davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02
Old Ribbons Made New

Ribbons cost two to three times what they formerly did, and the life of Alice hair ribbon seems very short these days to her thrifty mother. No matter how fresh and dainty the dress of a little girl, if it is topped with a soiled and wrinkled hair ribbon her whole appearance is spoiled. In one of a series of thrift leaflets issued jointly by the United States department of agriculture and the United States treasury, directions which will leave the fabric looking like new are given for cleaning ribbons.
 Spread the ribbon flat on smooth, hard surface, such as table top or a marble slab. With a sponge or soft brush go over it with lukewarm water in which little mild soap has been dis solved. With hair ribbons, if the DOT ton which comes in contact with the hair is greasy and the stains difficult to re- move. dip brush in little ammonia water and rub that portion of the ribbon. Rinse the ribbon by holding it stretched between the hands and passing 1t through a bowl of clear. lukewarm water.
 Do not wiring or crease, put ory py spreading it out straight and flat on smooth, hard surface. Particular care should be taken with the edges Of the ribbon in order to make them as straight as when new. Draw the hand gently over the ribbon to press out air bubbles which may have formed under it, and which will make it appear "blistered" when dry.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02
NARROW-LEAF VETCH

and sometimes makes up consideraoie
 portion of the hay The United States
 department of agriculture anticipates
 that this species of vetch will be more
 largely grown in the future. Recently
 a variety that does not shatter it's seed
 so easily and hence is suitable for pro-
 duction as a commercial seed crop has
 been discovered
 Peculiarly enough, many northern wheat fields, particularly those in Min nesota, are contaminated with annual visitations of narrow-leaf vetch, which, in this section, bears the reputation of weed. THis seed is separated from wheat and other small grains and is disposed of as a waste product or screening. AL though much of this waste seed has been utilized in commercial stock feeds, a considerable portion has been exported to the southern states and offered there as seed on the open market.
 | Southern farmers, in many instances, l object to northern vetch seed because of l it's generaus contest of cookie. Some also question whether the vitality and vigor of the northern vetch when grown on southern soils are as marked and not able as those of the native vetch va rieties The department of agriculture is now Investigating the adaptability or the northern vetch seed, reclaimed in wheat milling, for use on southern pas-
 lures and sods.
 It is possible and practicable to save the native narrow-leaf vetch seed of the south for subsequent sowing operations but this is expensive However, the seed of the new variety of vetch which does not shatter so easily should to large extent solve the problem.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02
Malady Among Horses

An outbreak of what is commonly called the Kansas horse disease has taken place in western Kansas and east err Colorado within recent weeks, caus- ing the loss of several hundred horses With the reappearance of this malady. which veterinarians designate as forage poisoning, or cerebrospinal meningitis. representatives of the bureau of animal industry and the Colorado Agricultural college began a vigorous campaign. which it is believed has effectively checked the epidemic. The fact that in the outbreak in 1912 Kansas lost some 20,- 000 horses indicates the serious possi- bilities of such an occurrence and the value of speedy protective measures such as the federal and state experts have taken.
 The cause of this disease is not deti- nitely known. but it is believed to be due to eating some form of fungous growth. In response to questions in behalf of the farmers and others whose animals have been stricken, the bureau of animal in dustry has sent out a number. of tele- grams informing owners that work horse } in the afflicted areas should not be per mitted to graze, and far as possibl ls they should receive only hay and gtaih rations from last years crops Horses in pastures should be removed to barns or dry-feed lots, and should likewise beg fed only hay and grain rations from last years crop.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02
Soy Bean in the Orient

