davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12
Bird Houses

Birds are desirable to have about the premises, not only on account of then beauty and song but because of their eeo- homie worth The little feathered song sters are especially useful as insect de- stroyers during the breeding period, when they have to work early and late to op- tain sufficient food for their nestllngs One way to increase the number making your property their summer home IS to put out feathers, bits of wool and twlne during the nest-building season for the girds to use in building their habitants Another way is to build safe retreats for them in which they can rear thelr young comfortably Most of the houses will De occupied year after year In fact, no attraction for summer birds is more e1- fectfal than plenty of houses suited 10 the needs and habits of the various kinds of house birds. During idle hours in the winter months the construction of few of these bird dwellings is fascinating and useful work.
 Farmers Bulletin 6o9, prepared py the Tinted States bureau of biological sur vev. gives clear working directions, with illustrations, for a large number Of olra houses. both of the single and apartment honse variety This bulletin may be had free by writing the Department or Agri- culture. Washington, D. C.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12

inside or outside the state. They also
 aid county agents in finding animals for
 club members and arrange trips for out of-town buyers. that they may examine a large number of animals at the least expense. The benefit of this system is en- joyed by breeders, large and small and will increase as a larger number or county and community organizations ally themselves with it.
 A Florida stockman desiring to purchase some Herefords, after making what he considered an adequate inquiry indicated his desire to buy a carload of these cat tie in central Montana, 2500 miles away, Later he found from information supplied by the bureau of markets he could secure cattle sired by an international grand champion bull within 150 miles of his home. Purchase of animals from the lat ter herd would have meant not only great saving in freight, but acquiring cat tic more acclimated to the south. Fur thermore, the risk involved in transpor-
 tation would have been considerably less.
 With the aid of the data regarding pure
 breds-and it is being added to con-
 tinually-the bureau of markets is able to glve valuable assistance to prospective
 foreign. as well as domestic buyers, of
 pure-bred animals. This branch of the
 department of agriculture recently dem onstrated the value of it's information by atQlnS a group or COulh NtDtIiCdHS III locating herds in various parts of the country, and also in arranging for the eX- portation of the cattle purchased Not the least valuable feature of their assist ance was due to the fact that the bureau representatives understood the methods or South American marketing as well as those of this country.
 While in many counties cooperative breeders associations are already actively sharing in compiling data regarding the location of pure bred animals, much re mains to be done. County live stock as-
 socatons are urged to keep definite. up- to-date infor tion on file and to inform
 the state field agents in marketing and, through them, the Washington office of the bureau of markets, United States de- partment of agriculture, of this fact In this way they will render a much needed service to their members, to the live stock industry as q whole and to foreign buyers who come to this country for pure-breds, to improve their herds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12

Prices to the grower range corresponding ly from s2.s5 to s3.20 per bushel, averag- ing January 20 about s2.75 to ss&5. Sales of shelled stock f. O. b. shipping points, were being made on that day at TIE to IS cents per pound for No Span- ish, under firm market.
 The trade in general seems to be buy ing from hand to mouth. Perhaps buy CTS are waiting to see the effect of the Asiatic impoItations which are beginning to arrive on the Pacific coast Many be- lieve that the importation of oriental goods ,sill not materially affect the con- sun ption of domestic peanuts. According to a cablegram from the American consul lat Kobe, Japan, dated December 3l, Japan will have available for export only 23 "A 900 pounds of peanuts in the shell. This does not include re-expores from China, which will be of an uncertain amount this year. The smaller Japanese crop this year., and the reopening of Eu- ropean markets to oriental trade will, however, cause the imports this year to be considerably below those of last sea- son. Chinese nuts of the 30-32 to the ounce size, which correspond to the Vir- ginia extra large shelled, are being quoted at 1872 to fl cents per pound in carload lets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12
SOUTHERN PEANUT MARKET

