davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-08-22
Letters From the Soldier Boys

blows for enc minute each day at
eleven am. All business stops, and all
pray for one ninute-and intend to
keep it up until the war is over. | am
signing up crowd to eat Thanksgiy-
ing dinner in Berlin, Christmas dinner
back in New York. and get hack to
New Orleans for Mardi Gras next year.
Want to go? Believe me, sauer kraut
will be cheap as Arkansas land when
the war is over You can call it .ib-
erty cabbage" If you want, but the
smell is still there.
Let me hear from you this year.
please, and I'll send your folks pound
Of sugar for n Christmas present
Your brother.
DALLAS q. ALLEN.
Dcar John: Thought you might want
to hear from NE since | am lover
here" Am insa good camp somewhere
in France Am near enough to the
front to hear the guns all the time.
They sure roar at night. too.
Would like to write you lots, only
there is very little | can write. 1t is
quite exciting when the Germans make
an air raid ever MS.
This is all interesting place, and
will have LOTS to tell you when l gel
lack to that old place.
Say. if YOU can, mail me severa
| copies of The B0ssicr Banner. l have
not heard from any one since l have
been gone. Tell Maude to write ever,
week. and write ME yourself when YOU
have time.
Sure will be glad when l get hack t.
the good old Z. s. America is the beS
place l have seen. and especially Lou
isiana. Have been i'll England, too
Like it better than France.
/ am doing patrol duty and am OF
] duty at night most of the time, so hav'
to try to get some sleep.
Give my regards to Emmett and MI
George. Your friend,
/ JOHN BUMGARDNER.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-08-22
NOTICE.

] am applying for Il Communication q life
sentence. NEST MORGAN.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-08-22

JAMES ]. BAILEY, Secretary Of State.
The sun., 1918-12-15
H0TBEDS AND COLD FRAMES.

The surest way to have an early
garden next spring is to prepare a
hotbed and a cold frame, or n combi-
nation of the two, before the ground
freezes this fall After the ground
freezes hard 1t will be impossible to dig
a pit properly and construct the frame
preparatory to making hotbed. The
essentials are a framework of boards
and sash or light canvas for n cover
ing. Standard hotbcd sash are 8 by 6
feet in size, and the frame can be
made to At one. two or more OF these
sashes. The framework of boards
should be Is to "a inches high at the
back or north side and 10 to IL inches
high at the front or south side. The
frame should be so arranged that the
sash will not only slide on ways but
also may he lifted or tilted at any
angle for ventilation. The framework
should be painted, and the sash should
be given at least two coats of white
lead and linseed oil. with little drier
added, before the glass is put in. In
glazing hotbed sash the putty is first
spread In the grooves on the sash bars
the glass then being bedded in the
putty and we'll pressed doSn. The bot
tom light or glass in each row should
be put in first; then the second light
should overlap the first one about one
fourth OF an inch; and so on until each
section Of the sash is filled, the last
piece of glass being cut to fill out the
remaining space. Each piece of glass
is fastened in place by means OF spe-
cisl glazing points driven into the
wooden sash bar.
The hotbed pit should be l. TO II
inches deep and just n trifie smaller
than the framework OF boards. The
dirt removed from the pit Is used to
bank around tho frame. The pit may
be filled with leaves during the early
winter to prevent the soil freezing, and
the sash stored where they will be pro-
tected from the weather until time TO
start plants in the bed. II this part
of the work be done there will be no
difficulty in getting an early start for
spring garden.
The sun., 1918-12-15

