davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16
Potato Crop Is Short


The late commercial potato crop now
for the first time receives separate
report by the bureau of crop estimates,
United States department of agriculture.
For the date of September l the condi-
ton of this crop indicates yield OF
12351S carloads, or considerably below
the estimate for the same month last
year, I4604S carloads. Late potatoes raised
for local supply and all other late pota-
toes not entering distribution by car
loads are not included in these estl-
mates. One carload equals 700 bushels.
In nearly every state the production Oh
the late commercial crop of potatoes
fall below that of last year. Pennsyi-
vania is a prominent exception, with a
gain of 1890 carloads over last year, ana
yet that state produces, this year, less
than 6 per cent of the total of all states
Main has prospect of 24.4S carloa is,
Minnesota $4,000, Wisconsin 20so0, Mlchl-
gan 1925, Colorado 10.0S0 New York
1870 Pennsylvania $3.50 and Idaho 6Sh
carloads.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16
Good Corn Seed

This years corn, over most of the
United tSates, is good corn the kind of
corn that man can plant with great
est assurance of getting a good crop.
There is no knowing what next year Is
corn will be. 1t may be late. caught by
early frosts, soft, and unfit for seed. The
farmer who looks ahead, say corn ex-
perts will save enough seed corn out
of this crop to meet his needs for two,
or better still, for three years.
The old cry. of course, will be raised
that there is not time at this busy season
to select seed corn even for one year
planting. to say nothing of two or three.
II does take time. but it takes, less time
to select the corn now than it will take
spring after next TO scour the country
for crib of old corn or failing that.
TO find seed further south. Fortunately.
the right way is the least expensive and
safest way. Also, it enables the farmer
to go on growing the strain of corn that
has made good instead of getting
something hazard that he knows
nothing about.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16
Menace of Animal TB

of the most important ooJec.iSe
oa,nnaign against tuberclosls
M -. atfle which is sometimes
anu in the agitation ergaralne ~
looNeu -, disease on stock ITSELF Is nc
eiiee' n;o,,s menace which tupercul .: az
- are 10 the public heath. -.
80 in particular. are great suiAei
80, this source of infection. .,,,,,-
According to the best authorllles ato,,t
c,,losis of bovine origin req t,,herc1l-
:, -. cent of all the cases OF tu
= pe - children under years OIL as
$50 x+sir tvpes Of the disease II Il -
" sara hut taking the tupercunous
.a az a whole. about one case ~ ~,
% rbi,d under years acquires u,
,,ar.,losis from cattle. 1t IS es'il.les sim ~
4,sa+ in New York city oetWeeii -.
-, csnt of the children thal uie III ~
ritals yearly of tuberculosiS W. .,,oritie.
tine tuberculosis Meuical nean very
,,ain4 ont that the country mas AZ
poi =. annrecjate the greatness OIL 'i,'
az bnvine tuberculosis III Ont'
r,lis need for greater proteeeioi
~ human beings. particularly cl' l,,ir,;.
80, tbe dangers of bovine tupeI o1ios'.
y a,e of the things strongly eihpl.aSl l...:
-, the United states eparlnnehl "a i,oa
culture in its campaign asaii9'
cattle. in which the
,.ga c.n be eliminated. one IS -
a,se ,sra mai the milk is free from tuoercl'
hs s whensit is produced and the osn ne
:. ~ destroy the tubercle oaelili Piese
= ~. nix The department of agrleui
f s = experts point out that the pup r,
should accept the statement tnae Iii ui4,
mon held is free from 'upe 1asl +hebe i,
a great deal of caution uitese ,1ir tas
80 evidence that the tubercuiin ties
a aas been applied and applied frequently
49, 1entees the milk which comes from TN
herd is in fact free fro mthe tupeleulosn
!, shold be pasteurized Furtnerlnoi'
eternal vigilance is necessary 10 nIai
~ ,ronar manner. otherwise the puoll
Consuming the milk is subject TO grea
danger because it is acting on the as IS
sumption that it has been proeee'eu y
nroper Dissemination.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16
Buy-a-Fence Campaign

