davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Community Canning

Canning demonstrations in the Ozarks closely resemble community picnics, with plenty of fun as we'll as instruction. In many neighborhoods the announcement of a lecture by the home demonstration agent will bring out every man, woman and child for miles around.
 A club in Searcy county, 20 miles from the county seat and a railroad, is named The Snowball. This club-like many others in Arkansas-purchased steam pressure canner last year. The husbands of the members became so interested in canning that a month after the club was organized the men built a house for the canner, work tables and other equip ment One man donated the trees and others cut them into logs and hauled them to a sawmill. The whole community Is proud of this kitchen.
 At the September meeting of the Hor- ton Bend club, in the same county, every person in the settlement was out. in spite of a heavy storm. The men were as enthusiastic as the women and did as much work They packed cans of string beans, carried water and operated the canner. The women said they couldn can without the men, and the men said they wouldn't part with the canner Tor three times the cost. At this demonstra- ton the club canned 12o half gallons of beans and 71z gallons of tomatoes.
 The agent of Searcy county does most of her travelling by horseback, covering long distances with many streams to ford It Is the only mode of travel by which she can reach all parts of the county.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Strength From Milk

Plenty of milk is one of the simplest ways of improving the general health of children, authorities believe. and home tion agents of the United States Department of Agriculture and the state colleges are making special efforts to create public interest so that every child will get his share. In some cities. where many children have been found under nourished and undersized. milk is served in the schools. In 19 Indianapolis schools 2o00 children have been served half pint of milk each school day during the past year. The milk is delivered at the schools in individual half pint bot ties A hole is punched in the cap of the bottle and a straw is inserted. The children help themselves as they march past. and afterwards they return the empty bottles to the rack. This work in Indianapolis is maintained by the parent teacher clubs, but it is largely self-sup- porting. The majority of the children pay cents day. or 31a cents for milk and crackers Those who cannot pay get the milk free. The children are meas
 ured and weighed, and the chart or each child is kept in hs schoolroom. so he may see whether he is up to nor nal or below. All the children are much interested in weighing what they should. The teachers report a marked Improve ment in the school work and want the work continued. The Indiana home dem- onstration agents cooperate with the county welfare committees in weighing and measuring the children.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Chiggers Attack Fowls

Chiggers, harvest mites or red bugs, which so frequently annoy campers by the intense itching they produce, may also attack fowls. Young chickens hav- ing a free range, especially if it includes low-lying land, are the most liable to suffer from these parasites. The mites penetrate the skin, causing an intense itching, and abcesses may be found where clusters of mites are feeding. These ab- cesses are sometimes a third of an inch in diameter, surrounded by an area of in flammation. The birds become droopy, refuse to eat and may die from hunger and exhaustion.
 If an abscess has not yet formed the inflamed area may be treated with sul- phur ointment, Peruvian balsam or mix trre of part of kerosene oil with parts of lard. If suppuration has occurred the scab should be removed and the area washed with per cent carbolic acid so- lution. Frequent light dusting with flowers of sulphur will keep the chickens from becoming infested. In the southern and central states, where harvest mites are most numerous, it is often necessary to keep young chickens off the range in summer In these sections it is good plan to hatch the chickens early in the spring, so that when the warm weather comes, in which the mites are most abundant the birds will be old enough to resist their attacks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
TEXAS AFTER CATTLE TICK

made in Tarrant county, where the Fort Worth stockyards are located. The or ficials of Tarrant county are cooperating and providing all the assistance re- queSted.
 The state regulations now in effect gov erning the movement of cattle out or the southern division of the Fort Worth stockyards and consigned to tick eradica- tion counties are practically the same as the requirerhents for moving cattle inter state or to free areas. As the unrestricted market for tick-infested cattle in Texas is at least 15O miles south of Fort Worth, and as the greater part of trade terri tory for stock cattle on the local yards is now in tick eradication or released ter ritory, there is a greater demand TOT apparently free cattle on the southern market and corresponding reduction Tn the demand for ticlS-infested cattle
 It is reported from south Texas that good progress is being made In Houstoh Madison, Walker, Montgomery, Washing ton and Austin counties In Harris coun- ty few ticks have been found in terri tory that was worked systematically last year, and these were confined to the sec ton of the county where opposition pre- vailed last season. Good showlngs are also being made in Galveston county and in Leon county, especially the south ern half. In Brazoria county 17o of the leading live stock men have petitioned the commissioners court to call an cleo tion for the purpose of driving the tick from the county. However, since such an election would cause considerable delay, a plan of cooperation is being arranged by which voluntary eradication work Will he done in the section east of the Brazos river
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Club Profits for Comforts