which was where the Department OF
Agriculture had its birth. This va
riety found its way to California, where
II was grown quite largely.
The winter Casaba now shipped
east in large quantities from Cali
fornia is said to be an entirely different
melon introduced into California from
Asia Minor at later date.
There are many new melons well
worth trying. The honey dew is a
round, white skinned, thick, green
fieshed melon, keeps we'll and can be
laid away for Use late in the autumn,
but it requires long season 10 ripen
its fruit. In New England II may
never do well. but started early in
warm frames in New York it will de-
velop its fruit.
The bush muskmelon is new and Is a
desirable variety for small gardens, as
the plants grow in bush form, making
, vigorous growth, each bearing n
number OF average sized melons. The
flesh is green and the flavor excellent.
The hills can be planted three feet
apart, producing as many melons as
the trailing sorts covering the same
area.
Usage is a variety that has many
| admirers who consider II the best gen.
eral purpose muskmelon. 1t does well
in heavy soils, where the Rocky Ford
will not produce good fruit. and in
sandy soil II seems 10 do equally well
The fruit is OF good size, with salmon
color flesh of rich, sweet flavor
Hodoo is a round netted variety
with salmon flesh. II is a favoritt
throughout Michigan and Illinois.
Emerald Gem is ono OF the earlies
to ripen. II is good for the home gar
den. but is not good for shipping. Tit
fruits should be gathered as soon "a
they ripen; the vine continuing il
bearing throughout the season. TIN
fruit is round and smooth, quit
heavy ribbed; the flesh is thick ant
the fruit has 4 SINAI! seed cavity.
Nutmeg. an early. round. Melted va
riety. with sweet, green flesh, is pop
ular, and so is Hackensack. a ROUND
early melon with green flesh.
In the South winter pineapple ca,
be grown and will keep for month
after being picked
The sun., 1918-12-15
POULTRY DISEASES AND TREAT
MENT.

All diseased birds should be isolated.
Colds and Roup--Disinfect the drink
ing water as follows: To each gallon
of water add the quantity OF potas-
sum permanganate that Will remain
on the surface of a dime.
Canker-Srrinkle a little flowers OF
sulphur in the mouth and throat OF
the bird and pitt some chlorate OF
potash in the water. Also carefully
remove tho exudate with the aid OF
warm water and paint with iodine or
apply a good disinfectant to the dis
eased tissue.
Chicken Pox--Apply touch of iodine
to each sore and then cover with car
bolated vaseline. II the diseased parts
are kept we'll covered with the vaseline
1t will usually effect a cure.
Gapes-New ground and vigorous
cultivation will often remedy this
trouble. A liberal sprinkling Of lime
around the coops and runs is quite
often an effective remedy
Scaly Legs-Apply vaseline contain
ing a disinfectant to the affected parts
and after twenty -four hours soak in
warm soapy water. Repeat treatment
until cured.
Diarrhuea in Hens-Low grade wheat
flour or middlings are good for this
trouble. Also give each fowl tea
spoonful of castor oil containing five
drops of OIL OF turpentine.
Bowel Trouble in Chicks-Well boiled
rice mixed with q little charcoal will
often check this complaint Dissolve
The sun., 1918-12-15

THE EMPTY GARDEN.

My garden seems a lonely spot; the
sad days come and go;
Ice crystals CLEAN where flowers have
been; the walks are white with
snow.
The old bench by the grapevine arch
is stained by rain and frost;
Gone are the leaves that shaded II;
the vines like swords are crossed.
The golden hearted marigolds liz
brown and limp In death,
And all the dreams I sowed with them
are withered by wars breath.
The storms that pelt my window pane
sound like the orphans cry.
see n crimson trail OF blood upon
the sunset sky.
The spring will wake my garden plot;
the flowers will bud and blow,
But what about the lands laid waste
the dead that cannot SOW?
ADE.LA WASHER in the Times.
The sun., 1918-12-15

standing in water will keep the sol
soggy and cold, which will check
growth and In a little while the soil
will become acid. the leaves will dry or
curl up and drop. Palms under such
conditions dry or brown at the tips.
The proper thing to do is to place
an upturned saucer, a block of wood
or a brick In the bottom of the Jar
diniere before the pot is set in 1t, az
shown In the cross section by the
illutration. This Will keep the bottom
of the pot up so the water will drain
away freely. BY turning out the water
from the bottom OF the jardiniere every
couple OF days the soil in the pot will
remain in good condition and the plant
will keep healthy and thrive.
The sun., 1918-12-15
FRUIT FROM THE GARDEN IN
ONE SEASON.

II takes two seasons to raise a
crop OF any fruit such as strawber-
ries, raspberries. SC, but there is a
delicious fruit that can be grown in
the garden. 1t will be ready to pick
and eat q few weeks after the seeds
are planted IL il is properly cared for,
and there is no fruit that will excel it
in flavor and refreshing qualities.
What fine start a good piece of
muskmelon gives one for a hot day
when served for breakfast! And II Is
just as good again for dessert at
night.
Muskmelons are not very particular
as to the character Of the soil, but
they are about Its condition. 1t should
be well fertilized, deeply dug and well
cultivated. Avoid low lands that are
The sun., 1918-12-15
GIRLS SAVE APPLE CROP.

