davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
New Road Work Records

During April, 1919. the Secretary of Az riculture approved project statements Tor 120 federal aid vroiects, involving the nm provement of 923.53 miles of road at total estimated cost of $16, ,261 ,32651, and on which federal aid in the amount of $I,- 52S. $50. .6S was requested. This represents the largest number of project statements approved, the largest total estimated cost and the greatest amount of federal aid requested during any month since the massage of the federal aid road act. March, 1919, had surpassed all records Tn these items up to that month.
 During April there were executed by the secretary and the several state highway departments B project agreements invoiv- ing the improvement of 52l 51 miles or road at a total estimate cost of A,6 . 415. AS, and on which $2,0S9. .614 go federal aid was requested and set aside in the treas ury Tn addition, agreements to cover 72 other projects were placed in process execution during the month.
 Up to- and including April 90, 1919, pro feet statements for total of 1057 projects had been approved, after deducting all approved projects cancelled or withdrawn by state highway departments. The lo5' projects involved 105S017 miles of road, a total estimated cost of $92, ,933, l21 .Sl, ana a total of s36.576, ,S57 ,ts federal aid. On t''> same date a total of 535. project agree ments had been executed, involving 4,624 .ss miles of road, total estimated cost oi s39, ,O59, ,327 A, and total of $l5,6l4,6l4.o .ol federal aid.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Tick Law a Good One

As result of the operation of the new statewide cattle tick eradication law fn Alabama, 22 quarantined counties con- ducted dipping vat construction work ir March, resulting in the building of TAO canals to prosperity" The two other quarantined counties built no vats tn March, but both of them had already con- structed one-half the number of vats that will be necessary in eradicating ticks, and it is expected they will get in line in time to drive out the cattle parasite this year. These facts are told in a report from Dr. R. K. Jackson, inspector in charge, of Bir- mingham.
 In the 22 counties actively working dates have been set for the beginning CT systematic dipping. In four counties dip ping began in March, in accordance With the campaign to get an early start and prevent the reproduction of the parasite.
 Persons not conversant with the full benefits that will come when the tick IS permanently banished from Alabama stM are fostering opposition in some sections to the tick eradication campaign. but their numbers are steadily dwindling and it is believed that little further obstruction need be combated. Destruction of dipping vats by dynamite, which has occurred in sonoe instances, will be allowed to in- terfere in no way with the systematic dip- ping of cattle.
 The NdtS VIII De TepuHt ldlci py e-~~ citizens of the communities in which they were destroyed" says the report. Tn the meantime the cattle of such communities will be driven to the nearest vat in oper- ation." a.
 The cooperation of the state veterf- marian and the live stock sanitary boafd in tick eradication leaves nothing to pc desired. reports pr. Jackson It is be- neved that thorough work in every in Tested county this season will make all of Alabama ready for release from the federal quarantine next December.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
 C O M Nj LII NIFTY CENTER
Farm Labor Situation

Improvement in the farm labor situa- ton this year over 1918 is reported by the department of agriculture, after inves- tigation in all agricultural counties of tho United States. By improvement is meant net increase of supply and consequently more labor for planting, cultivating and harvesting in relation to the work to be done. Wage rates were not included in the investigation.
 Stated in percentage of a normal labor supply as related to a normal demand for labor, the actual supply of 1918 was 72 per cent and of 1919 it is S3 per cent still inadequate without greater than nor nal dependence on machinery and animal, tractor and motor power, and without more than usual labor by farmers and their families: However, the improvement over 1918 is considerable.
 In both years the groups of states that were and are provided with labor in rela- ton of supply to demand, less than, or { the most equal to, the average for the United States, are the north Atlantic, the south Atlantic and the south central.
 Among these three groups of states, the greatest improvement is in the north Atlantic and the least is~in the south Att lentic, and these extremes of high and low improvement are not equaled by the north central and western states, in each of which the average improvement IS almost the same as that or the entli . country. The improvement is evenly dls- tributed throughout all state groups, ex- oept the north Atlantic states, where the gain is twice as great as in each of the other groups of states.
 Apart from tendency toward relief from labor scarcity from 1918 to 1919, the situa- tion this year is less favorable on the Alt lantic coast, from New England to the south Atlantic states as a group, than in the states west of the Appalachian noun tains as groups and in this long strip of coast the situation is worse in the south Atlantic group of states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Farm Work for Soldiers