Thousands of American homes possess comforts and luxurles for which they are indebted to the boys and girls in the families who have earned the equip ment by work in home gardens and can ming clubs. These clubs are organized by the Department of Agriculture and the state colleges, and by them boys and girls make money as well as provide canned fruits and vegetables for their own families. Steam pressure cookers. washing machines, pianos, vacuum clean ers kitchen cabinets and innumerable other things which make housework easier and home life happier are bought with their profits by the club members. A 14-year- old home canning club girl in Oconee county. Georgia. bought player- p'ano and new furniture for the parlor with the money she earned in canning A girl in Frederick county, Maryland. fur nished the kitchen in her home with mod ern equipment pa!difof with prize money awarded for her canning exhibits Two girls in Kankakee county. Illinois, re- papered and painted their home with club profits Club work encourages thrift. and gives the boys and girls an opportunity to convert some of their spare time into money.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Third Acre Produces S235

Rose Burda of Stark county, North Dakota, was awarded the championship of the state in the boys and girls gar dening club project last year. On one- third of an acre she grew s235 .9i worth of vegetables. Her club is one of thou sands organized by the United States De- part of Agriculture and state agricul- tural colleges.
 "I joined the garden club again this year because I found it so interesting last year." she reported to her county leader.
 "One of the troubles I had with my garden was the heavy rains Twice the garden was flooded. The first rain washed out some of the vegetables and drowned some. The damage wasn't so bad. as the vegetables soon picked up. The second heavy rain washed out over 100 feet of cabbage. The neighbors were supplied with cabbage out of my garden, for some of it was carried as far as two miles.
 ""The most interesting work was can ming what my garden grew. canned AZ quarts of vegetables by the cold pack method. I also made over 30 quarts of pickles I dried pounds of corn and Is pounds of beans. I stored for winter 4 bushels of carrots, ? bushels of onions. one half bushel of parsnips, bushels of rutabagas and 100 pounds of cabbage. This year I have also canned 9 quarts of beef It kept fine and tasted like fresh meat when used.'.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
c5H## AGE-FERALDS FARM PAGES ssy.' s.sv14:
New Road Equipment

At the request of the Department of ordered to be returned from France as soon as possible a large quantity of en- gineering equipment to be distributed by the Department of Agriculture, through the bureau of public roads, to the states for use in the constructor and mainten- ance of federal aid highways. The equip ment will be distributed to the states without charge, in accordance with recent legislation empowering the Secretary of War to turn over to the Secretary of Ag- r1culture surplus military equipment not needed for military pudposes but valuable in highway construction work. The equipment will be apportioned on the basis of the allotments in the federal aid road act. in the same way that 20ooo army motor trucks are now being dis tributed by the bureau of public roads at the request of the state highway depart ments.
 The equipment which the Secretary of War has been requested to return from France includes about 1900 caterpillar tractors, about 400 road rollers. steam and gas driven, and large number of concrete mixers. road graders. elevating graders, rock crushers, industrial locomo- tives, industrial railway track, dump cars. steam Snc<elS, nOlStnR engines, electIlC motors and quantities of smaller equip ment
 In hts letter requesting the return of this equipment the Secretary of Agricul- ture said:
 "The highway construction programme which the federal government and the states propose to begin immediately is the largest public undertaking contemplated in the near future. It offers an inmedi- ate field for the employment of labor and the use Of materials that will help to stabilize business along number of lines The work has been expanded so suddenly that 1t has not been possible to make ade- quate provision for furnishing the neces-
 sary equipment. and previously all the available supply was absorbed by the de- mands of the war department. T am sending you this list as result of conference which I have just held with the executive committee of the American Association of State Highway officials. at which it was represented that the various states are very anxious to secure additional equipment of the kinds indicated
 T am thoroughly in sympathy with the efforts that are being made by the dar department to aid returned soldiers in se- curing employment. and am convinced 1 that, if the equipment and supplies list ed are made available. it will facilitate highway construction and therey stim- | plate the employment of labor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Vegetable Hash

Hash may be made with one or many cooked vegetables used alone or combined with meat or fish. Potato is the most useful vegetable for hash, as it com pines we'll with meat or with other vege- tables.
 It is essential for good hash that the vegetables be cut fairly fine, but not so fine that the pieces will lose their shape or stick together-that is, the particles should drop apart readily when shaken on a fork Each vegetable must be cut up separately, then all be mixed. The vegetables or vegetable and meat or fish must be well seasoned with salt and pepper and if liked there may be added Q little minced onion, chives. parsley, chervil or green pepper finely minced. The hash must be moistened little with meat broth, milk or water-not more than half cup for quart of hash.
 When the hash is mixed, seasoned and moistened, put a tablespoonful of butter or savory drippings in frying pan. When this is melted put in the hash and spread Avenly and lightly in the pan Over this put little dots of butter or savory drippings, using about one table spoonful in all. Cover the pan and place where the hash will not burn, but where tho heat is fairly good and cook half an hour, then fold and turn on a hot plat ter. rich brown crust will have formed on the bottom of the hash if the heat was sufficient. Serve it hot. and on heated plates.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
To Export Stock