No single vegetable product has de-
 as the soy bean. It's products are used at home as a food as a fertilizer and for lighting and Iubricating purposes, and are exported as oil and bean cake
 As food it is the principal ingredient of soy sauce, bean curd and steamed beans. The bean cake. containing a high percentage of nitrogen, is a valuable fertilizer and is used extensively in Japan, and recently bean oil temporarily replaced petroleum for lighting in China when lack of shipping facilities kept that product off the market. The center of
 soy bean production is Manchuria, and Japan is the chief crusher and producer Of oil and cake, though the manufac- ture of bean oil and cake is also very important industry at Dairen Kwang- tung leased territory. Mukden is the cen ter of the bean trade and the beans are
 there bought for cash from the farm CTS.
 Formerly good deal of the export trade was done though Harbin and V1adivostok, but recent political condi- tions have diverted practically all of this
 trade southward Newchang and Aftung handle a small proportion of the trade,
 but, being ice-bound most of the win ter, their combined tonnage amounts to
 
 Shanghai and Kaochow are other Chi nese centers for bean oil, while the Kobe district in Japan, is the most impor- l tant oil mill center in the far east. | Tn China soy beans are generally plant | ed early in June and harvested the i7ess@ ! dle of September, although three minor varieties are planted in April and har- vested in July. There are 19 kinds of soy beans cultivated in China, but those cultivated for oil are known as the Eighth Month White bean and the Water White bean. These are generally rotated 1 with winter crops of wheat, barley and rape, which are harvested some weeks before the beans are planted. Seeds are | broadcasted and turned under in care
 fully prepared beds and then replanted,
 generally in about 10 days. No fertilizer | is required for soy beans, the roots of
 the plant gathering nitrogen from the soil. The native farmer, while not under standing the scientific reason, knows I from experience that beans grow well
 without fertilizer, and that fields that ! have been planted with beans are more productive than other fields Thus cot
 ton is often planted one spring and beans
 the next, although wheat is always the
 wynter crop. With an abundance Of cheap fertilizer no definite rotation of
 crops is attempted. Wedding is done
 frequently, especially after the rainy
 season, and the wthered weeds are used
 to fertilize other fields.
 Harvesting is done by hand The bean stalk is uprooted, dried and then thrashed by bamboo flail or by beating on stone. | After this the beans are sifted through a large bamboo basket and dried in the
 sun on mating for several days. They
 are then bagged for transportation to the
 oil mills. Under normal conditions the yield of oil beans is 200 pounds per mow
 (0.2 acre). and the wholesale price Is
 about $ per 100 pounds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02
Freshly Harvested Wheat

Frequently only small percentage of freshly harvested winter wheat gerrni- mates readily under the conditions ordi- nairly used in making the termination tests even though it would germinate well under these same conditions a few weeks later In sections Of the country where farmers depend upon wheat from the current crop for the fall sowing the poor germinaton secured with the fresh grain has made it difficult for seed analysts to give accurate information as to Inequality of winter wheat offered for seedin time for this information to be of service.
 In a recent investigation by the seed laboratory of the United States depart ment of agriculture it has been found that this difficulty can be almost en- tirely overcome, even with wheat taken from standing plants and never allowed to dry out, by the use of lower tenn perature than has been customary for making the germination tests. Thus. of 16 samples of freshly harvested wheat an average of 99 per cent began to ger minate in five days at temperatures from 9 degrees to 16 degrees . (4S degrees to 61 degrees FO whereas in the same time an average of only S6 per cent germi- mated at % degrees c (72 degrees FO. which is about the temperature at which germination tests of wheat are frequent ly made. In the case of one lot 9s per cent were germinating at the end of five days at 12 degrees c (54 degrees F). and only IS per cent at 9 degrees c C2 de- grees FO. About 15 degrees c (59 degrees FD is recommended for use in making germination tests of all freshly harvest ed wheat. Of course at this temperature the rate of growth is slow after germina- ton has begun.
 This method of treatment was equally successful with fresh samples of spring wheat and gave good results also with oats and barley.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02
Farm Terracing

