davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-07
Weekly Crop Notes
BY f.. w. GIST,
Field Agent U. S. Bureau Of Crop

Estimates.
| The weather for last week continued
cool and wet, both the maximum and min
| imum temperatures being about the same
average as for the week preceding. Based
on reports from the cotton region sta
tons in the state, an average of about
| /. 70 inches of rain fell over the state.
The distribution for the week was slight
ly greater than for the previous week,
rain having fallen over the entire state
on an average of 81 days.
Young corn continued to grow rapidly,
and the more advanced crop is filling out
satisfactorily. In the latter care some
damage from drouth in certain sections
will not be altogether overcome. On the
whole, corn is promising.
| Wheat and oats have all been harvest
ed and are being threshed. Yields are
not so good as were expected earlier in
the season.
AS indicated by the condition report
published yesterday, the prospect for cot
ton yield is quite unfavorable, the condi-
ton having been expressed in a figure
only 10 points higher tina nthat of 1915
at the end of disastrous flood conditions.
Weevils are reported fro mall but seven
counties in the extreme north end of the
state, and are generally more numerous
in all sections than ever before reported
at this time. During the week reports
have come of the appearance of the cot
ton leaf worm in southern counties, and
it is thought that should they become
very active at once, owing to the late
ness of the crop, they may do consider
able damage
Continued rains have interfered with
the saving of hay from grasses, which
are very luxuriant.
Beans and peas continue to grow rap
idly, but seem to be late putting on
fruit.
Sweet potatoes are making heavy vine,
and the prospect is good for a large yield.
Peanuts are reported to be growing
well and making heavy vine. 1t is too
early to judge the prospect Of yield
The syrup crop bids fair to be good
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-07
Get Ready, Boys

AS the time for the annual club boys
state short course draws near, August II
ito 49, .inclisive. the indications are more
and more evioent that 1t will be we'll at
tended. Prof Z. n. Duncan, superin-
tendent of junior and home economies
extension department, states that many
reports have come in from county agents
in different parts of the state and nearly
al! say they are going to bring a good
delegation
County Agent G. c. Meadows of ST.
Clair is planning to bring four or five
automobiles filled with club boys from
his county He will lead the procession
Which will most likely be Joined on the
way by automobiles loaded with club
mem bers- from other counties. j. A. Nc
Leod, &the Bullock county agent. reports
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-07
BY MRS. JOHN c. MOSES

BY MRS. JOHN C. MOSES
"Grading up'-a breeding practice
which has been fundamental in improv
ing dairy herds throughout the United
States-is just as applicable for the bet
terment Of poultry flocks, which respond
as rapidly to the Introduction of su-
perior foreign blood, particularly by the
use of standardized males, as do dairy
COWS. Many a farmer is deferred from
the purchase of standardized fowls at
the offset because. perhaps, his neigh
Dor may tell him that it is time and
money wasted to monkey with standard
breeds when he can secure ''just as good
fowls in his immediate neighborhood at
half the price.
The just as good" mongrel fowls never
give the results which come from the
use of well bred stock, Sooner or later,
to his. sorrow, the poultry man ascer-
tains this fact. Then he is DESTROYS of
working with standard breeds, but he
hesitates because he doesn't like to sac
rifice the fowls he has on hand in order
to purchase quality birds.
If possible the beginner in poultry
keeping should start with well-bred foun-
dalton stock, but in case he begins work
with grades there still is an opportunity
for. him to improve his stock BY the
use of carefully selected, standard bred
males. the flock owner may grade up his
flock so that in three or four generations
he will have pullets and hens of superior
egg and meat producing qualities. Special
emphasis, however, should be laid on
the fact that it is preferable to pur-
chase the standardized breeding stock
to start with and not to attempt grading
up under other conditions.
GRADING UP TESTED
Specialists of the United States depart
ment of agriculture have obtained some
interesting results in POULTRY breeding
work at the government experimental
farm at Beltsvile, Md, where they have
mated mongrel hens of unknown lineage
with standardized males Up to the
present the particular purposes of these
Investigations have been to increase the
size and weight as well as to improve
the uniformity of type of the progeny.
The study will doubtless be continued to
cover egg production and the transmits
sion and Improvement of other hen char
teristics during the near future.
Standard-bre White Plymouth Rock
males were crossed with mongrel hens
which weighed only 4.5S pounds apiece.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-07