To work out plans for increasing the expectation of pure-bred breeding stock from the United States to South America, David Harrell and H. P. Morgan of the bureau of markets will go to South Amer lea as representatives of the United States Department of Agriculture. They recently conferred in Chicago with sec retaries of various breeding associations, Secretaries representing all breeds of hocs and all but two of cattle attended.' Ways and means of stimulating interest among South American stock raisers in inportations of pure-bred stock from this country were discussed. It was planned to send a shipment of hogs to South American live stock shows. This plan, it is believed. is one of the best ways of introducing to South American stock raiseIs the quality of animals now e~- ing grown in the United states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Buttermilk Day

July 1 Is national buttermiIk day But termilk, the United States Department of Agriculture thinks, IS one of the best drinks buttermilk regularly and copiously and full of zest and vim The man who drinks buttermilk regularly and copiously is doing a good turn for himself. That is one of the purposes of proclaiming na- ticnal buttermiIk Galy. The other is that the dairy industry of the United States will be encouraged.
 Buttermilk day, it is hoped, will remind many people of this drink, introduce it to others, and be the beginning of a greater consumption of buttermilk that will contribute to the health and happi- ness of the consumers and at the same time help dairy farmers to develop pro- drction.
 To insure an ample supply of buttermilk both for homes and for hotels and res taurants on July 1, the Department of Agriculture requests creameries, milk plants and other dairy establishments to co operate in the plan to popularize the drink.
 It is pointed out that while straight buttermilk is an excellent drink, there are a number of delicious combinations Butternilk lemonade is obtained by ado ing the juice of two or three lemons to a quart of buttermilk, with sugar to taste. Buttermilk may be combined with lemon juice, orange juice or eggs and sugar for making frozen dainties,
 Aside from it's food and beverage quail tiles, buttermiIk is said to possess med icaI qualities. Many physicians pre- scribe it in the treatment of certan in testnal disorders. The bacteria that brings about the chemical change by W hich buttermilk is produced is believed by many physicians and bacteriologsts to destroy certain other organisms that in the human body, tend to hasten sen iutv Many prominent men drink butter milk regularly as a tonic. One of the most widely known lecturers and writers ir the United States drink buttermilk as regularly as he brushes his teeth and declares that he feels himself get ung younger with every glassful.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Guard Against Rats

The greatest wheat crop ever produced in America will soon be harvested Grain elevators will soon become veritable treasuries which thieving rats and mice will break into if they can.
 Don't feed s2 26 wheat to rats and mice. Traps, poison and rat-proof construction will stop their raids.
 The arch enemies of stored grain are dampness and rodent pests-rats and mice. An elevator with a leaky roof is only little worse than one allowing free entry to rats and mice. The present price of wheat makes a telling appeal for rat-proof construction of wheat con- tainers. Now is the time to fill rat holes with cement or cover them with sheet aries of either concrete or galvanized sheet iron.
 Where rats and mice have plenty of food and are unmolested they multiply overwhelmingly. For example, in Aus tralia. during the great war. sacks of wheat stacked in high piles awaiting shipment. became infested by mice which . riddled the sacks and destroyed large part of the contents before preventive steps were taken. Under similar circum- stances a like result would inevitably occur in this country. Where it is inn practicable to provide tight containers for stored products steps should be taken immediately to trap or poison rats and mice in the general vicinity of storage buildings, and should be continued till the last bushel is disposed of.
 The United States Department of Agri- culture furnishes plans and bills of ma terials for rat-proof granaries, and in its Farmers Bulletin S96 described va rious methods of destroying rats and mice. These publications may be had free on appli cation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Watching Potato Crop

Lionell Tisdale, farm assistant in the plant disease survey of the United States Department of Agriculture. is making survey of the state for the purpose Of locating any Irish potatoes attacked by wart disease. The Alabama experiment sttion and the United States Department of Agriculture are cooperating in the effort to keep out of Alabama this dread ed scourge of the industry in Europe It is known that in 1912 shipment from foreign countries, where the disease was known to exist, entered the United States and that some of these potatoes were shipped into Alabama and sold at Bir- mingham, Huntsville and Mobile.
 A thorough search on the truck farms of Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia coun- ties, and in the gardens in the farm dis tricts of Mobile, did not reveal the pres ence of this disease, however. Where farmers had not selected or treated their seed potatoes, there was a general pres ence of scab, but no wart was discov- cred However, one grower of foreign birth about five miles from the city of Mobile was familiar with the disease in Europe and realized how serious it might become if found here.
 The wholesale produce companies in Mobile are cooperating in the lookout for this disease, and the Alabama experi- mont station at Auburn will be promptly notified in case any warty tubers are To- cated MT. Tfsdale's further investiga- ton this week will be conducted in Tus- kegee, Selma, Demopolis. York. Tusca- loosa and Birmingham. at which later place he will confer with the commission men.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
MARKETING NEW POTATOES