me owner of large farm in PennsIy1 vania, on which one of the first attennts s at terracing in the north Atlantic states astic about the benefits of this work de mas asked that the drainage division Of the bureau of public roads limited states department of agriculture which supervised the project aid in extendin . the terracing this fall
 This sort of rural engineering is new Tn the region, and the low ridges at va rlous levels on the sloping fields of this; farm have occasioned the liveliest inter- est in the whole district. Terracing od various types has been practiced jl parts Of the south for number of yea put in many sections of the north great advantages are little understoo, Consequently, the bureau is particularly interested in this demonstration of ths permanent value Of terracing on this farm.
 The bureau points out that the washinx Y away of earth by water costs the farm CTS of the United States approxiratelv sl,OOO,o00 every year. Soil losses from this cause occur in every state of the union and In almost every country of every state. Terracing is the most ef- fective method of prevention.
 There are two types of terraces-the
 NSAi ioSC anu tie TiQSe terrace. A held Of bench terraces resembles a series or benches or a flight of steps. Ridge terraces, as the name implies, are sim ply ridges of earth thrown up across the slopes or hllsides. Ridge terraces are divided into two classes with respect to width and base, narrow base and the broad base. A broad base is the most recent type of the two, and as yet has been used in only a few localities. How ever, it is rapidly coming into general use and is taking the place of the nar- row base because of it's superiority for most, if not all, conditions. This is the type on the Pennsylvania farm. Its chief advantage lies in the fact that it can be readily crossed by large farm machin- cry, and therefore it does not interfere with the usual farm operations. The broad embankment of earth gives the ter race strength to withstand the pressure of water and prevents breaks due te Seepage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02
Farm Acreage Values

- The farmers of the United States in creased their acreage about 10 per cent during the war period and received an increase of approximately 12o per cent for their output.
 These figures. the result of a compila- ton by the National City bank of New 1. York, are based upon the official rec cords of the department of agriculture, showing the acreage and farm value on December 1 of the 10 principal crops of the United States. wheat, corn, oats, bar ley, rye, rice, potatoes, tobacco, hay and cotton, grown in the United States in -- the calendar years 1914 and 1918.
 The area devoted to those 10 principal crops in 1914 was, according to the bank s Compilation, 297,0o0 900 acres, and in 1918 326 0O0,0OO, an increase of approximately TO per cent and the farm value of the 10 crops on December l, 1914, was $4,933,- OO00o0 and on December l, 1918, was Sl0,- e34, ,O00,O00 an increase of about 121 per - ~cent Of all farm products, the depart ment of agriculture puts the value, based on prices at the farm" at $9,S95 0oO, ,Oo0 in 1914, and s21, ,5S6, GOO GOO in 1918, an in- crease Approximately 115 per cent. The --increase in value of animals and animal /: -products" is about 90 per cent, and of san crops 132 per cent increase, compar- . Ting 1918 with 1914
 The quantities of the chief crops turned out showed a much less increase than that of the acreage cultivated. The area devoted to wheat grew from 53,oH, ,oOO acres in 1914 to 59.1l0,000 in 1918, but the crop only increased from S91, 900 bush -e els in 1914 to 917000000 in 1918. The corn area was 103, 4S5, 600 acres in 1914 and 107.- --494000 in 1918, but the crop fell from 2,- 673 O00.O0O bushels in 1914 to 2,5S3, ,0000 900 in 1918, though the crop of 1917 made the highest record in the history of that crop, S.o65, ,OO0 GOO bushels The farm value of the wheat crop, however grew from Ss7s. .sS0 GOO in 1914 to $1S74.623,000 in 1918; that of corn from sl, ,722, GOO in 1914 to ----ss. .52s oo0000 in 1918. The farm value on December 1 of wheat is stated by the department of agriculture at sS.6c per bushel in 1914 and SPA per bushel in 1918; that of corn at 64 4c in 1914 and sl S6 per bushel in 1918
 Cotton shows a decline in both acre age and production, but marked in crease in value of the crop. The 1914 cnop shows s. 8S2, 900 acres and 16135,o0 bales with a farm value on December of but s549 900. The 1918 crop shows 5,sso00o acres and only 11,70o,00o bales, but with farm value on December l of s1,s16 207, 900. The farm value on De- cennber l. as given by the department Of agriculture figures, was in 1914 but 6.Sc per pound and in 1918 was 27.6c per pound.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02