Storing potatoes resembles banking
money, because ordinarily it results in the
potatoes selling for higher prices later in
the season when the supply is not so
tees earn dividends while in storage just
as money in the bank accumulates inter
est. If all the potatoes were sold immed-
lately after digging the prices would
decline, due to the excessive offerings on
the market This is why storage is pop
ular. 1t permits of holding the more
or less perishable potatoes in a salable
condition over as long period as is
economically desirable. Storage also in
sures a more uniform market supply
throughout the season.
1t is the late or main crop varieties of
spuds, intended for winter use. which
are stored as the early or truck crop po-
tatoes are ordinarily disposed of directly
from the field as harvested. Potato stor-
ages are practically of all types and de-
scriptions from primitive shelters, such as
caves or pits. up to rather elaborate, ar
tificially refrigerated storage houses.
However the fundamental purposes of the
storage house. be it simple or elaborate,
is to protect the spuds from extremes of
cold and heat as well as from the light,
and under proper conditions of humidity
and ventilation, Care must be exercised
not to keep the potatoes together in large
bulk where the development of high tenn
perature and deterioration will be fav-
ored
Specialists of the United States depart
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-07

The first genera ton progeny of this union
al the same age had an average weight
of 5.6S pounds apiece, while the grade
fowls, composing the second generation,
weighed an average of 5.98 pounds apiece
at the same age, and those of the third
generation 6. 10 pounds apiece. The gain
due to increased size and matchmaking
qualities which resulted the first year
from the crossing work amounted TO l. IS
pounds per bird. Naturally the greatest
increase came during the first step in
the up-grading work when the standard
bred male was mated with a mongrel
hem The increase resulting from the
mating of another standardized male of
the same breed with the pullet OF the
above cross, was not so great, amounting
to only 0.3 of a pound, while the gain
of the third years Investigations totaled
0.51 of a pound. The total gain as shown
by these three generations of intensive
upgrading work amounted to 2.16 pounds
a bird.
OTHER TESTS SIMILAR
Similar experiments were carried out
by the use of Barred Plymouth Rock
males of standard breeding with mongrel
hens Results were almost as noteworthy.
The weight of the original mongrels were
A pounds apiece, while the grade prog
eny of the first generation weighed 56s
pounds at the same age; those of the sec
ODQ g6neTaIlOn, U1A pouiiuS, anu Tie pIuS
of the third generation 80 pounds. The
gain in weight the first year from this i'm
proved breeding work amounted to 1.3
pounds, while that of the second year
was 05e pounds and that of the third
year OPT pounds, making total gain
during the three generations of 200
pounds.
From the standpoint of meat produc-
ton this upgrading work should be ex-
tremely profitable to the average farmer
as the Investigations show conclusively
that the introduction of superior blood in
to the flock by the utilization of stand
ard-bred male increases the meat-pNduc-
ing and size increasing ability OF the
progeny If the progeny of grade hen,
united with a standardized male. will
weigh 11k to pounds more at market time
than will the same aged offspring OF
mongreI hen and a common male, it
should be easy to convince every farmer
that it will be more profitable for him
to keep better blood in his flock.
In commercial plants men kill poultry
by cutting the jugular vein with slen-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-07

trouble or disturbance will be sent nome
and his parents notified
Medals To Be Awarded-Two beautlfui
gold medals will be awarded by PRESIDENT
Thach to the two boys who write the
hest ESSAYS on the following subjects:
/ what the Club Work Has Been Worth
to My Community" 2. what This CLUB
School Has Been Worth To Me-. --
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-07