The pomology department at Con-
necticut Agricultural College faced a
serious problem this fall in the ina
bility to get labor to harvest a big
apple crop. Owing to the fact that all
men students ut the institution We're
enrolled in the Students Army Train
ing Corps it was impossible TO get
help from that source. In the emer-
gency the young women who are at
tending the college volunteered their
services.
The apples were gathered and
packed and the entire crop was saved.
1t Is now admitted that the work was
never done more expeditiously or eff
GENTLY. Woman labor as farm emer-
gency is in better repute than IT was
year ago, and the experience OF the
college has been duplicated on many
farms,
The sun., 1918-12-15
HENS NEED AIR.

One OF the dangers of having Il
tightly built hen house comes from the
inclination to shut il up tight AMI
keep the house warm, according to the
New York State College of Agricul-
ture. II the house is warm It is gen
orally also damp. and if damp 1t Is not
n 1T or healthful place for n hen to
live in. A hen does not have sweat
glands in the skin, and so has to get
rid of excess moisture by means OF
the droppings and through the lungs
II the air is already moist hen is
able to get rid of very little moisture
Consequently II cannot keep the
blood In good condition and the bird
becomes subject to colds, roup and
kindred ailments.
II moisture collects on the walls OF
the house smells damp 1t hasn't
enough ventilation. In that case q
The sun., 1918-12-15

half OF the available land has been
utilized. AS commercial gardeners
cannot under present labor conditions
raise enough vegetables to supply the
demand In our cities, towns and viii
lagos, 1t is urged that people in cities,
towns, and villages increase their eff
forts during the coming year.
The extension forces of the De-
partment of Agriculture and of the
State agricultural colleges are using
all means at their command to bring
about the raising of more and better
home gardens in 1919.
Hundreds of county agricultural
agents, the farm bureaus, the home
demonstration agents, the boys and
girls club leaders, are urging the need
OF increased production. especially
among those who in ordinary times
are not producers of garden vege-
tables. Get the garden habit in, 1919
The sun., 1918-12-15

not drained. Manure heavily. The
hill where the seeds are planted
should be made over a spread of ma
nure from six inches to n foot deep
and two feet or more in width. Over
this spread good soil finely pulverized
for six inches or n little more in
depth.
1t will hurry the production and
permit earlier planting II the seeds
are protected with melon frames
These are boxes OF inch material OF 4
size anywhere from one foot square
to twenty inches square and about
sixteen inches high. These are set
down we'll into the ground over the
hill. to exclude all cold, and the top
kept covered with glazed sash or
piece of glass until the seedlings are
UP. Then air must be given to pre-
vent long drawn and weak plants,
covering late in the afternoon before
the sun goes down and in cold, stormy
weather. Cover the seed about half
an inch.
The slightest frost will injure musk
melon vines, so planting time must be
gagged with this fact in mind.
| The hills should be placed from four
to six feet apart, thinning the plants
J to two or three in each hill.
, The seeds can be started in pots in
/ the house and transplanted without
| disturbing the roots when the plants
are large enough. but If the roots are
disturbed the plants are likely tC
wither and die, so careful handling is
necessary.
Cultivation should be commenced rs
soon as the seedlings appear and re-
peated at frequent intervals until tn
vines cover the ground
Yes, sorry to say. muskmelons ar,
subject to attacks from the striped Gu
cumber beetles as soon as the plant
appear. Turpentine mixed with Ian,
plaster and busted on the plants q
Bordeaux mixture applied as a spra!
Will keep the BEETLES under control.
The melon aphis is sometime
troublesome. Spraying with nicotin
sulphate, reaching the under side O
the leaves thoroughly, puts him out o
business
Melons that are permitted to ripe
on the vines are OF better flavor tina
melons picked and allowed to ripen o.
| their way 10 market, Dul lHSS SLOuI
not be overripe before picking.
BY turning the fruit little each da
when it is large enough, first turnin
one way a little and back the othe
direction the next. the fruit will ripe
all over evenly instead of developin
a white spot where it lies for long i
one position on the soil.
Good Varieties for the Home Gar
den.
The Casaba melon. although Il ha
only recently become popular. was al
vertised by a Boston scotsman abou
1897 Later. in 1870. a Philadelphi
scotsman advertised a Casaba meloI
The description follows: Specimen
weigh from twelve to sixteen pound
and if there Is a more sugary, tende
fieshed and altogether good melon tina
this would like to see IT, This melo
can be grown quite as easily as any {
the other varieties of muskmelon,"
This may have been the Casab
melon sent out BY the Patent one;
The sun., 1918-12-15