The peanut trade in the south at pres ent is quite and inactive. The different factors seem to be marking time while awaiting developments.
 In the Virginia North Carolina section the movement of farmers grade peanuts into the cleaning establishments has been heavier to date than for the correspond
 ing period last season. Immediately fol- lowing the signing of the armistice, the peanut business, as we'll as other indus tries, was suffering depression, from which it did not recover until March, 1919 Last year the consumption of peanuts during the months of November, Decem- Der and January was very light.
 The present crop began moving to the cleaning establishments about November l. Buyers had been in the field previous to this time. and had purchased much stock on the basis of 10 to 10 cents per pound. The farmers showed a disposition to sell at these prices. and the movement from the farm continued heavy until the railroads were forced to place an em- bargo upon this class of goods. The stock moved faster than the cleaners couic ac- commodate it, and the price to the farmer fell off to about 8 cents per pound. Since then, owing to the scarcity of nuts and the fact that farmers are holding their supplies, the market has strengthened gradually, until on January p the price Of Virginia to growers ranged from to 1e1s cents per pound, with Spanish nuts bringing 8. 8 to 40 per So-pound bushel. The cleaners on the other hand, have slirhtlv reduced their quotations in the past few days. The table has not been buying, and small surplus of cleaned gcods has accumulated in some or the factories. On January p sales of cleaned peanuts, f o. b. shipping points. ranged from 14la to 15 cents per pound for Jum- bos; 111h to 12 cents for fancys, and from l01s to II cents for extras. Shelled pea nuts brought from 16ik to 111A cents per pound for extra large Virginias; l4h to 151s cents, mostly 15 cents, for No. l. and from IS to 19 cents, mostly 1872 cents, for Spanish No. l.
 In the southeast, where the peanut in- dustry centers in Georgia and Alabama, practically all peanuts are reported out of the growers hands. The remaining stock of White Spanish nuts is being largely held for sed at s240 per ton- The bid rrice to farmers and dealers on January g. for farmers grade Spanish, was generally S225 per ton, with few sales of best Spanish stock reported a little higher.
 A wide range in condition characterizes the stock in the southwest, with many badly damaged. dirty nuts being received.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12
Learn Dealers Standing

The hens owned by poultry club girls in Mississippi do not lay golden eggs. but they lay enough of the ordinary kind to permit their owners to buy the golden variety if they so desire.
 One of these successful young poultry growers is Gregory Russell, who lives in Lawrence county. Miss. This is her first year in poultry club work She bought all of the dry feed for her flock but raised a tenth-acre of oats and rape for their green feed. This 15-year-old girls net return this year from her poultry work, which was supervised by experts, was $256
 Vivian Smith of Yalabusha county, Mississippi has been in poultry club work for four years. This year her net re- turn from the work was $3S6S6 She start ed four years ago with seven chickens and made a net return that vicar of SID. The next year she doubled this amount, and the third year she cleared $40 from her poultry. Miss Smith has the largest flock in her section. She believes in sell ing the old hens, keeping the outlets for layers, and giving the birds plenty or green feed.
 Both of these girls won recent trip to Washington for making the highest re- turn on their project of any girl in their districts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12
Community Fairs

Community fairs of particular educs tioHal value were held last fall in sit | centers in Spokane. Wash. Many hundred of people saw a comprehensive expositick of the different phases of food preserg a tion which had been demonstrated to th club girls and women by the home deni onstration agent The points about whicl women had seemed to need the most helt
 were especially emphasized.
 At the different centers girls competen
 to give the demonstrations canned frui and vegetables. showed how to make { pectin test, and gave directions for d..v ing and brinng. Other groups demon strated the uses of different types q containers and how 10 avoid or overeom difficulties which might arise with taem
 Each fair was different in character
 At one ceRter the commcrc,a side of can ming was emphasized. The club girs there were finishing a large order els es them by the county for the tuberCuOsk hospital With a small order the precea ing year the club members had provet they could turn out a superior product In 1912 they Were given the entire orief One thousand cans of beans. 60) galoh of peaches and l25 galons each of apri cots, berries and tomatoes were put up bt the club girls for the county hosp.ai Six hundred gallons Of tomatoes weA wanted, but the entire order could not bi
 filled, as school opened and the schod kitchens used for the canning eenter
 were needed.
 The fairs proved effective in interestnl the public in the club work for wonei and girls which is supervised by the ds partment Of agriculture and the staa agricultural colleges.
 Several groups Of representative wos , en and men attended each of the faiH , to inspect the quality of the work, listei to the demonstrators and inquire as t l it's effects on community life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12
Garlic Flavor In Milk

