The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, October 31, 1913, Image 3
THE NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. f : Cornerfofy zFuniorj ? 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 ,j.j,-' STO5V; w&V- - 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? mMT'$ -r. . ; '- - .. - -" W1 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. r i v; A -kK. A J- 2. fofr'nm IffniiBiMiifiiV nJnfff .JSiliiM 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 i ' 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. m ,x ! -' 'TJJp'T V ""twi'iw"; ffVi!'!.. M.V