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About The farmers' alliance. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1889-1892 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 1891)
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD. HEN HOUSES MAY BE CHEAP YET GOOD ENOUGH. A Woman' Opinion, on the 8abjwt.V Good Recipe for Whitewash No, ions PUata and How to Kill Them Home Matter. Cheap Hen Honses. Costly hen-hiH'- ere vory nice, I suppose, and i? !w.ed when jour pocket will admit of it, writes a prac tical w jcian in the Rural Home, but my object is to show how somo farm er's wife liko myself, can keep a small flock of hens with profit, and very small outlay outside the resources found on every farm. My hen-house is just one-half of the building erected for a pig-pen; it is par titioned off and boarded up separate from the part occupied by the hogs; it is small and I never try to keep a large flock. It is filled between the studs with sawdust, and covered overhead with the same. It has one south and .one east window, both small, having each six lights of seven by nine glass. All the "fixings" inside is an old pan formerly used to boil maple sap: it is about six feet by three, and is filled with road dust, wood ashes, and a small admixture of slacked lime, and is of great value as a dust box. Besides this there are three or four common "store" boxes nailed on the walls for nests, (we never need traps to catch the eggs , and keep the hens from eat ing them) and some three by four scantling for roosts. Contrary to all established rules, this hen-house is never cleaned more than once during the winter, sometimes not even once. Every few days they are given a light scattering of straw or chaff, and when this begins to get damp or dirty, more is thrown on the top. Their feed is thrown into this, making it necessary for them to scratch for their living, which is the first and most important requisite of success. Their nests are filled with cedar boughs in stead of straw, and we have found this is a sure exterminator of lice. We give them as much of a variety of feed as possible, sometimes bran, shorts or meal, wet with warm water, or better still, with the liquid meat has been boiled in, if pot very salt; sometimes corn, barley or dlits. All the egg shells used during the summer, when the hens have free run, are saved and fed in winter, with a marked influence on egg production; but better yet is the saving of all liv ers, hearts, and refuse scraps of meat, which our neighbors feed to their dogs, for the hens. A little mess of this once or twice a week will make them lay bravely, and never think of eating an egg. Warm water is better than cold, and warm milk either sweet or sour, better than either. A feed once or twice a week of chopped cabbage leaves, (the loose outside ones, that are never cooked) onion tops, apples, broken or burned bones, etc., help greatly and costs nothing but a little work. When I cannot get gravel handily, I feed finely pounded crockery and find it answers every purpose. With such treatment our hens lay splendidly, with the mercury many de grees below zero, for this is a cold winter even for Canada. A Recipe for Whitewash. A recipe for whitewash, suitable for out-buildings on a farm, something that will not rub off and not injure trees, can be tinted: For one barrel of color wash use half a bushel white lime, three pecks hydraulic cement, ten pounds umber, ten pounds ochre, one pound Venetian red, one-quarter pound lamp black. Slake the lime, cut the lamp black with vinegar and mix well together; then add the ce ment and fill the barrel with water. Let it stand twelve hours before using, and stir it frequently while putting it on. numua In the Soil. Almost all farmers know the value of humus or vegetable mold in the soil. Often, they hold exaggerated ls of its importance. It is not of itself necessarily an evidence of great fertility, because it may lack, and in some localities generally doe3 lack, the needed mineral elements for making crops of grain and grass. But where humus is abundant, the complete fer tility that is waited may be easily Aitnnhnrl Kir tVtst ...