With view to effectng practicat
inaprovement in the value and the ap-
pearance of the farms, tive-day BUY
a-fence' campaign was recently conduct
ed throughout the rural districts of Mis-
sissippi. This novel drive was Joined
in by local representatives of the de-
partment of agriculture. state agricul-
tural college and other organizations ana
agencies. Elaborate plans for promoting
the campaign were worked out in adj
vance, including the organization IN each
county of committee whose duty IL was
TO spread the gospel of better fences me
his, saving to forage crops resulting from
better fences was pointed out, likewise
the labor saved in caring for I'VE STOCK
to prevent overlooking. An appeal was
also made for fields and homesteads that
appear well cared for
Good as We're the immediate results OF
the campaign, it is believed that the
nermanent benefits will be equally large
in that it concentrated attention on the
fence question and is expected 10 pro-
n-ote greater interest in tins important
feature of farm Improvements.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16

and towns also use ties, but unless the
distance to town is short it will not pay
to ship them. Electric interurban lines
offer the same opportunity for dispos-
ing of ties as do the steam roads. Tele-
graph and telephone lines are always on
the market for poles. Electric power and
electric street railway companies also
use poles.
The market for piling is not very extern
sive, but railroads. large construction
firms and docking companies purchase
considerable quantities. Piling timbers,
which must be straight and long, bring
good prices. Mines are large users OF
timber.
Sawmills, veneer mills and fruit and
vegetable package factories offer mar
ket for the particular kinds and quail
ties of the woods they handle. These
industries buy their material in log form
and all the farmer needs to do is to cut
and deliver his timber in the rough to
the mill Veneer logs must be of good
quality and usually 16 inches and over
| in diameter. Selecter stock brings high
price.
| The forest service has prepared bulle-
tins on the wood-using industries OF a
number of states which tell the uses to
| which various woods put and the
quantity used annually for each pur-
pose. A list of these bulletins and infof-
! nation as to how to procure them may
be had upon application to the tofesl
| Service Washington. d. c.
| The way in which farm forest products
are sold may have a good deal to do win
the profit an owner gets from his tract.
There are four ways of selling: % BY
/ scale measurement of rough products
! f2) bv the piece, for such products as
! ties and poles, (3) by the boundary, 1of
a lump sum, and (D by lumber scale OF
sawed products.
| Selling by the log or piece is the SIM
nlest method. Ties, poles, piling, ETC., are
always sold by the piece, The imhortall'
things to know are the different grades
Of each product and their relative Nalue,
Fire wood pulp wood and excelsior Wooo
are sold either by the cord or rick. inns
too. is comparatively simple methoo
of marketing To be sure of selling pront-
ably by boundary for lump sum tnt
owner must make very carefui estlmaee
| of the amount and value OF his tlmper.
| In the majority of cases the pest TIME
TO cut timber is in the winter months
Winter cut timber seasons slowly ane
evenly. and by the time the warm Weatn
or comes is air dried. Products Whlcf
must be peeled, however, such as tes
noles. and tan bark, should be cut II
the spring, when the bark peels mos
easily Veneer logs can be cut IN any
i season of the year, provided they are de
livered without long delay after oelns
ont. and the ends are painted to avole
rapid drying and checking of the Wooa
| pulp wood and tannin extract WOOD MAJ
be cut and shipped at any season
the year.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16
Cholera Germs

Along the suggestions made by the
United States department of agriculture
to minimize the danger of introducing
hog cholera germs are the following
Hog houses. lots and pastures should
be located away from streams and public
highways, and the houses and lots
should be arranged SO that they may be
cleaned and disinfected readily They
should be exposed as far as possible to
sunlight. which is the cheapest and one of
the best disinfectants. Hog lots should
not be used for yardng wagons and farm
implements and should not be entered
with teams and wagon. particularly when
loading stock for shipment to market and
when returning from stockyards and
public highways. No one should be al
lowed to enter hog lots unless there is
assurance that he does not carry nfec-
ton. Farmers and their help should
disinfect their shoes before entering hog
lots after returning from public yards,
sales and neighboring farms.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16
BY MRS. JOHN c. MOSES.
Mississippi City, Miss.

