davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
Infection Carriers

Pigeons, sparrows, crows and buzzards are active hog cholera infection carriers, according to the University of Missouri college of agriculture. Crows and bug yards are especially dangerous because of their habit of feeding upon the car casses of dead hogs. By smearing their bodies with the blood or tissue juices, they carry this ingectious material to the healthy hogs and set up a new out break of cholera. The only effective method by which crows and buzzards can be kept away from the premises is by avoiding those things which attract them to the place. .Carcasses or other food material should not be left ex posed to them.
 The dog likewise is an infection car rier Since by nature he is meat eat ing animal, he feeds upon the carcasses of dead hogs and when his immediate ap- petite is satisfied, he almost invariably gathers up pieces of diseased meat and ca rries them to his home. It is of ut most importance therefore if cholera is in the immediate neighborhood to con fine the dog, and undertake to prevent strange dogs from trespassing on the farm.
 Human beings are carriers of infection. The person who understands the possi- bility of infections on his shoes and clothing will refrain from visiting the hog lots of his neighbors where there are or have been sick hogs. He Will also see that persons visiting his farm for any purpose whatsoever stay out of his hog sheds and pens when there is any hog cholera in the community. In eN- changing labor with neighbors or in transferring farm implements, farmers sometimes unwittingly carry infections home to their hogs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
Tractors Dependability

Of more than GOO tractor owners on rep resentative farms in Illinois who re- ported in recent survey conducted by the United States department of agri- culture. a report of which is published in Farmers Bulletin 963. 54 per cent stated that their outfits were-~not dis abled single day when needed during the entire season last year. Cs the re- maining 46 per cent the average number of days their tractors were out of com mission when needed was 5. This aver- age, however, did not include one man who stated that his machine was not usable about half the time.
 The reports of tractor owners indi- cate that with a careful and proficient operator gas tractor is a very depend able source of power. Occasional slight delays probably will be encountered but serious ones will be exceptional, whereas with careless or incompetent operator expensive delays are apt to be frequent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
Stop Selling Seed

Cotton has opened so fast and farmers have speeded up harvesting to avoid damage from bad weather, until the stor- age capacity of the oil mills is overrun with seed and serious damage is threat ened. As a result of this condition, the oil mills have requested the food admin lstrator to suspend operation of the cot ton gins for 10 days while the oil mills catch up, as has been done recently in Mississippi. Louisiana and Arkansas. Hon. R. NJ. Hobbie. food administrator. has been kind enough to ask our advice rms IS indeed a heavy responsibility. 1T the gins were stopped for 10 days, at the end of which the price of cotton should be higher, the persons advising and putting such order into effect would be called blessed. On the other hand. should the cotton market be considerably lower at the end of 10 days, those respon- sible for closing down the gins would be called cursed.
 The oil mills must have the relief for which they ask. A better plan would be for the mills to suspend buying and re- ceiving seed for 10 days. All farmers should be willing to cooperate by taking care of their seed locally until the con gested conditions of the mills are re- tieved. In doing this, the farmer runs no risk as the price of the seed is fixed and there could not be any loss or gain Failure to afford the necessary relief in this way may necessitate closing down the gins, which might prove most unfor- tunate. Every farmer should take heed and cooperate by holding his seed off the markeS until the oil mills are relieved. Failure on the part of the farmers to comply with this recommendation will be the means of forcing a condition that would be hurtful to themselves. Serious consideration, immediate and conserva- tive action are imperative.
 J. A WADE, Commissioner of Agriculture and Ind.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
FARMERS ORGANIZE FOR WORK

The organization of Minnesota farm CTS to bring about the maximum produc- tion of food crops during the coming year was the purpose of recent meet ing of the county farm bureaus and county agents of the state held at the Minnesota University farm. The meet ing was in response to the expressed hope of the federal department of agri- culture that this winter would see county agent in every county in the United States in order to secure the greatest possible efficiency in the war programme for agricultural production, On November 1, 1917. IS counties in Min nesota were permanently organized with county agents at work. On January A, 1918, 34 additional counties were organ ized and have either selected or are ready to select their agents. In addi- tion, 25 more counties are in process of organization, expecting to secure the re- qured membership. This leaves only nine counties in the state which have not yet organized.
 The adoption of a statewide emer- gency war programme for county work
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
SCHOOL PIG IDEA IS GROWING