According to specialists of the United States Department of Agriculture iden- tified with placing discharged soldle~e Tn agricultural work, Georgia, Michigan Montana. Iowa, Idaho, Virginia Kansas and Missouri all are in need of skilled farm labor. Conditions at the army camps where the men are discharged show a surplus of opportunities for prohtabie work and a deficit of laborers. In a word there are more farm jobs at pres ent than there are men to fill them. At Camp Upton little information was avail able on farming opportunities in the New England states. However, through the activities of the state and federal de- partments of agriculture and the county agents complete information is now avail able. The county agents not only secure
 Information about farm labor sltuatH'ns but they also assist soldiers in getting started right in new communities. II there is any question about the job belng still open. the authorities will either tele- graph or telephone for the applicant anc ohtain definite ur-to-the-minute informa- tion. At this writing farm work is avail able for all discharged soldiers experi- enced in country life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Spraying Campaign

The San Jose scale was sup1ecteo to heavy spray-machine gun fire recently when the county agents of south Caroii'a held spraying campaign For one week the agents centered their attention ou this attack, but it was continued py fruit growers until the buds on the trees began to swell and further spraying wl.n the strong lme-sulphur solution wonio oe injurious. .4 l.,
 One agent reports so much interest m the proper care of home orchards tna' he found it impossible to visit the farms of all who wanted information on spray. ing and pruning. He solved the dIl' culty by holding series Of demonstra' lions in schoous and orchards.
 lions in schools and orchards :, week he sprayed 2210 trees and pruneo a00 This work is much needed and great, lv annreciated, he says. At one orchard he found the owner ready to cut do"n some of the trees because he dtd not nave the equipment to spray and thought the scale would kill the trees before another season.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
BORER THREATENS CORN CROP

ter and spring, when the vegetation Is dead and dry. It may be necessary to sprinkle the plants with oil or to use other fuel to secure complete combustion. Where it is possible and safe to use d running fire in destroying infested plants that is the quickest means.
 In some cases. particularly in that of corn, the infestation may be controlled by feeding the grain to live stock either directly from the field or as ensilage. From the economic standpoint this is the best possible means of destruction. In some infested districts it is common for the owners of dairy cows to collect fod, der from the sweet corn plantings of the market gardens as well as from home gardens after the crop has been harvest ed Where fodder is fed green 1t should be run through a shredder or cutting machine before it is given to the live stock, as this process greatly reduces the chances that any of the borers contained therein will survive.
 The practice of blowing under infested material is not recommended, because blowing, even when carefully done, wiN not cover the material deeply enough to prevent the borers from making theif way to the surface, and a few stalks may remain exposed.
 In Massachusetts 1t was ascertainad lasi year that corn planted early in May was FelatlNctN Tree ol iiiSSthAioii oS Nc''' pared with the earlier paintings, which or the average were heavily damaged by borers. This is explained by the fact that the early planted corn reached the tassel stage about the middle Of June when the first brood moths of the borers are depositine their eggs. The moths prefer to deposit eggs on corn bearing a tassel, or just coming into the tas sel stage; therefore this early corn is ordinarily infested severely As re | suit, when the later planted corn ar
 rives at the tassel stage, about July !
 most of the moths have deposited then eggs to the extent that these later plant | ings escape serious injury.
 l Experiments in applying arsenical pois
 ons to the surface of corn plants hav' shown that large numbers of the borer'
 may be poisoned in this manner durini l the early stages. At this period they fec to a slight extent on the surface Of t..' | plants especially on the leaf plants. II was found impossible, however, to pro tect the plants entirely in this manner as the number of borers not killed by the poison were sufficient to damage the stalks and ears severely. The cost ol alplying these poisons is prohibitive, be- cause several applications are necessary and the method is not recommended
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Varieties of Wheat