Dairymen and creamerymen in many states are troubled every spring by garlic or onion flavor in the milk. This is due Jo the cows feeding on garlic or wild onion, one of the first plants to start in the pasture in the spring. The trouble from garlic is not likely to last very long, as this week is soon cropped of and the grass becomes plentiful enough for the cattle to feed on it in preference to the onion.
 Garlic flavor in milk can be removed by heating the milk to 145 degrees and forcing air through it at this temperaure for thirty to sixty minutes, according to Farmers Bulletin eos of the United states department of agriculture. As this method requires a certain amount of equipment, it is much more satisfactory for the average dairyman to keep the odor out of milk by few simple preeau tions in herd management.
 There are two ways of protecting the moik from garlic flavor. First, prevent the cows from obtaining garlic and sec ond, manage the herd garlic pasture, so that there will be the &ast possible chance of getting the flavor in the milk.
 Often the garlic is found only in one patch in the pasture. and this can be temporarily fenced off and pastured with other animals not producing milk.
 Where garlic is scattered all over the held IL VIII De lnDOSSlDle 10 keep thS cows away from it. but by removing them to some other field three Or four hours before each milking, the flavor will be reduced to a minimum. The odor in milk is strongest from cows which have just eaten garlic, and the odor IS reduced as the time between the eating of garlic and milking is increased.
 Tn case no gariic-free pasture is avail able, it would be advisable to drive the cattle to the barnyard three or four hours before milking and feed them on hay and silage. As the season for garlic trouble is short, this should not cause much inconvenience.
 The best plan for avoiding trouble from this weed on the dairy farm is to kill it out completely. Thi can be done with little trouble. and those- interested can obtain information on the subject by writing to the United States department of agricultre for Farmers Bulletin olo, ''wild Onion, Method of Eradication
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12
Animals in Combinations

The keeping of cattle and of swine ap- pear to be almost inseparable operations. This fact is being brought out in the returns of the Better Sires-Better Stock crusade of the agricultural col leges, the department of agriculture and cooperating agencies This general prdc- tice has long been known. but much much more definite information is being gathered, and the purpose is to extend it to such an extent as to determine the relationships among all meat anl- nals.
 If nearly every man who keeps cattle also keeps hogs, and if nearly every man who keeps hogs also keeps cattle, inc iri- evitable conclusion Is that the combina- ton pays, especially when pure-bred sfres are used But it remains to be deter mined what are the most common and the best paying proportions. The same thing applies also to combinations of cat tie and shepe. or swine and sheep, or cattle and sheep and swine One bene- fit of the work will be that it will enable the man of small personal experience to avail himself of the wide experience of a great number of men in working out the combinations of meat animals that he will carry on his farm
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12