Southern patoto growers can prevent much of the losses of the new crop in transit and in the markets by avoiding cutting and bruising the tubers in the field and by not allowing the potatoes to remain exposed to the sun after digging. These suggestions are given in Farmers Bulletin 105O, soon to be published by the United States department of agri- culture. on handling and loading new po- tatoes.
 Careful grading win increase the grow CTS profits, the circular adds, and will make sure and more constant market l. is important to Keep the skin, the pro- tecting cover of the potato, intact. In handling new potatoes this requiTes great care. Cars should be loaded according to a definite plan, which provides for ventilation and prevents shifting about and breakage of the containers.
 The majority of fungous diseases that cause decay of potatoes and other vege- tables cannot develop when the skin is free from cuts and bruises, Careful handling is fundamental, therefore. for the prevention of deterioration and waste. In this respect probably no sin- gle factor is equal in importance to proper handling in the field and none is more generally ignored by the average Ioh
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Care in Harvesting Oats

Because of relatively small acreagesl per farm, oats in the south should be allowed to stand until fully ripe; that is until just after the grain passes out of the hard dough stage. However. if the area is small and the cradle is used. the grain may be cut when passing out of the milk stage. as it usually is allowed to cure for a short time in the swath before being bound and placed in shocks.
 Shocking should be done carefully. Too frequently little or no attention Is given to the method of shocking. and in the event of storms and rainy weather much of the grain Is damaged. whereas if the shocks had been we'll built and properly capped little damage would have occurred, Where frequent rains interfere with the curing of the oats in the shock. it is ad- vised that shock covers be used if poe sible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
SACKS DON'T PROTECT

Although sacks are used extensively for shipping storage potatoes. they do not sufficiently protect new potatoes from cuts and bruises and make adequate ventilation difficult. However, sacks cost less than barrels and are frequently used. Sacks should not be of greater capacity than tO pounds In loading sacked potatoes, set them upright, one- half of the sacks leaning against one side Of the car and the other half against the other side. thus leaving V-shaped space in the center for ventilation. Two layers of sacks may be placed on top of these, being placed flat with the ends toward the side of the car
 Hampers are not suitable packages for potatoes, for as a rule they are not suf- ficiently strong. If hampers must be used, they should be loaded on end with alternate baskets inverted. Well-built crates have been used with success.
 Good types of ventilated box cars and stock cars are suitable for shipping new potatoes. When the tubers are sound and of good quality. 5000 pounds is q safe load. Double-deck stock cars are used in some sections and can be safely loaded by placing one solid layer of sacks or barrels standing upright on each deck. If stock cars are used, 1t Is ad- building paper to protect from sun and weather. The net weight or dry meas ure should be marked on sll containers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Muscadine Paste

All kinds of fruits make delicious pastes which are more wholesome than candy and which may be served in it's place. One of the best favored varieties of fruit paste is made from the Muscadine grape. When these grapes are available the wise hcusekeeper uses some for that purpose. The pulp left when making jelly or grape juice furnishes an ideal basis for the paste Full directions on how to make it and different ways to utilize it may be had by writing the United States De- partment of Agriculture, Washington, ID. C., for Bulletin No. 10S3
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
Pittsyiew Hogs

The last hog sale of the season has re- gently been held by the Pittsview Live Stock association. L. H. Boykin. sales manager. Two carloads, consisting of 131 head, were sold to the Eufaula Products company, 17N cents being paid for the tops L. T. Wells, assistant in market ing of the Alabama extension service at Auburn. graded the hogs and conducted the sale.
 W.>R Turnipseed. the county demon stration agent, states this is the last sale of hogs from this point, approximately ss1, 900 having been distributed among the farmers adjacent to Pittsview from these sales. The sale in November. 1913. was the first ever organized in the county.
 The hog sale was the occasion fors an immense barbecue. to which everyone turned out and which proved most en- 3oYable and succeasful occasien-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-26
SHOULD GRADE PRODUCT

Ungraded and poorly graded stock also causes heavy losses. The dealer who buys ungraded potatoes either has to sell them at a lower price than well graded stock will bring, or he mast grade them himself In either case he pays the grower less. The grower would further his own interests by grading his potatoes securing a higher price for the good grades and feeding the culls to live stock Grading should not only consider size, but should eliminate all which are cut, bruised or diseased.N
 As a result of extensive investigations conducted by the department of agri- culture at the more important shipping points in the south and at northern mar 11et centers, the investigators recom- mend the double headed ventilated bar rel as the most satisfactory package for