THE NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
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VAYS OF THE AMERICAN BOY
Cabinet for Collection of Curious Lit
tle Things Youngster May Pick
Up Is Inexpensive.
3Jy KATIIEIUNK ATHEUTON ORIME8.
Hlg sister calls It "cluttorlng trash,"
and big brother Bays, with a superior
amlle, "You'll know bettor somo day."
Mother dusts It carefully, with an In
dulgent srallo over her boy's odd lit
tie bunch of treasures: but father
says heartily: "Hy the way, old fol
ijow, hero's a queer thing I picked up
ithls morning. Thought you'd llko it
tfor your curiosity shop."
For father has been a boy himself,
'and understands how near to a boy's
heart is tho collection of odd ana In
teresting things ho has picked up in
out-of-the-way corners. Ho knows
what it means to find a bit of rock
-with a curious fossil shall in it, and
what a thrill of delight it sends down
one's spine to chanco upon a real In
,dlan rolic a flint spear-point, a
(Sharp-edged "skinning knife," or a del
icately tinted bird-arrow head, oo
llarger than a thumbnail.
ifls a problem to find a satisfactory
-way of displaying all these things.
'They arc usually tossed about here
land there, and tho one you want to
-show a friend is always tho lost one
to come to light.
A good cabinet for such a collection
may be made as follows: From a
tfoot board of half-inch lumber cut
.four three-cornered shelves that will
just fit into a cornei' of tho room.
Boro in tho corners of theso quarter-
-Inch augur holes, an inch back from
the edges. Procure threo pieces of
stout twine, each about five feet
long. Binder twine is very good for
this purpose. At one end of each
'Piece fasten firmly an empty Bpool,
about the size that numbor 8 thread
comes on. Then pass the other ends
of the twine pieces up through the
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Diversion for the Boy.
three holes In the bottom shelf. On
these cords string more spools, until
about a foot of each Is filled. Then
slip .on another shelf, more, spools,
nndso on until tho four shelves are
all in place. Bring tho threo cords
together about 18 inches above tho
top shelf, so that tho ono on the back
corner will run straight up tho angle
of the wall, while the other two slant
back to meet it. TheBo upper pieces
should also bo filled with spools. A
stout loop at tho top will hang tho
cabinet safely against tho wall, or it
may bo allowed to rest on the floor,
and be simply balanced by tho upper
loop.
Any size of spools will do to make
ithls article, but those on which num
ber 40 thread 1b wound are about the
best. The spools, may be either
gilded or painted, and the shelves
stained, painted or covered. One
pretty cabinet made in this way had
the shelves covered neatly on both
titles with plain white oilcloth, while
the spools were painted light blue,
with a gilt band nround the conter of
each. Tho loop at the top was hidden
by a broad bow of blue ribbon. It
waB dainty enough for any room, and
easily kept clean.
One of tho most fascinating collec
tions a boy can make is that of vari
ous rocks. Most localities furnish
many varieties of theso, and tho en
thusiastic collector usually has little
trouble in making additions from oth
er Bources. Quartz, pyrites of various
kinds, feldspar, granlto, fluor-spar,
"puddllng-stones," slates, and tho
many interesting foaslliferous rocks,
may bo mentioned among others eas
ily procurable, and of much Interest.
The boy who lives near the water
always likes to collect shells. These
make a beautiful cabinet. If each has
tho placo and date of finding written
on tho inside with India Ink, tho value
of tho collection will be much groater
in after years.
Although much of tho value of such
a collection lies in tho sontiment con
nected with it, yet tho habit of ob
servation it encourages Is a valuable
acquisition. Altogether, the "collec
tor's mania" Is by no moans nonsense,
even if It does "clutter up" a corner
of tho room. What Is tho room for,
anyway?
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GOOD MERRY-GO-ROUND POLE
Single Post, Set Securely In Ground
Where There Is Sufficient Vacant
Space, Is Needed.
An Inexpensive merry-go-round can
be made of a slnglo pole set in tho
ground whero there is sufficient vacant
spaco for tho turning of tho ropes. Tho
pole may b of gas plpo or wood, long
enough to extend about 12 feet above
the ground. An iron whocl Is attached
on the upper end so that it will rovolvo
easily on an axlo, which may bo an
iron pin drivon Into tho post- A few
Iron wnshera placed on the pin under
the wheel will reduce tho friction.