Specialists of the United States depart ment of agriculture have been busy for several years in the classification and Identification of varieties of wheat grown in the country. They have identified ap-
 proximateiy 1O definite varieties, but these are known by at least 300 diff ferent names. This work of wheat clas- sfication involves investigation of the early history of each variety from it's introduction into the United States up to the present stage of its progress. Wheat was sown as early as 1902 by Gose- wold. the explorer, on one of the Eliza beth islands in Buzzards Bay. It was not until nine years later that tie first wheat was sown in Virginia, while not previous to 164S did the total crop of the Old Dominion exceed several hundred acres. The "inger-print" work which the United States Department of Agricul- ture is conducting In identifying and clas- sifying all vayieties of this grain is ex- pected to be of great economic value to the wheat-growing world in general and agronomic workers in particular.
 A wheat variety survey or questionnaire has recently been mailed to crop core spondents in all wheat-producing coun- tries of the United States. From sum- mary of these reports the distribution of
 wheat varieties in 1919 is to be ascer- tained.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Hide and Skin Report

Slight decreases in stocks of cattio hides, calf and kip skins, and increases In sheen and lamb skins, pigskins. goat skins and horsesides on Februaryj2 j2S from holdings on January 31. 1918, are shown in the monthly report of hides and skins issued by the bureau of markets, De- partment of Agriculture.
 Stocks in the United States on Fepruary 2S were: Cattle hides, domestic ana TOT eign, 55s4, 7S0 pieces sheep and lamp skins. 1899; pigskins. 157.S72 pieces ana 1.55sS57 pounds of strips; horsehldes- whole, S7SS1 fronts, 63,764; butts, IF, loi hairs. and shanks. 12335S: calf and KID skins l, ,66s, ,059; kangaroo and wailaoy. 47o,2e4; deer and elk. 211,s46; goatsklns' 7o,216; kid skins, 226,760; cabret<a. s4s,- 341, and buffalo hides, ,63,S69
 In a statement given 'out with the re- port the bureau states that the hide ana skin reports are being issued in response to demands from al branches of the hioe and leAther industry and from producers and economists. who during the war real ized the lack of information availaple on this phase of industry. Such informa- tion is said to be no less necessary Tn peace times, especially during the period of readjustment, when stabiliztng infiu- ences are necessary and the trade is seek ing and preparing to meet the demands for hide and leather products in foreign markets
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Seaweed as Fertilizer

Since the war stopped the supply of potash from Germany the bureau of xoils of the United States Department of Az riculture has been experimenting with various processes for recovering potash from kelp. a seaweed. One of the ex- perimental plants has been in successful operation for several months.~
 One of the by-products is kelp ash which contains a potash content of r1ore than s per cent. Several carloads of this product have been placed upon the east ern markets for fertilizer purposes. carload was recently sold to a farmers cooperative association in New York and was found so satisfactory than anothef carload was bought later A third car load of kelp ash will reach Baltimore about May 1. Anyone interested in buy ing kelp ash in carload lots for fertilizer purposes may secure further information from the Bureau of Soils, Washington, D. c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Going After the Yankees

Corn club members in the corn reli lave some rivals in the south who threaten to take some of the honors away from the boys who live in the land lons famed for corn and hogs. In South Car olina last year the corn club mempers re nortinp to their leaders produced an av' craze of 46.5 bushels of corn an acre af an average cost of 4s.2 cents bushel. The net wealth thus created. counting corn a' s2 a bushel, amounted to H5.2S3R- Tnc highest yield was made by Richiano county club. boy, who produced res bushels on one acre at cost of IS cents a bushel, his net profit being s32S.S Ine'e ,yere s1-s members enrolled in corn clubs in South Carolina last year and 3467 en- rolled in pig clubs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Record Number of Sows