-.a ' nf . K m-nAn1 mineral fertilizer, potash or phosphate, one or both. Wild Plants. , Wild carrot is another bad weed J which unless treated rightlv, becomAj t a permanent nuisance. This is a bien. nial plant and seeds the second year. Wild mustard is a similar plant, and for all such weeds the best way is cutting them, if in grass land, before the flower appears and again later when new flowers will appear, 60 as to prevent seeding, will entirely rid the land of those and other similar weeds in two years. To cut, or otherwise prevent the seeding of annual weeds, will get rid of them in ono year, ex cepting such as will hereafter grow from other seeds in the soil that may bo turned up by the plow. Growing New Varieties of Corn. The false oars of corn that sometimes appear on the ends of the stalks among the tassels possess individual pecul iarities of their own. If planted, they will produco new varieties, while the grain grows regularly on the stalk follows, unless it has been crossed by some other variety, the parent seed. When the corn crop is a good one, these tassel ears should be planted, as they will produce better sorte. . Whon it is a poor one the seedling will be Inferior. Pay What Labor is Worth. The complaint that the smartest and most active young men prefer work in cities is largely the fault of farmers. If they pay so much a month, with per haps $2 or 3 variation to good, bad or THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE, LINCOLN, NEB., SATURDAY, FEB. 28, 1891. indifferent, is it any wonder they jjet little good help. In the city, energy. activity and intelligence generally com mand nearly what they are worth. They are just as essential on the farm as anywhere. t Changing- Cggt. One of the practices among farmers is changing eggs with each other in or der to avoid in-breedinir. In the first place, the eggs themselves are a risk. as no one can leu wnat tney may pro duce, perhaps no two chicks from them being alike and no breeding of value in the stock. In the next place, the cnangmg 01 eggs mates tne flocks in a community all of ono blood, so . that nothing can be gained by the practice aixer it nas Deen persisted in lor a while. Get pure-bred males from some source, or eggs from some breeder of pure breeds. If you must cross, do it correctly. Do not waste time in the attempt to better your flock by chang ing eggs for some nondescript stock that has no merit nor possesses any ad vantage. To improve a flock, one should know the kind of stock he is us ing, and what can be expected from it The changing of eggs is a practice usu ally pursued by those who do not know the value of the breeds, and such per sons should not be encouraged. Hroad Tires. The broad-tired wagons of forty years ago are coming into fashion again, rhey save roads greatly, and in some places there is a rebate on the toll a very proper thing where they are used. About the only draw-back to them is that on slippery mud roads, such as occur after a light shower, they slide around too much when the surface is not level. On fields and meadows they are much to be preferr ed to the common narrow tires, which cut up the soil. Illiterate Farmers. ' There are few illiterate fanners who succeed, but when one such does, it will be found that he is chock full of mother wit, alias common sense, alias science; and such men are successful because they can't help it. It is quito edifying to watch sharp-eyod farmer, who can neither read nor write, jog ging along through life gathering up dollars at every turn. Dairy Pointers. Be sure and keep your finger nails short, always. Never wet your fingers while milk ing, especially with milk. Sell your kicking cow to the butcher; she has no value in the dairy. Neverdrive a cow nor a fattening steer faster than a slow walk. You have no use for a dog on a dairy farm, except it be a well trained collie. A cattle chain or a strap with a snap is a better tie than the old-fashioned stanchion. A warm and comfortable stable will save feed, and straw or dry leaves are softer than oak plank. In cold weather take the chill from the water you use in messing cows; they will like it better. Remembr that a cow is like a closet or cupboard; you can take nothing out unless you put something in. , Handle your heifers every day and make them gentle; it will save much trouble when they become fresh. If your cow is in heat, present the male as soon as possible, and separate her for that day from the heard. Give your cows a tablespoonful of salt once a day in their mess of mill feed; it will keep them in good health. If you want the best results from your cows feed them all they can as similate and digest, but remember it takes close watching to reach that point.