Cucumbers, when in season, are usually cheap-much cheaper than corn, beans or peas-but the average family grows tired of them served raw and so by early fall comparatively few are being eaten in American homes. Not many American housekeepers know their possibilities as a cooked vegetable, but in other coun- tries they are used in the same way as are eggplant, squash and corn. They have a flavor all their own and afford a pleasant change in the diet
 The following recipes have been taken largely from foreign cookbooks and are favorites of housewives of other coun- tries. They have been tested by United States department of agriculture home economies specialists. Some day, when there are more cucumbers on the vines than can be used for pickles or in the You may find that your family will like them baked, boiled or friend as we'll as do the Swiss or the French.
 Garnish for fish and Meats-Peel and cut a large cucumber in pieces about inches long. Scoop out one end. Fill with meat or fish sauce and use as gar nish and serve one with each portion of meat. The sauce and cucumber. eaten with the meat. makes good relish.
 Bdheu CuOumDeTS-CS SoIlu cuCuHi- bers of the same size. Peel and cut lengthwise, scooping out the inside care fully and leaving the shell one-quarter to one-half inch in thickness. To four cucumbers use: 1 cup bread crumbs, tablespoon butter, teaspoons salt, ? tea spoons onion finely chopped. pepper, the part of the cucumber scooped out. I If seds are large, do not use the seed,
 part. Fill cucumbers, sprinkle some but tered bread crumbs on top. Bake unti tender-about % minutes in moderate oven.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02
Delinted Seed Best

Pay 10 cents an acreage to "reg1n" or lint your cotton seed this fall and it will insure an even, quick growing stand or cotton, according to F. D. Cottrell, Az ricultural college, Mississippi.
 Preparation should be made this sum mer to see that a inter is placed in every community; make arrangements to have your planting seed Tinted this fall. See to it that proper care will be taken by your oil mill to cut 120 pounds of lint per ton and have them guaran- tee to clean the machine thoroughly between customers runs to prevent mix ing of seed.
 Where there is no oil mill in your com munity you should get good centrally located gin to put in Inter equipment
 Reginned or Tinted seed insures a stand of cotton, as it increases the germina- tion in some varieties over 100 per cent It terminates in half the time of that or gin run seed and comes up more uni formly. As the seeds germinate at the same time they have force enough to break the crust all along the entire row and this allows all the plants to come up. The gin run seed come through un- evenly and do not exert enough pressure
 to break the crust and thus cause many
 plants to die under the crust, This one advantage for reginned or Tinted seed will cut down half the cost of early har- rowing to bring the crop up. some oi the planters have narrowed their entire crop two and three times this year. Reginned seed will also insure stand | if dry weather sets in during planting time. The surplus lint being taken off nermits the seed, which absorbs any moisture present, and makes quick ger imitation even with dry conditions pre- vailing.
 The removal of most of the lint from
 the seed and all the trash and hulls being taken out permits of an even, regular flow of seed through the planter With no
 clogging of the machine
 Quick examination of reginned or lint ed seed allows at least weeks later planting with safety. When seasons are backward the planting of reginned seed will insure a crop In good crop sea- sons it will permit of a more thorough
 seed bed preparation. It will also help to combat the boil weevil by its qumlck germination and the ability to produce stronger, quicker and earlier growing plants.-Cotton Seed Oil Magazine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02
Gen. Pershing's Hose