Ropes of varying lengths are tied to
tho rim of tho wheel. Tho rider takes
hold of a rope and runs nround the
polo to start tho wheel In motion, then
ho swings clear of tho ground, writes
J. Berg Mitchell of 4 Wichita, Kan., In
The Ropes Being Tied to the Wheel
Rim Will Easily Turn Around the
Pole.
tho Popular Mechanics. Streamors of
different colors and flowers for spe
cial occasions may be attached to
niako a pretty display.
FUNNY SAYINGS OF KIDDIES
Much Embarrassment In Church
Caused by Alarming Discovery of
Preachers' 8mall Daughter.
One of the most embarrassing situ
ations in which I was ever placed,
says Hildo Cowham, the artist, in the
Strand, was caused by a niece of
mine whoso father was a clergyman
and whom I took to church for the
first time. Sho did not lnvtho least
know what her father did and for a
long timo did not obBervo him. But
after sitting quietly besido mo for
somo time, hardly daring to raise her
oyes because I told her she must bo
quiet or she would not go to church
again, sho suddenly, in tho middle of
tho sermon, looked up and saw him,
and screamed: "Auntie, look, thcro's
daddy up there! And whatever is ho
yelling about?"
Which reminds mo of two little
nephews of mine who were taken to a
churchynrd by a very old and pious
aunt. She, thinking to impress the
surroundings on them, said, "You
know, Jack and Fred, it Is only the
body that lies hero. Now, what part
of him goes to heaven?" "His head, I
suppose."
Thero are probably many mothers
who have had cause to smile at tho
quaint additions which their children
at times have made to their prayers.
A little girl friend of mine was onco
taken to a vcntrlloqulal entertain
ment, which impressed her very much.
While saying her prayers that night
she asked Qod to look after all her
brothers and sisters and mnkc her a
good girl. Then there was a pause
and ono heard, tsotto voice, "All
right."
HOME-MADE TOY IS AMUSING
Boy Can Make Lantern of Three
Pieces of Pasteboard on Which
Are Drawn Pretty Designs. ,
Boys love to parado with flags and
lanterns. Lanterns aro easy to make,
and afford much amusement. The il
lustration shows one made of three
pieces of pasteboard of tho same size,
on which are drawn star, shield and
stripes. Any designs are cut out, and
red, white and bluo tissue paper is
pasted on tho inside to produce tho
pretty colored effect when lit by a
candle from the inside. Tho sides aro
pasted together by strips of muslin
by means of glue. Tho bottom of tho
lantern consists of a triangular piece
pf pasteboard which is fastened to the
bottom of the sides with muslin strips.
As ovory lantern has a candlo inside
you must make a placo to hold the
candle In your lantern. Cut a raw
A Home-Made Toy.
potato into a square slice about one
quarter of an inch thick. Bevol thit
sllco as shown in tho picture, and hoi
low tho center sufficiently largo to In
sert the candle. Glue this to the bot
tom. r
Willing to Be Heir.
Outside it was snowing hard and tho
teacher considered It her duty to warn
her charges.
"Boys and girls ehould bo very care
ful to avoid colds at this time," shn
said solemnly. "I hnd a darling llttlo
brother, only soven yfcr.rs old. Ono day
ho wentjout in tho anowi with his now
sled and caught cold. Pneumonia sot
In and In threo days ho was dead."
A hush fell upon tho schoolroom;
then a youngster In tho back row stood
up and asked:
"Where's his sled?" Truth Seoker.
NOTES f RON
MEADOWBROOK
MIA
William Pitt
arxr."
Clean up the gardon.
Spread the manure dally.
Tho horse is still on the job.
Clean up the strawberry bed.
It tnkos. 30 days to hatch a setting 1
of goose eggs.
Stop at tho top of the hill and lot
your horBe got breath.
Give an ailing animal a change of
dlot. An ailing man, also.
Cool tho milk as soon as It is out
of the cow. This is very Important
Prune and burn all tho diseased
limbs and fruits clinging to tho fruit
trocs.
Keeping two cows to do tho work
of ono Is tho causo of many losses in
dairying.
Churcoal in pieces tho bIzo of a pea
or burnt cork once a wcok la good for
all poultry.
Ono advantage- In keeping poultry Is
that they eat much that would other
wise be wasted.
To thrive best the young pigs must
havo dry nests and the bedding should
bo changed frequently.
The man who falls to profit by his
mistakes 1b losing ono of the best les
sons taught by experience.
Poultry makes good Insect destroy
ers for orchards. Have tho runs ex
tend Into tho orchards when possible.
Don't disappoint your customers.
Keep your promises and don't make
promises unless you know .you can
fulfill them.
A good mixture for growing calves
1b Ave parts rolled oats, .threo parts
wheat bran, one part corn meal and
one part oil meal.