Essentials of hen happiness during the
winter season include warm houses,
plenty of varied food access to a coy,
comfortable run during pleasant weather
and assurance of proper and experienced
attention on the part of the poultry
man.
To obtain good results from a flock Of
poultry during the winter all houses and
coops should be in good condition, only
healthy fowls should be kept in the
flock and they should be given the max
imum of care and attention. Houses
should be thoroughly clean, disinfected
and made draft-proof, preparatory to the
reception of the flock. If they have
earth floors it is advisable to remove
the top three or four inches of earth
and replace this with fresh clean earth
If the floors are of cement all the dirt
and litter should be removed and from
four to five inches of fresh straw litter
should be provided
1t is highly essential that the hen
dwellings be alright on three sides 50
that there is no opportunity for a draft
to strike the hens as where hens roosts
are placed in a draft during the fall
and winter, colds are almost certain to
develop and may result in roup and
other troubles. From one-third TO one
half of the south side. or front. of a poul-
try house may be made of curtains and
WINDOWS, DuI SnOutu De 81 tOliSbi uNlCN
that the openings may be closed gradual
| ly as the weather becomes cold. Have
muslin curtains in the front of the house
| or leave a window partly open even on
the coolest night to provide for ventila-
ton Fowls are able to Withstand con
siderable cold air if it is dry, and ven
tilation will keep the air thoroughly dry
| in the house.
| The prime essentials in poultry house
are fresh air. dryness, sunlight, conVen-
fence and space enough to keep the BIRDS
comfortable. The house should be located
where there is good water and air drain
age 1t should face the south or souh-
| east From three to four square feel
| of floor space should be allowed for eacf
hen if possible Provide one nest fol
every four or five hens.
A simple poultry house 10 feet by I
feet, which will accommodate about d
lhens. can be constructed with reason
liable amount of lumber. The house has
one-half of the front open, but two
section curtain of burlap or thin muslin
(which can be closed, should be USED OF
the inside to close the opening on coll
nights In case the ground is dam
t If viii be essential to add a board floor
otherwise an earth floor elevated a feN
inches above the ground level VIII 20
satisfactory If desired cement 100
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16

A source of regular income laying at
the door of many farmer but too often
neglected, is the farm woodland. With
increasing scarcity of lumber, and with
forest products, proper care of the wood
ed area on the farm will amply repay the
farmer
10 secure fair price for his timber
the owner should know how much ma
terial he has and for what purposes it
is best adapted The first thing for him
to do, according to the forest service of
the United States department of agri-
culture, is to find out how much tim
Der OF each kind the woodland contains,
what products it will yield, and what
is its general condition and quality.
II the wooded area is small it will be
| pest TO measure each tree separately
The diameter should be measured at
about four and half feet above the
ground with calipers made for the pur-
pose. Heights should be carefully esti-
mated or measured with some sort OF
height instrument to the first large lin BIS
knowing the diameter and height. the
amount of timber in board feet in each
/ three can be found by the use of volume
ia bles, Such tables are included in Farm.
ers Bulletin rs, Measuring and Mar.
keting Wood-lot Products which will
be sent free on application to the Depart.
lItSHe ols Agriculture, washington, ID. &
The quantity of cordwood a tract will
/ yield can hardly be estimated by an in.
experienced person. Sales Of such ma.
terial will usually have to be made OF
the basis of actual cut
! If the woodland is large it will. Of
/ course, seldom be possible to measure
each tree separately. In such case.
every tree may be measured on parable
strips &c feet wide running through the
tract. Every $50 feet in length of sucl
strips comprises an acre. Averaging al
the acres comprised in the strips ant
multiplying by the total acreage of tn.
tract wives the total stand The strip.
should include at least 10 per cent O.
the woodland. Proper allowance mus
also be made for defective timber. Deat
! trees, except those killed by fire or othe
outside agencies, are apt to be very de
fective and should be culled. When ;
tract is exceptionally large, it may pa,
to employ professional Cruiser" to es
innate the timber
If the owner depends altogether upol
local industries to buy his product, h
is likely to find his market extremel,
limited. Some products such as cross
ties and fuel wood, have to be sold 10
cally. 1t would not pay to transport Their
far. But other products, among Their
tan bark, can be shipped $50 miles, an
still Others, like walnut timber for gun
stocks, can be shipped almost any dis
lance.
Railroads are the largest purchasers o
crossties. Any station agent will fur
nish information concerning specification
and prices. Electric railways in cite
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16
Labor-Saving Machinery