Yes, raising pure-breds is all right for the fellow who has lots of them, but how are the chaps who have only 8 few an- mals to sell. going to get rid of them? The big fellows have reputations, and know the big buyers personally, but farm CTS like me who have a small surplus of pure-breds for sale are often up against a hard proposition.
 This is substantially what William
 Brown told his county agent one after noon while discussing difficulties he eX- perienced in setting a fair price for few of hs fine Herefords Fortunately the county agent was able to tell him of
 a marketing service designed to make the selling of pure-bred animals easier for the large and small breeders alike. The
 agent showed Brown that the United
 States department of agriculture, in CO.,
 operation with the state agricultural col leges county agents, and local co-opera- tive livestock associations, has under taken the task of introducing breeders
 buyers and sellers-to each other. And
 the introductions are not confinedo to the introductions and not confined to Throughout the nation breeders are be-
 coming better acquainted with each other and with the foreign markets.
 Already in a number of counties the To- cation, age, number and breed of pure N' the office of the county agent. In some cases monthly reports are prepared. show ing the number of animals for sale and these are published by the state agents in marketing An essential to the pfan IS the cooperation of the breeders within the county. Usually the farm bureau or county agents office is the headquarters for the local cooperative association and the county agent acts as it's secretary Thus a working unit is formed which
 can be readily fitted into the state and national system of listing all pure-bred animals Many a farmer living in a community where such information has not been collected is unaware of persons within a comparatively short radius of
 his farm who are engaged in raising pure-bred stock
 The state field agents of the bureau of markets, cooperating With the animal husbandryman of the state college, are a second important factor in the general plan. They aim to assist buyers either
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12
British Buy Our Pork

The expansion of the export trade of the United states in meats was not able development of the war Exports of beef and pork increased from 4Sl, ,4SO, ,53I pounds for the prewar calendar year of 1913 to 2,1249ol ,o0o pounds for the year lsl9 The British trade took 3l9, ,6i4, 4S3 pounds in 1913 1,T7S,s27, ,292 pounds in 1918 and s45, 44S,oel pounds in la9
 The resumption of exports of beef from Argentina immediately following the sign ing of the armistice resulted in a steady decline of beef exports from the United states. but the supremacy of American pork in international trade continued.
 With the British trade absorbing ap- proximately 60 per cent of the total ex- psrts, the conditions in the English market are of general interest, and the bureau of markets is fortunate in hav- ing an agricultural trade commissioner located at London to report marKetine conditions in the United Kingdom.
 The following abstract of report of the American agricultural trade commits sioner at London under date of Decem- Der b, 19l9 is timely:
 Rationing-At the present time in Great Britain beef and edible pork prod ucts are distributed to the consumer through an elaborate rationing scheme evolved by the ministry of food. Each
 
 given ration card, on which is stated his weekly quota of meat. This card is registered with the family butcher who. in turn, is registered with the whole saler. The wholesaler supplies his re- tatlers with an amount of meat gov erned by the number of cards registered by the retailers. The wholesalers in turn gre registered in groups and each grcNlp is represented by a purchasing agent, who attends the meetings of the allocat- ing committees of the British ministry or food These committees allocate all meats to the various purchasing agents, basng their distribution on the amount needed to supply the fixed ration.
 Edible pork products, hams bacon, lard, etc, are purchased for the minis try by a buying committee in the United beef has come largely from Argentina and other South American countries, though smaller quantities have been inn ported from the United States, Canads and Australia. Lamb and mutton are purchased from New Zealand.
 Fixed Prices.-With a view to equaliz- ing prices the ministry of food has made it's own price on all meats. This price has not always been governed by C1e market price, and complaints have ire quently arisen because the. government price for certain meats seemed too high The ministry of food has explained that the loss on one commodity must be made up on others. Considerable sums have been lost in the handling of meat as a result of dock congestion, labor troubles, and a lack of cold storage and transportation facilities
 The British food administration has announced that the present rationing scheme will me continued until July 1, 1920 but recently agitation has caused the papers to state openly that control will probably be abolished about the last of January.
 Available Supples.-Meat is now very plentiful, and abundant shipping enables the food controller to draw upon the large amount held in storage
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12
Ship Carload Peanuts