Sheep manure is one of the best
farm manures. It contains a largo
percentage of nitrogen and a portion
of phosphoric acid and potnsh.
It 1b much easier to run a flock of
poultry down than to build It up, and
nothing will run down a flock of chick
enB quicker than improper feed
ing. i
For the production of sanitary milk
the dairyman must havo henlthy
cows, a sanitary barn, clean bedding,
dust-free air, a clean barnyard and
clean cows.
An acre of alfalfa will furnish more
high class protctn feed than almost
any other crop that Is grown In the
sections whero dairying .s followed
to the best advantage
Provide, ample roosting places for
the growing young stock. Beware of
crowding. Nothing is so conduclvo
to colds as tho overheating that
comes of crowded quarters.
There Is a good market for all kinds
of feathers. Pick fowls dry and sort
feathers, the coarse from the tine.
They can easily be preserved until
enough are collected to tako to
market
'
While coarse manure hauled out
and spread in the spring may not
greatly benefit tho crop of that
year it Is better hauled out at any
ttmo than left to leach and burn
In tho barn yard.
Machinery Is necesBnry on tho farm
and cheaper than hand labor, and it Is
also moro efficient in many cases
The farmer must havo considerable
money tied up in his machinery and
thoreforo it Is necessary to give it tho
very best of care, both when In use
and when stored.
In selecting tho bulls to head the
herd or buying any stock to put in
tho herd, ancestry is of as much im
portance as individuality, but both
must be considered. It is wrong to
tako a poor individual because of an
cestry and It Is also wrong to tako a
good Individual that does not have any
ancestry.
Ilalso your own teams and ono oc
casionally for your neighbor. So long
as men use improved implements they
trill continue to use good teamB. And
the best way to have en efficient team
on your own farm Is to raise colts for
this purpose.
If your poultry houses aro old,
after thoroughly patching them up,
glvo them a thorough coating of
strong whitewash containing kcrp
seno oil nnd some carbolic acid. Glvo
nest boxes, roosts nnd dropping
boards their full share of It.
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Cull out the old hons.
Furnish sand to tho ducks.
Keep tho milk cool nnd clean.
a
Keep up tho war on poultry Ilea.
i
Always scald tho churn out well bo
fore churning.
About fifteen different breeds of
aheop nro now recognized.
Don't be afraid of getting tho soil
around tho asparagus too rich.
Sheep do not-drink much water, but
what llttlo they drink must bo cloan.
A lamb that is largo nnd strong will
stand weaning better, and also winter
bettor.
There nro few crops grown In tho
garden that cannot bo followod by
later crops.
Tho calf that has n dainty appotlto
Is very apt to develop Into a cow with
a similar habit.
,
Sheep are a persistent agency of im
provement to the soil of the farms on
Which they nro kept.
What Is tho uso of struggling along
with sugar bcota whon good old al
falfa is thn bettor crop?
Thero is much risk and little to gain
in breeding heifers to cnlvo while un
der twenty-eight months old.
Tho Indifferent farmer is the ono
who 1b always most slow and caroloss
when It comes to working tho road.
This is a good time to begin teach
ing young stock to roost Indoors, if
thoy haven't been In tho habit of doing
so bofore .
Color of tho egg shell has nothing
to do with the flavor of the eggs ae it
Is Influenced by tho food nnd tho sur
roundings. It Is poor policy to change tho
quarters of hens or pullets while lay
ing, for it usually checks or stops egg
production.
Tho sooner the chicks' night quar
ters are made rat-proof tho bettor.
Thero Is nothing to gain by running
risks with rats.
As the weather grows cooler more
corn nnd kaflr can be added to tho
ration, but it is a bad practice to feed
theso grains exclusively.
Don't forgot tho sand for ducks.
Besides a visible supply handy at all
times, their morning and night mash
should alwnys contain some.
Do uot throw out tho sour milk;
glvo it to tho chicks', It's a valuable
food for them and much rollshcd.
Sklmmllk or buttermilk' is nlso good.
To prevent the further spread of
applo scab a second application of
llmo sulphur diluted ono gallon to
forty gallons of water should bo
mado.
Parsnips and carrots aro much hot
ter If allowed to remain In tho ground
until tho weather freezes. Cover them
with manuro and they can be dug up
at any time.
Tho young stock on tho farm, espe
cially tho calves that are stunted in
their early growth, aro seldom as well
developed as those that grow from
tho very beginning.
Many growers do not know tho
value of humus; they are satisfied
with their soil. IIumuB is tho life of
your land. Add vegetable matter to
your soil whenever you can.