No less than one-fifth of the total
food elements consumed by the people
OF this country Is obtained from COM
u1ercial and home vegetable gardens.
Under the present food situation of the
world the tendency and the need in
this country is to increase the con-
sumption of fresh vegetables.
Americas cities, towns and villages
almost without exception are full of
large backyards and vacant lots that
have yielded little or nothing. We
have taken pride. too. in our spacious
home grounds, but have given little
thought TO turning them to account.
Now the food situation demands that
every foot OF ground suitably located
be made 10 produce to It's utmost ca
pacity. City people have responded
heartily in carrying out the Govern
lnent's programme to use such back
yards and vacant lots for gardens, yet
a survey made in n number Of cities
where such gardening was carried on
intensively shows that less than one
The sun., 1918-12-15

with light soil Turn another pot OF
the same size over the plants TO ex-
clude the light and allow room for the
leaves to develop. Place in gentle heat
and the crop will soon be ready to
harvest and eat.
The leaves on plants for forcing
should have been cut Off about one
inch above the crown. II the leaves
have been cut off too close to the
crown n lot of small shoots will start
from the crown. This causes the de-
velopment of q great many small
shoots. arising from buds around the
edge OF the cut surface. This condition
Is shown on the roots at the left of the
illustration. When the cut is made at
least one inch above the crown the
central bud is not destroyed. and this
results in the production OF one good
shoot on each root. as shown at the
right in the picture.
After the roots are in place soil
should be sifted between them and
then watered. In order to blanch the
heads or shoots, six inches to eight
inches of sand or fine soil should be
placed over the roots. Sand Is really
the best material. Additional water
ing may be necessary II the bed begins
TO dry out.
Temperatures OF so degrees to G.
degrees are sufficient for witloof. Al
these temperatures the crop will be
ready in three or four weeks. Al
higher temperatures the roots will ap'
pear in three to four weeks.
To provide for a succession a supply
OF roots should be kept in the colo
and brought into the heat at inter
walls of a week or two.
II crop OF leaves is desired fol
green's the small roots may be uset
without any covering as required fol
blanching and the plants may b.
grown in the light
The sun., 1918-12-15
Ruffled Petuna-- -Pink Enchantress Asterl

the crop is light the cost is greater.
A packet of the delicate seed can be
purchased for % cents, and II properly
planted and cared for will raise many
plants.
Petunias can be taken up in the
autumn and kept growing in the house
and from them numerous cuttings can
be made, in this way getting n good
stock Of plants for the next season.
Pink Enchantress is a beautiful
aster introduced BY the same firm. The
flowers are soft pink, borne on
strong upright plants. The flowers
are equal in size to the largest branch
ing asters. The broad petals are loosely
arranged and the effect is soft and
pleasing.
For cut flowers this is very desir-
able variety and 1t is equally goor for
bedding.
The sun., 1918-12-15

Rufiied petunias are excellent for
bedding, for porch or window boxes,
vases and hanging baskets. They also
make fairly good plants for windoc
gardens. particularly where the tenn
peraturo Of the room ia kept high,
around 20 to 70 degrees or trific
higher, as some living rooms are. The
colors are brilliant and the yeining
wonderfully beautiful in many flowers.
One entire greenhouse is devoted to
these plants by James Viclis's Sons.
Rochester. Each plant in a separate
pot is carefully tended and the pollen
spread from plant to plant with a
camel's hair brush in the hands OF an
expert.
When the plants have produced a
good crop of seeds the cost OF produc-
ton may not exceed $500 per pound. II
The sun., 1918-12-15
FORCING FRENCH ENDIvE AND
SEA KALE.

Witloof chicory is the proper name
for the vegetable sold in the markets
and offered on restaurant bills OF fare
as French endive. 1t Is a development
from the common chicory, but never
theless n most excellent salad, the de-
mand for whtch seems to be constantly
growing.
Before the war the wholesale price
was about 80 cents pound whole
sale ana since the war the price has
doubled, 1t takes OH an average five
heads TO make a pound.
The blanched heads are creamy
white in color, crisp and tender, and
have fine flavor. Witloof is used
mainly for salad purposes, although 1t
may be boiled, and it makes fine
pickle mixed with vinegar and season.
ing.
Since the roots will be OF different
sizes it will be necessary to grade them
before they are used for forcing. Small
roots that are less than half an inch
in diameter will not produce desirable
heads or shoots. Larger roots are bet
ter. Use roots not smaller than one
inch in diameter, while larger roots
will produce stu better heads. 1t is
best to make the roots uniform in
length by trimming off their tips.
The roots will average eight inches
or nine inches long and the tops when
grown will average six inches In
length.
| Witloof may be forced under the
benches of the greenhouse or con-
servatory or in n warm cellar Light
is not desirable. Grown under tine
greenhouse benches curtains should be
hung TO shut out the light.
| A little loose soil is placed on the
bottom OF the bed or box IL grown II
the cellar. The roots should stand
erect and so close together that they
nearly touch.
Chicory is the easiest of all roots t.
force. Five or six pieces OF the root!
| may be packed into an eight inch po
The sun., 1918-12-15
BETS FOR INFLUENZA.