The more general utilization Of labor
saving farm machinery and the construc-
uon OF farm buildings by the most eff
lcIent and economic methods are matters
of prime Importance to farmers at this
time of scarcity of labor and high price
of building materials. To assist farmers
in every part of the state in both of
these matters, the extension service has
recently secured the services of an ex-
perienced agricultural engineer, thus
filling the position which had remained
vacant since Prof. r. U. Blasingame left
Alabama for more lucrative employment
in the same line of work in Pennsyl-
vania. The long search for a suitable
man has been justified since it resulted
in securing the services of Prof M. L.
Nichols, who recently served in the
same capacity in the extension service
in Virginia
Professor Nichols is a graduate of the
Ohio State university. where he was as
sistant for three years. He comes to his
speciality of agricultural engineering
+ through the school of farm experience
as well by extensive contact with
manufacturing and commercial problems.
| Professor Nichols is also in charge of
the teaching department of agricultural
engineering in the Alabama Polytechnic
institute, in which department plans for
enlargement and increased number OF
courses for students have been made.
He is accustomed to working with and
through county demonstration agents, and
farmers who desire his services should
when practicable, send their requests
through county agents, so that when he
i visits farms in any part of the state to
give practical help in planning build
lngs or in any other engineering work he
may be able to help at least several farm
ers on the same trip.
he ff III Oh, h.
poses to develop as soon as practicable
are the holding of short courses in diff
ferent parts of the state for teaching tc
| tractor owners and their employees the
best methods of operating and caring
for tractors Later announcement will
be made of the first of these tractor
schools.
Plans and drawings of needed farm
buildings will be prepared free, as a part
of the means by which the extension ser
vice is endeavoring to be of assistance
to farmers.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16
Community Work

Announcement was made in May of
the organization of a community boys
agricultural club at Hodges, Route 2,
Marion. county. by returned soldier,
Marvin Davis of the coast artillery. Mr..
Davis, believing that he could render his
community no greater service than by
stimulating an increased. intelligent in
terest in its agricultural development
and progress. decided upon a boys ag-
ricultural club as the medium. and after
securing material and instruction from
the Alabama extension service at Auburn
and the assistance of a successful teach
er and club worker from a neighboring
community, he organized the club.
All during the summer the club has
been in active operation and has stmu-
lated and kept alive agricultural inter-
est. SC that they have just held at Oak
Grove school a most successful county
fair, the first fair of any sort to be
held in Marion county. There were ex-
hibits from the farmers and club men,
bers of corn and pigs, and from their
wives and daughters. quantities of pre-
serves and canned goods.
The Oak Grove school is one-room
building with poor equipment. The COM
munity planned to improve the building
and equipment but has always felt that
it would be impossible to raise the sum
of 800. which would entitle it to state
aid. At this fair, however. the county
superintendent of education took advan-
tage of the spirit and enthusiasm aroused
by the boys agricultural club and made
a strong appeal to the people to improve
the school building at once. AS a re-
suit they got together and within Is
minutes raised $500. which entitled them
to 500 of state money. This 5000 Will
add one room to the school building and
provide some additional equipment.
An active boys club and an energetic
returned soldier in combination is a fine
asset to any community.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16
New Publications