During the school year 1917-1s the school pig was given much attention in the public schools of Alabama. Hun dreds of schools in all parts of the state raised pigs. says J. c. Ford. state pig club agent of the Alabama extension service.
 Franklin was the banner school pig county. Through the activities of J. D. Wood. the county agent and the in- terest of the teachers and the co-opera- tion of the Tennessee Valley bank Il registered Duroc pigs were placed in 1 l schools in Franklin county. Ten other grade pigs were placed in 10 ether schools, making total of 5l schools out of 75 in the county that had school pigs.
 The business men of Russellville raised $50 as prize fund for the school making the best showing. In the spring county school fair and school pig show was held au Russell vile. Many of the pigs were assem- bIed and prizes awarded. after which an auction sale of the school pigs wat held.
 PLACES 200 PIGS
 By means of the school pig and tha boys pig club MT Wood was able to place nearly 200 registered hogs in his county rms IS all tne more slSHiii- cant in view of the fact that Franklin county had never been a hig county, ana that cholera had just destroyed a large percentage of what was there,
 Choctaw county also made a highly creditable record with the school pig. A. G. Harrell, the county agent, placed 20 registered pigs in 20 schools. These pigs were fed and cared for by the students and the teachers until school closed. There were fed the left-overs from the children's lunches, and enough
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
Seed From Poor Fields

Seed corn from field badly injured by drouth, even though the ears are small and not well filled, is generally considered by agronomists to be just as agood, from the standpoint of yield ing power, as seed from the same field would be if the corn had made a nor- -mal yield. In other words, the pre- ponderance of opinion is that envir- onment does not affect heredity. And if invironment did affect heredity cer-
 tainly the effect of one season of drouth on the yielding power of corn would be exceedingly slight. The ap- plication of these principles to the present situation is that farmers whose corn was badly injured by drouth this year need not look elsewhere for seed if they can find ears in their own fields. The best of the ears from the drouth- stricken fields will yield as well next year as the best ears from fields mak- ing normal yields. It always is better. too, to use home grown seed corn than to bring seed from a distance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
The Cost of Wheat

The cost of producing the 1918 wheat crop in Missouri will be about $19.72 an acre. according to figures compiled by R. M Green of the Missouri Agri- cultural college. His figures should be applicable to a large part of Nebraska. The land and cost. which includes per cent interest on $s5 land. taxes and upkeep. will average about .6S an acre. The cost of seeding the wheat in the fall of 1917, including land prep aration. is estimated from records at $6 .66 an acre. The cost of cutting and threshing the wheat is placed at $7.43 an acre. These figures are averages. Cost per bushe1, of course, depends upon the yield per acre, and that de- bends very largely upon the weather. Unlike the usual case in factory, yields on the farm may be far out of proportion to the effort expended and the cost of the operations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03

Bake in layers and fill with custaro filling for Martha Washington pie or pse for shortcake with fresh fruit be- tween the layers
 Rice Flour Cake-14 cup fat, s4 cup su- ga, eggs, E cup riced boiled potatoes packed eompactly into a cup, F cup milk, teaspoon sailt, teaspoons baking pow der, 115 cups rice flour, teaspoon vanilla.
 Mix and bake in muffin molds for cup cakes or in layers or loaf. If baked in layers. lemon filling is good with it.
 Nariation-For chocolate cake, add two squares of chocolate to the above recipe
 For spice cake, add 1 teaspoon cinna- mon, E teaspoon nutmeg, and l teaspoon spice.
 Quick Nut Bread-1 cap milk, table spoons melted fat, tablespoons corn syrup, eggs, F cup mashed potatoes. IS cups rice flour, IFS cups barley flour. 4 teaspoons baking powder, l teaspoon salt. cup chopped nuts
 Mix in order given. Bake in loaf pan in a moderate over for 1A hours.
 Yeast Bread-Fifty per cent wheat flour and 30 per cent substitutes; l A cups liquid. r. cup mashed potatoes, lh cups wheat flour, l4 cake yeast, tablespoon corn syrup, teaspoons salt 14 cup barley flour, 1ls cups rice flour
 Make sponge cake of all the ingre- dierts except the rice and barley flour. The potatoes used should be freshly mashed with mo fat or milk added. The water in which they are cooked can be used for the liquid Let this stand in a warm place until very light. If dry yeast is used. set the sponge the night before it is needed.
 Add rice flour and barley flour when the sponge is light. Knead and let rise until double in bulk. Knead again. form into loaf and allow to rise until bulk is again doubled Brush over the top of loaf with melted fat before putting it to rise.
 All breads made with substitute Hours are better if baked in single loaf pans or in rolls or buns.
 This recipe will maleeNone large loaf. Bake for 1A hours in a hot oven.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03