Even greater than the record number or breeding sows on farms in the United States a year ago, the number on April this year reached the unprecedented tctal of 9,970,000, according to estimates While the average gain for the whole country over last year is only 03 per cent, there were gains greater than this in most of the states and as high as s per cent in California. Diminished num- bers in the great swine states of Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Louisiana and Ok lahoma are sufficient to leave barely gain to the United States as whole.
 Under the pressure of the necessities Of the war the breeding sows on farms April 1. 1918, had been raised 9.5 per cent over 1917. a remarkable evidence of the expansive power of swine numbers in practical farming operations; and thai this extraordinary increase in one year should have been held the next year. nno even little exceeded, is a notable fact in swine history.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
CONFER ON FARMLIFE POBLEMS

tutions, and the social responsibilities C lardlords and tenants; the relation os various forms of disability, such as the illiterate and the defective, to farm l.1s pro blems: the social consequences or thrift and agencies for promoting thrift, such as savings institutions, rural cret4s organizations and information as to safe and sane investment; the social conse- quences of local disasters due to natural causes and problems relating to geo. graphical popula lion groups.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Poultry Keeping for Blind

Blind Edward Jones of Jefferson City. Missouri, has made a record in keepihs poultry which many who have eyes na.c not eaualed Moving among his birds. which seem to understand how he IS nan. dicapped and guided only by his sense or touch, he performs his daily worN, ny has huilt his own poultry house and brood GOODS. and has matched and raised all ms chicks. Blindness does not prevent him from culing his flock. The birds not in- tended to be kept are marketed as proii- CTS. and the others are kept Tor the pro duction of winter eggs.
 Mir Jones attended every poui,ry Ilee.. ire hold in his section last fall. He Is now trying to organize poultry ciun for blind people, and the home demon stration agent in the county has volun- teered to read to the members the pupii. cations on poultry sent from the oniteo States Department of Agriculture.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Farm Census In January

Uncle Sam has decided to take the four teenth census on farms January l. 1920, instead of collecting this data as of April 15, as was done in 1910. The date was changed because farmers ordinarily are very busy with the rush of spring work about the middle of April, also because the April IS date comes during the midst of the breeding season when the number of young stock is not comparable betwee': northern and southern regions. and finally because the returns on the crops ob- tained during the winter are more ac- curate than those obtained later and com parable with the December estimates of the bureau of crop estimates.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Russell County Hog Sale

At Pittsview, in Russell county, the Pittsview Live Stock association has just sold five cars of hogs co-cperatively. The ssS hogs in the sale were bought by F. M Metoaf of Hartford. Ala, the tops bringing IS cents per pound net.
 This was the fourth sale of hogs a' Pittsview this season, total Of II cars having been marketed from that point in that time This is splendid record fo- a town of this size and indicates what can be done when the farmers go into the live stock business in earnest. w. F. Turnipseed, flrm demonstration agent at Scale weighed and graded the shipments.
 The merchants and farmers are plan ming to greatly enlarge their field of oper- atlons next year. The stock pens will be considerably enlarged and it is their intention to market cattle as well as hogs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
What Corn Loses

Ear corn loses from to 20 per cent of its weight in the first year of stor- age. the loss being greater with poorly matured than with well matured corn. and with dry fall weather than with rainy weather. Exceptionally soft corn may shrink as much as 30 per cent. Most of the loss occurs in the first six months After corn Is thoroughly air dried it's weight fluctuates with the moisture in the air. varying as much as 3 per cent. The shrinkage Is largely water but there v some loss of dry matter.
 Wheat loses to 5 per cent during the sw eating process and afterward f1uctuates ir weight with the humidity. the extreme variation being about per ceut from the original total weight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Bristles of the Hog