The prosperity of nny agricultural
community is dependent largely upon
tho character of the soil, as well as
upon tho climate, market facilities,
character of tho people, and other
factors, i
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Never hns the Bummer bIIo boon
moro "valuable than It has this sea
son. Such a year ought to convlnco
every dairy farmer that ho needs Just
such provision as this against possi
ble shortage of feed.
Tho Malno Experiment station tonic
for fowls Is as follows: Pulverized
gentian, one pound; pulverized ginger,
one-quarter pound; pulverized salt
peter, one-qunrtcr pound; Iron sul
phatu, one-half pound. Mix thorough-'
ly, and uso two or three tablespoon
fuls In ten parts of dry mash.
Charcoal 1b n pressing essential for
poultry. Instend of buying it, rake
up some old chunks of wood, cobs
and other refuse about tho place, set
ting flro to them. When the heap
turns to a mass of hot coals, smother
it down with a little wator or dirt, and
when it cools, you will havo a handy
(.upply of charcoal and bo rid of tho
rubbish.
o
The decrease of the lumber supply
has resulted in a steady advance of
prices, bo that tho growing cost of
building has become a serious problem
on the farm. This question may bo
greatly simplified by a study of the
use of concrete.
Damaged foods, such as moldy
grains, old musty beof scraps, decayed
vegetable matter, tainted meat, green
cut bones, nnd Improperly cured al
falfa aro tho common causes of a
largo percentage of the disease)
affecting poultry.
HINTS AND FACTS OF HORSES AND MULES
Home From
(Hy 3 m. nnLU)
Tho very high pflco of both hny nnd
grain 1b forcing farmers to sell all sur
plus stock. Some prices can be picked
up by farmers who are supplied with
food.
Somo buyers want tho ndvlco of a
veterinary boforo thoy purchase, If
bo. then by nil means pick your man.
Whon a horse or mule has dona his
steady work In a city for 20 years, is
sour stiff and generally Incapacitated,
ho is a poor investment for nnyono
most cortninly the farmer who Is look
ing for n bargain.
Somo men wash tholr teamB all over,
each evening when work 1b done, (dur
ing tho Bumiuur season), a good plan
as it removes sweat most effectually.
Cribbing Is a bad habit at tho best,
tho only wny to stop It Is to uso a tight
strap around tho crlbbor'B neck. Tho
writer haB cured several of thoso un
satisfactory animals.
Interfering behind Is a bad habit In
a horse, as a remedy uso only one or
two nnlls on insido of shoe and curvo J
shoo properly insido
A balky home hnd best bo gotten
rid of aa a balky horse. Let tho other
fellow cure him.
Shying enn sometimes bo cured by
letting tho horso pnss slowly by the
terrifying object Sovcro punishment
rarely makes a cure.
Musty hay carries many 'Ills.
Keep a good-sized lump of rock snlt
in each horso trough.
Savo money by hnvlng tho old
horsoB' teeth flattened so thoy can
grind their feed.
Water for the horses should bo fresh
from tho pump during tho winter
months no ico water.
Work or exercise tho stallion dally,
and your next season's colt crop will
bo much moro satisfactory.
LIME IMPROVES
SOIL CONDITIONS
On Some Land It Is Necessary as
Actual Plant Food for Al
falfa and Clover.
Hy It O. WEATIIEItSTONB.)
When wo apply llmo to our Boll wo
look to its effect upon tho soil rather
than to Its direct influonco upon the
plants. Whllo many farms contain
sufficient deposits of llmo, It 1b nlso
truo that many soils nro deficient in
this element
Llmo has various functions. It cor
rects soil acidity; thus stimulating tho
action of tho bacteria that assist In
making plant food available and
gathor nltrogon from the atmosphere
It 'changes dormant plant fobd Into
active plant food, by carbonating the
soil water and makes It a moro pow
erful solvent
It ImproveB tho physical condition
of tho Boll by making a heavy eoll
moro friable and a loose soil moro
compact. On some soIIb it is needed
as an actual plant food, for auch crops
as alfalfa and clover.
Thoro aro various kinds of llmo
used for agricultural purposes and
each kind haB certain advantages but
my exporlenco has led mo to bellovo
that it is much safer to use tho car
bonate, or ground limestone, oocauso
It does not have a tendency to destroy
the humuB In tho soil, especially If
largo quantities are used ut one time.
On heavy sails that are Inclined to
be wet the caustic llmo will havo moro
benellclal offoctB nnd liberate moro
plant food. Such land requires a
moro powerful ngent to tear apart and
decompose the soil partlcleB aiid Im
prove Its physical conditions. For
Bweetcnlng tho soil tho carbonate, or
ground limestone, is equally valuable.