der, straight-edged knife, especially con-
structed for the purpose. Then that por-
ton of the brain tissue which controls
the muscles holding the feathers in place
is destroyed by a thrust of the same
knife, and the feathers are so loosened
that they are easily pulled out The cut
ting of the blood vessels in the proper
way permits the blood to drain out of the
carcass until it is practically blood free.
This is essential. if the bird is to keep
WELL and is part of the process of
dressing that is too often faulty. In or
der to accomplish this bleeding the YES
sells must not only be cut properly, but
the bird must be held head down while
removing the feathers.
A scheme used in the killing room pre-
vents the feathers from being contami-
mated with blood and enables the killer to
handle the bird very quickly, less than
two minutes being required for killing aud
the removal of all except the fine down
and pin feathers. When the feathers have
been removed, the bird, still hung by the
feet. is taken by women and pinned
or tipped as the western phrase goes
that is, the fine down and the close
growing feathers are picked off one py
one.
LITTLE POINTS TO SUCCESS
Be sure that the male at the head OF
the flock is pure bred.
The Mediterranean or egg breedes are:
Leghorn, Minorca, Ancona, Spanish and
Blue AndaluSian.
The American or general-purpose breeds
are: Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Rhode
Island Red, Java, Dominique and Buck
eye ,.
The Asiatic breeds are: Brahma, Cochin
and Langshan.
The English breeds are: Sussex. Cor
nish. Dorking, Orpington and Redcap'
For general farm use the American
breeds are probably the best.
Pure-bred poultry means uniformity Oh
products Uniformity of products means
increased profits, if products are properly
marketed.
Given the same care and feed, pure
bred fowls make a greater profit than
mongrels
Subscribe for one or more good poultry
papers. ,
Every poultry keeper who is interested
in breeding better poultry should nave
aopy of the American Standard of Per
lection.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-07

spuds against extremes of heat, cold
light
ment of agriculture believe that a tenn
perature of about So degrees is generally
low enough for practical potato storage,
and that during the earlier portion of
the storage season temperature of 40 de-
grees is just as satisfactory except where
powdery dry rot infection occurs. The
freezing point OF the potato is between
IS and 26 degrees.
Potatoes, when exposed to stpong or
even moderate light are soon injured for
food purposes, and on this account it is
essential to exclude the light from the
storage house, although exposure to modi-
fed light, where the spuds are kept cool
and we'll aired, is not injurious to tubers
intended for seed purposes.
PROTECT AGAINST WHITING
There should be sufficient moisture in
the potato storage house to prevent the
whiting of the tubers and at the same
time to maintain a humidity content low
enough to prevent a deposit of moisture
on the surface of the potatoes. One inves-
tigator suggests humidity of from So to
80 per cent as about correct for a potato
storage room temperature of 33 degrees to
IS degrees. Generous provision for ade-
quate ventilation must be made the ven
tilators or air fiues being arranged so
as to insure a rapid and even distribution
of air throughout the structure.
It is bad practice to store potatoes
in large bins or piles. Not infrequently
the tubers are heaped to depth of 10 or
Is feet, the pile being correspondingly
large in tother dimensions. Such storage
almost invariably results in violent sweat
ing or curing. in which the spuds in the
central portion Of the pile are frequently
Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-30
DRENCHED ALL
 SECTIONS OF YAVAPAI
(From Tdesday's DailyO

Saturday and Sunday witnessed a recurrence of storms, and reports given from all sections of the county were that heavy rains had fallen, some sections having a summer cloud burst.
 C. E. Burton and E. J. Blackstone, in the city from Ash Fork, reported that region as drenched, the storm extending into the Seligman section, and the first named stated it was the most beneficial storm of the year. Fine grazing would soon be the re suit, and the incoming flocks of sheep from the desert would thrive this summer.
 Henry See, an arrival yesterday from Camp Verde, also brought good news, saying that all of the outlying country in the valley was soaked by a two days storm, while from the above region into Prescott the down fall must have been heavy.
 w. s. Cox, an arrival yesterday from Mint valley, stated two days of rains had redeemed the range and in sured the farmer a fine season ahead.
 Robert Snultz, an arrival yesterday from Hillside, reported Saturday and Sunday as two of the wettest days ever known for April, and rains to fall like in the summer. The range business, he says, is now secure and better outlook could not be wished for.
 Like reports were received from all other sections of the county, and such a favorable outlook for ranching and ranging could not be asked
Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-30
BOY SCOUTS TO CAM
 PAIGN LAST 7 DAYS
(Fron Sundays Dailvl