! Cocoanut MacaroonS-In the above rec | joe use either the unground rolled oats
 or the ground but substitute for the rais- ins or dates E cup of shredded cocoanut. Scotch Oat Wafers-2h cups ground
 rolled oats, 14 cup milk, A cup molasses, 11s teaspoons fat, h4 teaspoon soda, l tea spoon salt.
 Mix and roll out in thin sheet and cut in squares. Bake for 20 minutes in a moderate oven.
 Spice Cake-4 tablespoons fat. a4 cup sugar, F cup milk F cup chopped rais- ins, IA cups rolled oats, F cup barley flour, teaspoons baking powder, E tea spoon ginger, E teaspoon salt, teaspoons cinnamon.
 Chocolate Cake-14 cup fat, 1-3 cup SUI gar, cup corn sirup, ? eggs, ss cup milk, F cup mashed potatoes, squares choco- late, teaspoons baking powder, Is cups
 ground rolled oats, 1A cups barley flour 1s teaspoon salt. 1 teaspoon vanilla. Bake in loaf cake pan. Quick Nut Bread--4 tablespoons corn
 sirup, eggs, tablespoons fat, s4 cup
 liquid, F cup mashed potatoes, cups
 rolled cats. ground. 2-3 cup corn flour. 1 teaspoons baking powder, teaspoon salt,
 F cup chopped nuts.
 Mix in order given. Bake H. hours in
 moderate oven. This makes a good sand
 Wlch bread. RalSlnS may De uSeu III
 place of nuts.
 Yeast Bread-(Using 50 per cent wheat flour and 50 per cent substi tute.)-1A cups liquid. teaspoons salt, 1 tablespoon corn syrup, M cake yeast, 2h cups wheat flour, 1A cups corn floor or 1 1s cups rice or tapioca flour, B cups ground rolled oats, F cup mashed potaoes.
 Make a sponge of all the ingredients except the corn flour and the ground rolled oats. The potatoes used should be freshly mashed with no fat or milk added. The water in which the pota- toes cooked can be used for the liquid. Let this sponge stand in a warm place until very light. Set the sponge over- night if dry yeast is used. Add corn flour and the ground rolled oats when the sponge is light, knead and let rise until double in bulk. Knead again. form into loaf and allow to rise until bulk is again double. Brush over the top of the loaf with melted fat before putting it to rise. Bake 1A hours in hot oven. This will make one loaf. All breads made with substitute Hours are better if baked in single-loaf pans or in rolls or buns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
Canning Surplus Meat

Fresh meat may be canned for home use by the cold pack method While it may be more convenient to- pre- serve some meat by curing 1t is . great convenience to have the house. wife to have a few cans of meat on hand for emergencies. Furthermore, canning offers an excellent means of preserving such meats as poultry, game birds, fish, rabbits and squirrels, which ordinarily are preserved by other means.
 Canning is especially valuable in preserving frying chickens, because the birds can be killed at the right stage before they become too old or tough. The surplus of frying chick ems are usually sold at a time when frying chickens are plentiful and the price is low. This surplus can be canned and thus supply the table with spring chicken out of season.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03

was the feature of the conference be- tween county agents, farm bureau dele gates and experiment station officials programme divided into seven defi- nite projects which the war emergency has brought to the front The projects are as follows; 1. The planting of good seed ?. The increase of the acreage of wheat this spring, the maintenance of last years acreage of corn, and, if necessary, the increase of the acreage of rye next fall. 3. Solving the labor prob lem, so far as possible, within the coun- ty itself. 4. More and better live stock 5. The timely repair and proper man- tenance of farm implements and ma chinery. 6. The maintenance of home gardens. :. The fullest cooperation of every man, woman and child in the county in the measures advanced by the federal authorities in food grow ing and food saving. This programme, to which every patriotic farmer in the state will subscribe, will be carried on under the leadership of the local farm bureaus with the aid of the county agents
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
Raise Rabbits for Meat