Pigs are raised everywhere in China, and pigs bristles have become an impor- tant article of export. amounting to 4GS tens year, valued at about $6,00O.t0 Bristles that are long. thick, stiff bright wiry and clean command the best prices. The yield of each hog is tied in bundle, placed in water for few days, then scraped, combed to remove impurities. sun-dried, steamed and then sorted into bundles about one and one-half inches ia diameter. Most of the work of cleaning and tying the bristles is done by women, who receive about 5 cents a day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Log Heap Fuel

Look forward to next winters supply of wood. Tn nnny parts the old-time cus- tom still prevails of burning valuable cordwood in log heaps following the clear ing up of new land. Thousands of farm CTS must provide themselves with wood for next winter! If the farmer can not use the wood himself some neighbor. schoolhouse or church will likely be glad to get it when cold weather, comes. Much
 wood, apparently useless at this time of the year, will be wasted unless fores thought is exercised. Postpone burning your waste wood. ,. ssz..
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Sell Stock Comparatively

Stock raisers M Franklin county, Ten nessee, are firm believers In cooperative marketing. They are arranging to maks a shipment of 9 carloads of stock. which will probably be moved on the same day. Recently the county live stock associa- tion, in cooperation with the county agent, completed an inventory sf the fat cattle being fed N the county. It was found that 27 farmers were feeding cattle that would be ready to market rot later than May. A list of 611 head has been made. and plans have been conn pleted for collecting and sending them CO., operatively to St. Louis in one shipment
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
There is an after-the-war song run ning something like this:
How you going to get him Back on the farm, After he's seen Paree?"

The problem is one that the United States Department of Agriculture is sue
 cessfully attacking, not by "back-to-the- farm propaganda, but simply by inform ing soldiers of definite opportunities to enter or return to agricultural work. AL ready such opportunities have proved to
 be all that was necessary to induce many soldiers, sailors and marines to join or rejoin the peace-time army of food pro- ducers.
 At the demobilization camps agricul- tural representatives are conferring with soldiers about opportunities for a job in agricultural work. The information they give the men is definite. Each demob- ilization camp discharges men from cer- tain states. These lists are classified into different types of farming, so that the soldier can quickly be connected with the particular job he wants or is best suit ed to fill
 THE STOCK FARM
 If soldier wants to work on a stock farm, the lists will quickly show all the opportunities open in the state to which he intends going. And the lists contain
 similar information about general farm ing, grain farming, dairying, fruit and truck farming. Lists are also kept or farms for sale and for rent, and farm owners who want partners. Full descrip tions of all opportunities are obtained so that the soldier can inteligently decide oil a job or an invesemtnt. When soldier intends going to a state some distance from the camp where he is discharged he is given letters of introduction to the county agents The county agents have lists of agricultural opportunities in theN counties similar to the lists in the army camps. The county agent can usually place a man on a farm without delay. | Many soldiers have saved some of theit pay while in the army. They now want
 to start in the farming business for them selves. The government helps them de- ! eide where they can best make start with their limited capital, and oftimS helps them secure credit for buying farm equipment Local financiers are some
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Canadian Livestock

The milch cows of Canadian farms av- eraged ss7 head in price in 1918 against sS4 in 1917: cattle under year old. $25, against $24 in 1917: cattle to less than years old. $57, against $s2 in 1917; and cattle years old and over. $Ss. against ST in 19i7 Sheep on farms in Canada av- eraged sl6 head in price in 1sls against Sl5 in 1917. and swine 100 pounds, live weight, $i6. agsir>st Sl7 in 1917.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-15
Must Make a Showing

Before boys and girls may join the Put. nam county. Florida, pig club they mus demonstrate their ability to produce for their pigs This branch of the club work in Putnam county produces twofon results It teaches tine members round; ed-out system of farming-that of pro- ducing feed crops as we'll as live stock. Recently six young people in the county qualified for membership. and each re ceived Duroc SOW pig.