The plan for Scout operation in the Victory Loan campaign as approved by the Treasury Department is the same as that followed in the Fourth Liberty Loan. Scout services in a community will be under the direc- ton of and subject to the wishes of the local committee, after consula- ton with local Scout authorities. Scout officials will be furnished with detailed instructions and will make themselves immediately available for conference with the committee.
 In communities where the place of campaign permits of actual solicita- ton by the Boy Scouts, it is recom- mended that their activities be limit ed to the last seven working days of the campaign under the same regula- lions and restrictions as have pre- vailed in previous campaigns.
 The Boy Scouts in Prescott have already been of considerable help to the Liberty Loan Committee, having distributed posters, advertising mat, ter and during the last seven days of the campaign will be out soliciting the purchasing of bonds. Through the courtesy of Dr. Blain, several of his billboards have been turned over to the committee, free of cost, for the posting of advertising matter.
Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-30
CELESTIAL GOES OUT
 BY THE GUN ROUTE
(From Sundays DailYl

Low O. Hung. Chinese resident of this city for the past 40 years, aged about 70 years, shielded in 2 noodle joint on South Granite street Friday night by sending a 45-calibre bullet into his heart, death being instantaneous
 In addition to being in bad health his financial condition was such that he stated his earthly woes were too burdcnsome to bear, and he carried out this oft made threat to seek re lief in the flowery kingdom above. A short time before he killed himself Hung had a smile on his lips, and stated ne felt very much relieved in knowing that soon he would not be a further burden on friends, and in side of two minutes after making such a remark the crack of the gun was heard in rear room and when some of his countrymen entered the room few moments later he was a corpse.
Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-30
AMERICAN ARMY
 HORSES PREFER A
 LIFE IN U. s. A.

FORT BLISS, April 26.-American cavalry horses, seemingly prefer the daily diet of corn and alfalfa hay to the prospects of scanty feed in the campaigns which the Mexican feder- al army is preparing to make on the desert of northern Mexico. They showed this plainly when $50 of the 1000 cavalry horses which were sold from the remount station here to the Mexican government returned from Juarez after they had been driven across the Rio Grande at the Weber ford.
 Before the horses could be corral ed in the stockyards at Juarez $50 of them recrossed the river and re- turned to the remount station. They were loaded into stockcars and sent back to Juarez by rail for reship- ment to Chihuahua city. These horses were bought and trained at the remount station here for the use of the American cavalry overseas but were not needed They will be used to mount the Mexican infantry for the new campaign against Villa which is scheduled to start May first.
Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-30
FINDS REMAINS OF
 HUMAN NOT IDENTIFIED
(From Sundays d2iiy.5

What is supposed to have been an early day murder or a possible sui eide, was related yesterday by Luke E. Prestiss, a mining operator who is visiting the city from the lower section of Date Creek. He told of the finding of the skeleton of a hu- man being, evidently that of white man.
 The body was discovered under a pile of dirt in a cut of an old pros pact, and the clothing worn was dis cerned as brown in color. The shoes, hat and outer coat were missing, and this leads to the supposition of mur- der.
 A belt buckle of nickel with the let ter NJ thereon was found near the body in the rocks in front of the cut. Several gold filled teeth also were found. otherwise there was no Identification to be had.
 The date of the death must have been many years ago as the bleach ed bones so indicated. With MT. Prestiss at the time was a Mexican employee, and 1t was. not deemed advisable to report to the coroner or hold an inquest.
Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-30
SILVER IS KING IN
 ARIZONA, SAYS MINER