Rabbits. which have proved a valuable food source in Europe during the pres. ent war, may well be raised more eX- tensvely in America to reduce the drain on the ordinary meat supply, according to biologists of the United States de- partment of agriculture. The animals may be raised in back yards of cities and towns as well as on farms.
 The Belgian and Flemish giant rabbirs are recommended for meat production. as the ordinary tame rabbit is smallet and develops more slowly. Rabbits are easily kept. They eat hay, grass, lawn cuttings, and green vegetation of many kinds.
 The department has published bule- tin on raising rabbits, which will be help full to persons who wish to engage in this pursuit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
Cheap Wheat in Australia

How the shortage of ships is affect ing Australian farmers is shown strik. ingly by the news that the stategovern- ment of Australia has guaranteed s5 cents bushel for wheat. The com monwealth government has allowed an additional 10 cents a bushel for the 191S-19 harvest, making a total of 95 cents a bushel. Australia is reported to have about 300,000,00O bushels of sur plus wheat which cannot be moved out of the country on account of the lack of ships to carry it. The ships in use by the allies must be kept on the short food route to the United States, instead of making the loung trip to Australia. Argentina also has larre surplus of wheat. estimated at 200 ! 000, 900 bushels. This, likewise. is pn- available because of the distance if must be carried.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03

Rolled oats have ltng been used as a breakfast cereal .u American homes, at the use of ths ground rolled oats lE place of wheat flo.r ia bread and cake making is new to some people.
 Dat flour is procurable on some mar = kets, but in most cases it does not differ materially from that made in the home by grinding the rolled oats in a hand mill or through a food chopper.
 Since oat flour is more granular than wheat flour, better texture can be ob- tained by using it in combination with olIe of the finer Hours, such as rice flour, potato flour, or corn flour The quick breads and yeast breads as well as the cakes and cookies made from the ground rolled oats have an excel lent flavor
 Either the home ground rolle1 oats C. the commercial flour may be used in receipts that follow if you have favofite recipes of your owr. use them, | ol!ed oats for cup of wheat flour. The recipes given hero lave been tested in the experimental kitchen of tne departmnt of agriculture, office cf home economies, anf oe the home conservation division of, ife United States food administrator.
 Recipes using ground rolled oats
 oHoftcahe-l 7s cups gropnu rolled oats. 1 cup corn flour, g teaspoons bak- ing powder, l teaspoon salt 4 table, spoons shortening, 2-3 cup milk.
 Mix in order given. Bake in sheet, split and butter while warm. Serve with fruit a shortcake.
 Muffins-1b cups rolled oats 1 cup corn flour. teaspoons baking powder, teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, egg, 1 cup milk, 1 tablespoon melted fat.
 Variations: In place of the 1 cup of corn flour substitute, 7s cup of rice flour or 4 cup of potato flour.
 Pastry-2A cups ground rolled 7s oats, 5 tablespoons fat, 1 teaspoon salt, 4 cup cold water
 This makes a very tender pie crust. It may be patted on to the tin, if there is difficulty in rolling it out. For fruit pies use half barley flour.
 Oatmeal Fruit Drop Cookies-1s cup sugar, tablespoon fat, A cup corn sirup; F teaspoon salt, ? eggs beaten until light, 21a cups rolled oats, ground; F cup dates or raisins cut in small pieces, 1 teaspoon vanilla.
 Mix in order given Drop by the spoon> ful on creased baking sheet and bake.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
SET OUT A NICE PATCH OF STRAWBERRIES THIS FALL
Must Grade Potatoes