- Have" all your milking apparatus scrupulously clean; milk being a fatty substance you may need pure soap in the cleaning; use scalding hot water afterwards. , A milker who can use only one hand at a time, or who will milk with thumb and finger, never should be entrusted with a cow either in a large dairy or in a private stable. Household Hints, Use turpentine and machine oil to polish your sowing machine, and rub briskly. Use flannel to wash the children with in winter, and they will be good-natured while bathing. Whon suffering from overstrained and tired eyes, bathe them in hot water several times a dav. - It is never safe to remove wool stock ings from an infant till it has passed its "second summer," or cut its canine teeth. ' Bent whalebones may bo restored to shape by soaking them in warm water a few hours, or by warming over a lamp or lire. Hands may be kept smooth in cold weather by avoiding the use of warm water. Wash them with cold water and soap. Cold water may bo drank freely in all fevers, except when the fever is connected with lung troubles, and in such cases it might chill the patient. It is wonderful how often a case of stomachic trouble will yield when tho feet are covered with wool hose and a woolen bandago worn over the abdo men. To strengthen the hair, dissolve an ounce oZ borax and one ounce of cam phor in two quarts of water. Wash the, hair with this twice a week, clip ping the ends occasionally. Keep the back, especially between tho shoulder blades, well covered; also the chest well protected. In sleeping in a cold room establish the habit of breathing through the nose, and never with the mouth open. One who writes as with authority upon improving the complexion, re commends bathing tho face at night with water as hot as it can be borne, followed by a quick dash of cold water and drying with a soft towel. If the water is hard it can be softened with a few drops of ammonia or a little borax. THE GAMBLERS. Tho Frofeaaleaal Was Llahtalas;, bat tho Boys Bseaaed to Have Tak.a a Uaad. Helens, in '83. was a rough mining town. The Northern Pacific Railroad had just been built into the place and civilization bad not yet had time to diive the rowdy element into the sav age haunts of isolated mining districts. It was in those days tho people lirst spoke the name of that city with a no ticeable accent on the first syllable. Habit became second nature and the custom still endures. I remember walking along a busi ness thoroughfare in the evening with the sounds of boisterous voices, clink ing glasses and repulsive oaths on every hand. I entered a gambling den, its broad doors were wide oucu and the great electric arc light invited ine to a study of the crowded room. Noise, noise, noise; rattliog chips; a snip, snip, snip as the imperturbable faro dealer dealt his cards; laughter, sallies of wit. shrill profanity and now or then a sigh or a groan. If he has the moral courage to fsce a scene like this, the student of human nature can read more character over a green cloth in half an hour than in any other place in a week. I watched a game of draw-poker. Till the day of my death, I will never forgot it. The players were three iu number. At the right hand side sat a man whose tout ensemble bespoke tho villain. Ho wore a black slouched hat which was drawn low down over his eyes, with the brim beut so as to shade them from the gazo of the other two. Not a movement, not tho turn of a card escaped him. At every stage of the game he had figured his exact chances; he knew precisely what to do at any given time. He played for gain. He was constantly on the look out for treachery. He was sileut. He had the devil in his heart. He was a gambler by profession. At his right was a young man with a face flushed with liquor. His countenance reflected his feelings. His eyes were mirrors, and in them the gambler at his left saw every hand he playr-d. The youth talked much, boasted occasionally and. sneered often. Nevertheless, he lost and lost heavily. lho remaining player was a middlo ged mau, swarthy of feature and rough of dress. He wore a flannel shirt and held his cards with two great, rough hands that knew toil with a pick and shovel, lie played recklessly and, like all reckless players, his luck was wonderful. He watched only his own hand; he smiled good naturedly at the voluble and liquor-heated youth, for he was winning and a winner gener ally smiles. The gambler and the vouth lost steadily to the miner, the brst because his cards were poor, the latter because his face was an index of his cards, good or bad, an index which the miner, though attending strictly to his own play, could not help noticing. When superior skill is united with a villainous nature, fraud will result if skill and naturo come under the ban of fortune. So, after a time, the (.am bler captured pile after pile of varie gated chips, but ahvars on his own deal. When his companion dealt ha rarely played. The miner grew sus picious and cast furtive glances at the" man in the slouched hat. The youth bragged, bullied and cursed, but the other two paid no attention to his words. At last there was a "jack-pot." Tho youth dealt and every one passed. The miner dealt with a like result; but when the gambler dealt, he "opened." To do this he was obliged to have a pair of jacks or better. The miner