"Kidron," the horse that General Persh-
 began his career as a laurel wreath col
 lector by getting a quarantine. While
 the great commander is playing the lead
 ing role in triumphal parade in the big
 cities of the country, his war horse is detained, under observation by govern
 ment veterinarians, at Newport News.
 It is not that "Kidron,'' so far as any
 body knows. has any catching disease
 but simply that he may have any equine
 disease, and like every other horse of
 the A. E E, must stay at the port of
 entry for five months, until the govern
 ment veterinarians know that he is safe
 animal to be at large in horse society
 in the United States.
 Naturally, a great many people wanted
 to see General Pershing mounted on the
 horse that carried him over the battle fields of Europe during the last fateful
 days of the worlds greatest war. But there are many millions of horses and horse owners in the United States who. respectfully as they feel toward Kid ron," are entitled to protection from any disease that he may have picked up in Europe, where there are many horse diseases of which the United States has thus far kept clear When the appeal was made, without the knowledge of Gen. eral Pershing, to the department of agrf- culture that an exception be made Of "Kidron," and that he be allowed to come out of quarantine almost immedi- ately after landing. in order that he might be in Washington for the parade on September IT, regretful but firm refusal was the result
 The position taken by the department or agriculture is that, under no circum- stances, can sentiment be permitted to interfere with the protective mea sures that have been worked out slowly and sometimes precariously, for the protec- ton of the live stock interests of the country.
 If "Kidron" were released from quar- antine, he would probably visit scores of cities throughout the country, and if he had disease, might spread it beyond all reasonable possibility of eradication. For those reasons the department thought it wise not to create any sort of favored status for him.
 This is not the first time such situa- ton has occurred. When Gen. Leonard Wood was ready to return from the Philippines, he had two horses that he very much desired to keep with him. The department insisted that safety demand ed their detention. President Roosevelt took a personal interest in the matter, but investigation convinced him of the justice of the departments position, and the horses did not come in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02
Proper Storage An Aid

When it is considered that the value of the sweet potato has increased more than 80 per cent in the last 10 years, that it now ranks second in value among the vegetables in the United States, that the value of the 1917 crop reached the huge sum of $90,o0oo0o, and that of 1918 is estimated at almost s117 900, it is not difficult to understand why so much interest is being taken in this crop. The lowly ptaotoe so long accustomed to com ing to market along with the farmers surplus eggs and chickens and other such products. is now moving in solid car loads to the markets of the north, east and west. Only few years ago sweet potatoes spent their winters in crude and primitive dirt banks in the open field, and under such storage conditions many of them decayed; but now they are stored in specially designed and con- structed storage houses in which it is possible to regulate the temperature and ventilation in such a way that this for merly unstable and perishable product can be marketed with practically no loss at any season of the year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-02
Southern Truck Crops

The outlook for southern truck crop
 production in the spring of 1920 is even
 more promising than that of 1919. This
 statement is made by the United States
 department of agriculture in it's official
 fall farming suggestions. One of the inn
 portant elements in producing this fav-
 orable situation for southern truckers
 is the fact that the potato crop bids fair
 to be32. .266,oO0 bushels short of the 1918
 crop. Southern potato growers, the de-
 partment advises, would do. well to se-
 cure their supply of seed for winter
 and spring planting. while the northern
 harvest is in progress, in order that tub CTS may be secured fro mdisease- free crops.
 Bermuda onion growers have a brighter outlook than has existed during the past two seasons. The estimated autumn har-
 vest of onions is more than ,o0O bush els short of that of last year and more than 100000 bushels short of that of two years ago. With normal distribution and consumption, the competition of north | ern-stored onions with the southern Ser
 muda crop in the spring of 1920 is likely | to be less severe than during the sea son of 1919> or that of 1918. In planning | the acreage for the 1920 harvest, how ever, northern growers should bear in
 mind the fact that severe financial loss resulted at the harvest of 1918 from the l excess acreage planted in the fall of 1 1917.
 The cabbage cnop in the nine northern states in which late summer cabbage is extensively grown bids fair to De the smallest harvested since 1916-almost 20o,- 900 tons less than in 1918 and nearly 100, ,00o tons less than in 1917. The short crops
 of both cabbage and potatoes this season
 more nearly approach the conditions of 1916, when both these vegetables were scarcer and higher than in any other year during the past decade.
 Southern cabbage growers will there ! fore do we'll" the department of agri- culture concludes, Ito provide ample seed beds from which to plant an acreage sufficient. in measure, to make up the deficiency which will exist in those mar
 kets where stored cabbage usually plays an important part"