup corn meal, ois cups water, teaspoon salt.
 Bring the salted water to the boiling
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
DROPSY :s':s :ss ;:::s :l:!' E

All distressing symptoms rapidly dis General improvement is realized. send hv mail a trial treatment absolutely FREE. Try it. Never heard of anything Us equal for dropsy.
 write to DR. THOGAs E. GREEN
 Dank BIdg.. Box :e. Chntsworth, ca.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
Bet CT Breeding Helps

fa dairying large production and
 Ss@Est hand in hand. Breeding fur zlRAAs the most economical way to ob- cain serte producing cows. The pure brBd fuil. with generations of high 1sY1dtaSng ancestors back of him. must As used for breeding. and only the best Ns fAGs rom the best cows should be ai ssan te be the dams of the next gen
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
Muffirs

One cup of sour milk, one and one ba D c,ps of barley, corn, rice or potato flour. one-fourth cup of wheat flour. one half teaspoon of soda. two teaspoons of baking powder. one egg. two tablespoons of fat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
When Wheat Follows Corn

As much of the winter wheat acreage follows corn, late preparation Of tho seed bed is made necessary by the late removal of the corn crop, To aid in the preparation of corn land unusual at tention should be given this year to keen ing the corn crop as free as possible from weeds. As soon as the crop is re- moved the land need only be disked to make an economical but ideal seei bed for wheat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12

A yard surrounded by a five-foot fence will, under most conditions, keep chick ems at home If the hens show a tend- ency to fly over su h fence, the flight feathers of one wiiss should be clipped. fence made of woven wire is prefer able to fence made of board or other material. A board should not be used at the top of a wire fence, as this gives 1.-the hens visible place to alight and tends to teach them to fly over. The larger the yard which can be provided the more contented the hens will be. It not only gives them greater opportunity 1 to exercise, but often makes it possible to maintain a sod on the yard, which is advisable.
 The redress of the home gardener against the nroads of the neighbor s chickens will depend on the laws of the state of ordinances of the town or city in which the gardener lives. In some states owners are liable for damage done by stock running at large; in other states the person who wishes to grow a crop must fence it against depreciation. In most of the eastern states owners or stock are required to keep it under fence
 These facts are set forth by the United States department of agriculture in re- sponse to queries by gardeners who have neighbors raising chickens that harvest the products of liberty gardens before such products are mature. The depart ment is not prepared to say which type of food-raising is the more profitable and praiseworthy, but says that both can go hand-in- hand if there are proper fences. Whether the poultryman of the gardener must provide the fence depends upon local statutes, or ordinances, and the rights of the case would be deter mined under general principles of law
 It is related that a liberty gardener and a victory poultryman lived sSde by side. One morning the poultryman saw the gardener industriously digging.
 What are you doing?" asked Egbert.
 "Replanting some early peas,'' replied Cornelius.
 But that looks like my Brown Leghorn lying beside that hole.''
 "It is,' said the gardener; my first planting of early peas is inside of her"
 The legal authorities of the department say that the chicken and garden ques- ton, far from being a subject of humor, is undoubtedly serious one, and has probably led to as much trouble, dispute and ill-feeling between neighbors as any other single cause
 The department believes. however, that in war time there will be more of a prin cip1e of cooperation, and a theory Of live-and -let-live. With everyone inter- ested in a maximum wartime food pro duction some way can usually be found out of the difficulties that may arise through the proximity of chickens and gardens
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12
INDIAN PUDDING

Five CUTS milk, 1-3 cup corn meal, 1s cup rlolasses, 1 teaspoonful salt, tea spoonful ginger.
 Cook milk and meal in a double boiler 20 minutes; add moasses, salt and gin- ger; pour into buttered pudding dish and make two hours in slow oven; serve with cream. This serves eight people.
 One cup corn meal, 1 cup molasses. [ cups milk Cor of milk and of creaml, cup finely chopped figs, eggs. l tea spoon salt.
 Cook the corn meal with four cups of the milk, add the molasses, figs and salt. When the mixture is cool add the egGs well beaten. Pour into a buttered pudding 6ish and bake in moderate oVen for three hours or more When partly cooked add the remainder ot tile milk without stirring the pudding
 This serves eight or ten people.
 For the figs in the above recipe suh- stitrte pint of finely sliced or chopped sweet apples.
 This serves eight or ten people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12

little thick cream added to the horseradish when it Is mixed will give it a delicious flavor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-12

poirt in the top of a double boiler, Pour the corn meal slowly into the water, stirring constantly. Cook three minutes. Put the upper part of the boiler into the lower part and cook the mush half an hour and as much longer as com venient. Long cooking improves the taste and probably adds to the thoorugh- ness with which the mush is digested. The housewife who has no double boiler can make one by using two saucepans of such size that one can be set in. side the other.
 Method No. 2--1 cup meal l teaspoon salt, S1s cups water, or f cups milk, whole or skim, or cups milk and water.
 Put the ingredients into the top of the double boiler cold and cook l hour or longer. If convenient just before serv-
 ing bring the mush to the boiling point This improves it's texture and also it's flaNnr