An Austrian doctor having discov-
cred that beets were a preventive of
and remedy for influenza, gave his pa
tents a plateful OF beet salad as soon
as the fever set in and within eight
hours after they had eaten the beets
the fever would leave them-so he as
serted. According to a report from
The Hague, this alleged cure on be-
coming known in Holland led TO such
a demand for beets that the price adj
vanced to 40 cents each, whereas be-
fore the war they had cost about two
cents.
The sun., 1918-12-15

window or door should be left open.
There is little danger OF freezing the
hens by giving them little air; II
the air is dry their blood Is In good
condition and they are able to keep
warm. A little nip cuts production
only for short time.
The amount of opening should be
determined largely by the rate tine
wind is blowing. If there Is hard
wind only a little opening is necessary,
while II there Is no wind large open
ing will be needed. The aim should be
to keep the house dry. There may be
cracks enough in the house to do this !;
IL not the windows should be opened
enough to dry It out.
The sun., 1918-12-15

long tap roots require deep, rich soil
planted in rows four to six feet apart
Seedlings yield a crop the third year
though reports of earlier results have
been received.
As soon as shoots show above the
ground blanch by drawing the earth
up about the plants, holding the leaves
close together. Boards may be used In
this operation in the same manner
they are used for blanching celery.
Sea kale Is. n plant that amateur
gardeners should plant more generally
Gardeners having the room should
have o few plants of kale.
Sea l;ale can be forced'in the same
way as witloof chicory.
The sun., 1918-12-15
SICK SOLDIERS APPRECIATE
FLOWERS.

Adolph lie AIoult of Adolph lie
Moult & Son, florists, 202 Bowery, has
devoted much time to gathering and
distributing flowers to the base hos
pitfalls around New York.
Mr.. lie Moult gives all the credit for
his work to those who contributed the
flowers. saying that he considers 1t a
privilege to perform what he considers
a dutiful work.
MY father often told me-" said Mr..
lie Moult, that single flower given
from the heart spoke volumes. never
realized how true il was until last
spring, when began visiting the base
hospitals.
We saw cases on Thanksgiving Day
where boys we're 100 sick to eat, toe
sick to care. yet when they saw q
flower their faces frightened up, and
with smile they reached out and took
tho bloom and invariably said: "Oh.
thank you" or something TO that
effect
The National League for Woman's
Service, with headquarters at Madison
avenue and Thirty eighth street, still
need flowers, fruits and jellies for oul
American soldier boys who have re.
turned from Europe. sick or wounded
II there is anything good enough fol
these noble fellows, we who have stayet
at home, cannot get II TO them toe
quickly nor keep it going too con
stantly.
Cinerarias and primulas require {
| litfIo cltyT1iI1ap NJ IN oao(at AnUaVinU
The sun., 1918-12-15
SAVE OVER SOC OF THE COST
Of Your 1919 Garden by OrderinK Now.

Our pricos .twholesale) for 1919 Spring
List must. owing to increased costs OF all
we use be advanced more than JOoc over
avY 1918 spring list prices. hut IL you will
place order at once before Dec. Goth for all
the plants you want delivered spring 1873
gsraniums coleus, cannas giant carnations,
giant ysAnthemums, hardy perenniais,
4tc-you may have order booked at the Old
low Rates OF 20 for 800, IS for $3.50. But
to get this concession act ut once and men,
tion Sun. Lists from which to make your
selections will be sent at once on appl!ca-
ton. Don't Delay; Plants are Very Scarcs
ewing to so many greenhouses closing for
fear of no fuel ana the prices in the New
Year will be very high. Act write your
needs to-day.
The HarIoMarden Gardens. Greenport. y. Y