The following publications were issued
by the United States department of ag-
riculture during the past week:
Determining the Age of Cattle by the
Teetc." Farmers Bulletin 1866.
Laws Relating to Fur-Bearing Ami
mails. 1872 Farmers Bulletin 1919
Brood Coops and Appliances" Depart
ment Circular IS.
Management of Growing Chicks" De-
partment Circular II.
Sources of American Potash Depart
ment Circular 81.
Tulip and Narcissus Bulbs in 1919" De-
partment Circular Go.
Suggestions Regarding Fall-Sown
Crops, with Notes on the Live Stock
Situation. 1919 Office of the Secretary
Circular / g..
Better Sires- Better Stock Plan OF
nation wide crusade to improve the quail
ity of live stock through use of good
pure-bred sires. p. A. |. I.SC-4.
Copies of these publications may be
obtained on application to the Division OF
Publications, United States Department
of Agriculture, Washington, D. c.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16
Banishing the Burberry

Iowa cities and towns are practically
free of the barberry, as the municipal
residents have co-operated actively in
exterminating this wheat pest. Hundreds
of barberry plants have been destroyed
on Hawkeye farms as a result of a sys-
tematic search for these menaces by ex-
perts of the department of agriculture.
This drive against the barberry has been
under Roadway in II other upper Missis-
sippi and lake region states Expert
ences in Iowa indicate that the barberry
has been a prolific spreader of black
stem rust, as wherever barberry bushes
were found subsequently the neighbor-
hood fields were badly infested with rust.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-16
Take the "Murphies"
By II. L. JOHNSTON
state Director Moman'S Division


W. IS.
When Tom Brown arrived at the fam
Gus school at Rugby. as a new boy. -
scne generations ago, the delicacy of the
season was the murphy or baked po-
tato. which the English public school
hov devoured in quantities. But Tom $
rev purse and money burned in his
rocket. and the cheap and filling muir
ply" was not for him. with lavish
display of wealth he declined the muir
phies" and entertained his new-found
chums with sumptuous meal That
expenditure may have meant restitution
before the end OF the half year, pu1
rooney in pocket and admrihs l'le''"9
were too much for Tom.
The people OF the United states may
Well take the ''murphies. Inc bla]-
mo nockets of America may yet start
a condensation that will consume the
whole structure Of the nations prosperity
and bring disaster in its wake
The leaders of the nation TO-DAY asIee
that the gravest danger which now con :
fronts the people lies in the posslpie
lontinuance of the present high cost OF
living An orgy of spending, WIG eN-
+r,,-scance 81 '.the reckless expenditure
~ r,one,.-tbese are some of the phrases
r.hich thoughtful leaders use to charac-
terize the present attitude of the amer
ican people toward money Ana theS
~ the people that rigid economy anu
es,in1. are necessary to bring down me
soaring prices of the necessities OF IN rlg
The neople of the United states are .oi-
lowing Tom Browns example ana reIus
f,, 10 he satisfied with the humble i'lul
~, = they say money! is cheap anu
tbev forget that money wiz wv tbe
wavs be cheap. They are alV, ,7 for
tfuiiteer by paying any pilee asNe''
anything they want. 49,. .orev of
Now is the time to END me cor-
.,-o95inp" Now is the time Tor col,
..l.-s ~ fine thrift which the Amerl-
,1so,s both i'm the cities and III tne
e'ii ,,,ssticed 50 effectively TO aio
.'.,r,i1e the war Now is the tiihe
o-en+ the slogan of the THRIFT can
- The savings division OF lne
.. departinent and save hrs'
'.t'l7''' ,.'e,.ry,iardsr Now is the time fof
~ Continued investment OF say -
-. s,a,;uqs Stamps and Treasury %
va l.a,tibnates Now is the TIME "
- savings society and through ors <.i-
80, heein the practice OF sYs.eii l..,,
~ there is not society III 49,
~ ,,.f., form, one. II can be say
Sei'li', ittee among members OF YOU
80 ,.a,7r church. sunday scnool u
~ Make your poultry cruz aiso -,
$50 cluh Make your corn Si"' ~
.,afo club also "A savings cruz. ~ aho
-, Thrift and Savings stamp 49,
fest investment in the worla, anu 49, 49,
ss9,.a.f,,ent that works every uaE "a -
~ nd sunday, too. Take the niui
,,,,ies.t save and buy savings 7'A'iif'''