PHOENIX, April 2S. - Silver is king again in Arizona, says C. P Reiniger, president of the Associa ton of Arizona Mining Men. With the copper market stagnant as re- suit of the cessation of war require ments. the demands for white metal are pouring in from all corners ot the globe. Many of the producers are replacing their copper-handline equipment with plants to turn out sll- yer.
 There is a big demand for silver n China and India" says George D Bethuns. of Globe. -"The United States government is filling it at Sl An ounce, the same price at which il is supplying 2OO,OOO,OOO ounces of the metal to the British government or contract"
 Years ago when Tombstone was al the height of it's fame, Arizona was a great silver producer. Then came the slump. Copper was discovered Last year, according to the estimate of the United States geological sur vey, Arizona produced $192,OOO,OOC worth of copper. Give us copper, was the cry from the United States md the Allies.
 With the armistice conditions changed overnight. One billion pounds of copper, more than third of which was Arizona production ire estimated to be awaiting sale, but copper is down and silver is up.
 Surveys of the state indicate that in the Prescott and Tucson mines sll- yer predominates over the other met lls; in Bisbee, Jerome. Globe and Ajo its values as a by-product run heavily.
 From the neighborhood of Pres colt come reports of the revival ot old silver mines. Battle-Flat, scene of a sanguinary Indian fight in the seventies, is reported to have yield ed new discoveries of silver and two fresh camps nave been opened on this spur of the northern slope of the Bradshaws.
 The official tables of the United States geological survey report sil yer production of $6,S13,000 in Ari- zona during 1918, but producers state that this does not represent anything like the total value of the metal re-
Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-30
FOR PLANT LIFE IS
 STATE PLAN

SACRAMENTO, April 26-On the east the Rocky Mountains and on the west the Pacific form natural barriers for states of the Pacific slope against the migration of harm ful insects and of plant diseases. If plant distribution by human agency can be properly regulated in this re- zion comparative freedom from hor- ticultural diseases may be enjoyed by the Western States, C. H. Hecke, commissioner of horticulture for Cal .ifornia believes.
 Governor William D. Stephens, at the suggestion of Mir. Hecke has writ ten the governors of nine western states requesting that plant quaran- tine representative be sent to Calif- ornia on May % to meet at Riverside with representatives from this state, Canada Lower California, Hawaii and Florida to discuss problems aris- ing from plant importation.
 It is anticipated by Mir. Hecke that at this meeting a quarantine league Of western states will be organized for mutual protection against the in roads of horticultural and agricultur- al pests. C. L. Marlatt, Washington, D. C., chairman of the Federal Horti- culture Board, has signified his in- +anfiO1 Of at+endin0
 The plant quarantine conference will be one of a series of horticultural conventions to be held in Riverside May % to 31.. The State Associa, ton of Nurserymen and the State Association of County Horticultural Commissioners will meet, there will be a convention of fruit growers and farmers and conference of vege table growers. The Pacific Slope branch of the American Association of Economic Entomologists also will convene at that time.
Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-30
LIEUT.. EATEN WINS
 WAR CROSS UNDER
 HOT ARTILLERY FIRE
(From Sundays Daily.)

A copy Of the order out of Gener- al Headquarters French Army of the East, citing Lieut.. P. J. Batten, Co. F, 2nd Engineers, A. E. r. was re ceived by Rev. J. H. Batten, father of the young officer yesterday.
 It was while engaged in combat work-a duty that all too often fell to the engineers-that Lieut. Batten won the French War Cross. The circumstance under which the decora- ton was earned are recited as fol. lows:
 From the Sth to the 10th of Octo- Der, 1918. in command of a section Lieut. Batten showed great bravery and qualities of command by keep ing his position at St. Etienne A Ar mes. Kept the contact with the unit on his right, whose line constantly changed, under a very violent artil lery fire, which permitted him tc reach his objectif with few losses and in a very short time"
Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-30
DE MESA THINKS
 HE CANNOT WEAR
 ANY UNDERCLOTHES
(From Sundays DaiIvl

His belief that he was called upon to exhort in behalf of some strange faith was so persistent and had sucn a peculiar influence on his daily ac- tions, that Martin De Mesa, a MeXi- can laborer, was given a stay in the State Hospital for the Insane by Jurge Sweeney yesterday.
 De Mesa was picked up, examined and committed all in the course of q scant day. Possibly some of his arm waving might have been overlooked, had ne not taken to believing forth his gibberish 10 the utter alright of his ncighbors and all passers-by. He made at least one woman's end more speedy by his unearthly screcching.
 De Mesa had another belief that does not go we'll with this high noun tain climate. He will not wear un- derclotning. Neither has he any great regard for shirts, socks, hats, caps and such trivial parts of the human males attire. It was to pre- vent him killing off couple of dep uties in his frenzy that the sheriff permitted him to leave for Phoenix in charge of Ali Jones, and incased in nothing but a pair of overalls and jumper.