Farmers adjacent to Alexander City have just completed the shipment of a carload of Spanish peanuts Al though growers in southeast Alabama have been receiving 10 cents a pound for their peanuts this fall. those hav- ing peanuts in this locality have only been able to get ' and cents per pound up to this time. Under the lead ership of Harry Hertzfield, a banker of this city, cooperative shipment was arranged, fully fifty farmers par ticipating in the transaction. As a re- suit, carload of Spanish peanuts, weighing 37.225 pounds, was sold to the Southern Cotton Oil Company, Co., lumbus. Ga-. at $212.50 per ton, which is equivalent to about 10h cents per pound and which brought in nearly s4.o00 to the owners of the peanuts.
 The peanuts were graded by M. H. Pearson. specialist in marketing of the Alabama extension service at Auburn, and weighed over the city scales by bonded weigher. It is understood that they will be used in the confectionery trade The result of the transaction was most gratifying to the shippers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12
Agents Meet In Forest

The recent animal conferences of Con- necticut county agricultural agents and extension specialists was unique in that it was not held at the state agricultural college, as has been the custom Through Inc cosIrtesy of the state forester the use of the lodge in the state forest was se- cured. The hunks and cooking outht oe the forestry crews were used and the agents were not required to bring any supplies or equipment except blankets. Attendance at all sessions was 100 per cent owing to the absence of diverting influences, and the 20 men in attendance voted unanimously to hold similar con. ference each year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12
SWEET POTATO SYRUP GOOD

1 til a hard ball is formed when dropped
 into cold water. Pour out onto greased
 pan or slab. When coof enough to handle | pull. | gersnaps-One-h half cup cyrup one
 quarter cup fat, one-quarter teaspoon l soda, three-quarters teaspon salt, one l half tablespoon ginger, one and one-half cups flour.
 1 Heat syrup to boiling point. pour over ! fat add dry ingredients sifted together. | Chill, roll thin, cut with cooky cutter, 1 make in moderately hot oven. 1 Drop Cookes--Thre-f fourths cup syrup one-quarter cup fat. one egg, one-natf teaspoon soda, two tablespoons water, one cup raisins, two cups flour (abouD, one half teaspoon cinnamon, one-eighth tea spoon cloves, powdered
 Heat fat and syrup together add spices while warm. When cool. add part of flour stifted with soda, egg well beaten and
 raisins. Add Just enough of the rest of the flour, so that the dropped teaspoon
 fuls of batter hold their shape. Bake in
 moderately hot oyen
 Chocolate Cup Cake-One-quarte cup fat, one-half cup syrup (plain or caramel ized), one-quarter teaspoon coda, three tablespoons milk, one-half teaspon salt, two eggs, two squares (ozs,) chocolate, one and one-quarter cups flour, two and ore-half teaspoons baking powder, one and one-half teaspoons vanilla, two
 tablespoons sugar.
 Mix and bake as usual; makes one dozen cup cakes, Butterscotch Pudding-Five tablespoons ca ramelzed sweet potato syrup, two ia tablespoons sugar, two eggs. four table spoons butter, six tablespoons flour, one teaspoon salt, one pint milk
 Cream butter and flour, add salt, sugar and milk, cook till thick. Add hot mix ture to beaten eggs, meanwhile beating rapidly to prevent curdling place in double boiler and cook two or three min utes, stirring constantly. Add syrup and beat we'll Serve very cold. Plain or whipped cream is q nice addition. This pudding may be used as a filling Tor pastry shells or cream puffs if desired.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-12
Grain Violation Punished

The presence of teeth in the graf standards act which governs interstad traffic ill grains for which official stand ards have been fixed was proved recentA Tn Kansas City when the first convid tions for violation of the statute were rs corded. The criminal informations wen filed under Section i of the act. whS provides that grain which is sold by gradl shall not be shipped from one state u another, except between nonnspectof points unless if has been inspected. by ! licensed inspector in accordance with tn law to determine the grade of the graiIi The defendant pleaded guilty.
 The bureau of markets, which admin istors the grain standards act, has bees conducting educational work to acquain all producers and handlers of grain wiu the federal requirements, and hopes ths what has been accomplished in this fel will have the result of keeping violatioA al a minimum