Potatoes sold by licensed dealers must conform to the government grades, under regulation made by the federal food administration and now in force. Licensed dealers are those whose total business amounts to $10,000 or more year. Under this ruling, therefore, the larger shippers can ship only graded stock.
 The food control act does not ap- ply to farmers with respect to prod ucts grown by them or to farmers organizations with respect to prod ucts grown by their members. IL is believed that the farmers who ship their own potatoes and farmers or ganizations that ship only the potatoes grown by their members do not di- rectly come under the potato grading are licensed, the outlet for potatoes not graded will be narrow. This prac- tically will make necessary the gral- ing of all potatoes shipped to market. Following are the standards for po- tato grades:
 United States Grade No. 1: This grade shall consist of sound potatoes of similar varietal characteristics, which are practically free from Girc or other foreign matter, frost injury, sunburn. second growth, cuts, scabs. blight, dry rot and damage caused
 
 means. The minimum diameter of po- tatoes of the round varieties shall be Is inches, and of potatoes of the long varieties, 1& inches. In order to all low for variation incident to commer- cial grading and handling 5 per cent by weight of any lot may be unGer the prescribed size, and, in addition, , per cent by weight of any such lot may be below the remaining require. ments of this grade
 United States Grade No 2: This grade shall consist of potatoes of similar varietal characteristics, which are practically free from frost in- jury and decay. and whic hare free from serious damage caused by dlrt or other foreign matter, sunburn, sec ond growth, scab, blight, dry rot Or other disease, insects or mechanical means. The minimum diameter shall be 1 F inches. In order to allow for variations incident to commercial srading and handling, per cent hv weight of any lot may be under the prescribed size, and, in addition, per cent by weight of any such lot may be below the remaining requirements of this grade.
 Potatoes which do not measure u, to either of these grades must go as culls.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03

Rice flour, which before the wheat shortage was used only by caterers and bakers in small amounts, is now being manufactured in larger quantities to help meet the need of wheat substitutes.
 The wilderness of rice flour makes it particularly useful to the baker and caterer, and in the effort to save wheat housewives are learning to use this product in breads, cakes. and cookies alone or combined with other substitutes
 The recipes which follow have been tested in the experimental kitchen of the department of agriculture, office of home economics, and the United States food administration, home conservation section:
 Rice Flour Waffles-1a4 cups rice flour, teaspoon salt, 3 teaspoons baking pow der, l1a cups milk, tablespoons melted fat, eggs.
 Sift the dry ingredients together and add slowly to the milk, beaten egg yolks, and melted fat Fold in stffly beaten whites and cook in hot well-g -greased wal fe irons.
 Shortcake-11a cups rice flour; tea spoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons shortening, egg, cup milk
 Mix as you would mullins. bake in layer cake tin, split. and butter while hot. Put layer of sweetened berries or other fresh fruit between the halves and on top.
 Chockolate Nut Coollies-15 cup corn sirup, tablespoons strained honey, squares chocolate, 10 tablespoons rice flour, 1 tablespoons barley flour tea spoon making powder. ia teaspoon salt teaspoon vanilla, F cup chopped nut meats
 Mix and drop by the spoonful on creased baking sheets. Bake l5 minutes
 Sponge Calle-3 eggs tyolks and whites separate). s4 cup sugar tablesoon hot water, 11a teaspoons baking powder Ii teaspoon salt, ? teaspoons lemon juice, teaspoon vanilla. 7s cup rice flour.
 This sponge cake can serve as the basis for many desserts. Bake as loaf cake or in muffin molds. Baked in thin sheet. spread with soft jelly, and rolled it makes delicious jelly roll. Serve with
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
Large Wheat Acreage

Reports being received by thes bureau of crop estingstes from all wheat grow ing sections show that plans are peihs carried out to increase the acreage or wheat both in the winter ana sprins wheat belts. The work is being held up in some districts only because lack or rain has prevented fall blowing and prep aration of the seed bed. Washington re- ports: If rains occur. and extraordinar- fly large fall wheat acreage Will De sown.'' In Indiana much ground mas been plowed for fall sowing, reports state, and an exceptionally large acreage IS predicted. In Kansas great preparations have been made all over the state loi fall sowing Similar reports come rom Missouri. Iowa, Montana, and other states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
Making "Raisins"

Save melon rinds to make ''raisins.' Take the melon rind between the green and red and cut into inch pieces. Soak the pieces .in salt water over night, not too salty; in the morning drain and put fresh water over and boil till tender, but, not too soft; drain and add any good molasses and l lemon sliced. Boil 20 minutes. Use the product instead Of rasns in cake. Another use is. after boiling till tender. pour vinegar over and use in mustard pickle instead of F.. c. B.