Llmo uliould be applied early In tho
spring, when it has not been uppllod
the previous fall, und should be ap
plied a numbor of days boforo ferti
lizer and bo thoroughly Incorporated
with the soil.
If fertilizer containing nitrogen is
applied whero It will come in contact
with tho caustic lime thero will bo n
) wasto of ammonia and a consequent
loss of fertility
Tho great question Is how much
shall wo use. I hellevo thut ono ton
of caustic llmo (a an ndequato amount
to supply at ono time. If tho ground
limestone Is applied, wo may bsifely
douhlo tho amount. A modernto ap
plication ovory four or six years Is
moro desirable than a heavier appli
cation less frequently.
the Fields.
No horso Is well broken until ho has
no fear whatever of tho automobile
Try to turn your horso's back to
tho wind and blanket him when tying
him up, as tho wind blowing against
hts breast is npt to lay the foundation
of rheumatism, stiffness and similar
ailments.
If tho brood raareB nro not worked
regunrly, Beo that thoy- got out In
tho open air and sunlight and movo
around.
Ofton wo do not npproclnto tho vir
tues of tho modest unassuming mule.
Ho costB no moro than a horBO cojt to
foal and raiso and. is less trouble and
oxpenBo to put in tho harness. Ho 1b
not ns susceptible to disease nB tho
horse, and ho 1b not bo onBlly made
Btlff or lamo. Ho rcqulrcB less feed:
than a horso of tho same size, yet will
do ob much or moro work with lesn
fntlguo. Ho will do you 20 yean'
faithful service.
Sco that tho animals nro comfort
ablo and that they havo at all tlmea
plenty of water,
This may bo tho threshold of tho
horseless age, but just try to buy n
pair of good horses nnd you will And
out that tho horso Is still In good de
mand. Tho bcBt salo you can possibly mako
of your farm cropH is to sell them to
your stock In tho wny of food. And
then, too, tho fertility of tho soil i
kept whorq it will bring tho blggost
returns.
With tho increased prices of horses,
moro attention la bolng paid to tho
care of tho feot.
Most of tho troublo with horses'
feet 1b caused by Improper shoeing.
"Breaking a Wso" is a harsh cx
prcflslon. NowndnyB tho farmer "gen
tles" tho colt without ruining its dis
position. PROPER CARE OF ,
SWEET POTATOES
i
Unlike Other Vegetables, Tubers
Should Be Stored in a Warm
and Dry Place.
(By L. M. BENNINGTON.)
Sweet potatoes need to bo handled)
carefully If they nro to bo kept
through the winter nnd unllko most
other vogtablos, Bwtfet potatoes should;
bo kept In a warm, dry placo.
Ii) tho first placo sweet potatooe
must be dug at tho right time. They
should bo dug boforo the hard frosts.
have killed the tops, for this injure
tho quality of tho tubers oinowhat
After digging, tho potatoes must bo
handled as carefully ns though (heyi
wcro eggs. Irish potatoes can bo shov
eled nround rather carelessly, and oft
en a bruise In one of the potatoes, or
oven i decayed spot, will not affect
the other part which Is left in Bound
condition.
But not so with tho sweet Dotato.
for a brulso it ono end will affect the
quality of tho Bound part at tho other
end and will render it unfit for use.
Tltls fact is not gcnorally understood
by many growers who handlo sweet
potatoes ns carelessly as they do Irish,
potatoes.
This fact Is responsible for many of
the potatoes of poor quality which nre.
served during the winter.
Aftor being hnndled, tho sweet po
tatoes should be stored In a warm,
dry place. A temperaturo of 00 to 70
degrees Is about right for tho proper
keeping of sweet potatoes.
Somo persons havo stored them In
tho sand, or dust from tho country
road, to help preservo an oven tem
peraturo. If tho potatoes aro stored in sand or
dust, enra must be taken that the sand;
Is perfectly dry.
Handled carefully, sweet potatoes
can be kopt for somo months and will
be found of good quality late in tho
wintor.
The Poultry Mite.
The red mlto works at night; it
crawls forth from Us hiding placo and.
attacks tho fowlB whllo thoy aro at
roost. Hundreds of theso may prey
upon a single hen, fill themselves witln
blood, and thon crawl back to their
hidtng-placoB contented until tho next
night During tho day these para
sites llo dormant In the cracks and
crovlcos about tho henhouse, hence
thoy nro not so easily detected by the
novico.
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