had watched him deal much as a cat watches a mouse. I saw in the miner's eyes a gleam so determined, so reck less, that I involuutarily started. Ha plavea calmly. Cards were drawn and bets made. The miner wagered his last chip. The youth, with a howl of wrath, throw down his cards, and the gambler drew out of his pocket some shining gold pieces. He placed them on the pile of chips. The miner took a large, uglv-looking six-shooter from his pocket and put it on the table, then he laid down an equal amount of gold and demanded to see his oppo nent's hand. Three kings and two aces! "A full house." said the gambler calmly. He reached out his hand to take the money. ".No vou don t, ' cried the miner: "see this hand!" He laid his live cards face upward before the players. He had not even s pair. The gambler smiled contempt uously and made auother moveuicut to take the inonev. Wait! You've seen that hand, now look at this oc" His revolver was pointed full at tho gambler's breast and his eye gleamed along tho barrel. Tho gambler never winced. Ho waited in apparent con sternation for a second. "Boys," said the miner appealing to the bystauders. "he took them kings from "tho bottom of the jmck. an' he slipped tho cut before dealin' bpnigi bping! Quick as a flash tho gambler had drawn a wcapou and shot his oppo nent. Killing him on the spot. 1 was, dazed and can remember nothing more, but, as I left tho hall amid tho confusion that followed, I recall these words, spoken by some oue close beside me. "Joe Henderson. Good 'null fel ler, but I alius 'lowed he'd die with his boots on. Can't stick to gamblin' an' live, nohow!" William Wallace Cook, in Detroit Free Press. Had His Nose Pulled. Tho only official from the white house who ever had his uose pulled in the capitol was a sou of President Adams. The incident is narrated in the Washington Telegraph, a news paper which was published at the tima and advocated the election of Gen. Jackson. It seems that voung John Adams was a rather imperious, self- conceited sort of fellow, possessed, nowever. or a great deal more than ordinary ability; and that he insulted a man named Jams at one of the white house receptions. Jar vis sent a note challenging the voung man. but he declined to pay any attention to it. About a month later, when John Adams went to tho capitol to deliver messages from the president to each house f congress, after having deliv ered that which was addressed to the speaker of tho house, as he was going through the rotuuda to the senate he was overtaken by Mr. Jarvis. who pulled his nose and shipped his face. Although President Adams notified congress of the iusult which was offered to his special messenger, noth ing ever camo of it. EVEN WITH THE BAGG FAMILY. 6h Knew Their Reeerd and Didn't Hl tata to Tall It. t "Now. madam." said tho attorney for the defendant to a little, wiry, black eyed, fidgety woman who had been summoned as a witness in a breach of the peace case, "you will please give your testimony in as few words as possible. You know the defendant?" Know who?" "The defcudant Mr. Joshua Bagg?" "Josh Bagg! I guess I do know him, and I knowod his daddy afore him, and I don't know uothiug to the credit of either of 'em aud I' dou't think " "We don't want to know what you think, madam. Please say 'yes' or 'no' to niT question." "What question." 'Do you know Mr. Joshua Bagg?" "Don't I know Mm, though? Well. I should smile! You ask Josh Bagg if he knows me. Ask him if he knows anything 'bout tryin', to cheat a pore wiildcr lika me out of a two-year old steer. Ask him if " "Madam. I " "Ask him whoso land ho got his cord wood off of last spring, and why he hauled it in the night Ask his "wife, Betsey Bagg, if she knows anything about slippiii' iu a neighbor's paster lot and milking three cows on tho sly. Ask " "See here, madam " . "Ask Josh Bagg about that uncle of his that died in a penitentiary out West. Ask him about lettin' his pore ole mother die in the pore house. Ask Betsey Bagg about puttiug a big brick into a lot of butter she sold last fall " "Madam. I tell you " "See if Josh Bagg knows anything about feeding ten head of cattle all the salt they would eat, and then letting them swill down all the water they could hold just 'fore ho driv them into town, and sold 'em. Seo what bo's got to sny to that!" "That has nothing to do with tho caso. 1 want you to " "Then there was old Ar.i aol Bagg, own uncle to Josh, got rid of his native town on a rail 'tween two davs, and Betsey Bagg's own brother got fetched in a neighbor's hen-house at midnight. Ask Josh" "Madam, what do you know about this casoP" "I don't know the first livln' thing 'bout it, but I'll bet Josh Bagg is guilty, whatever it is. The fact is, I've owed them Baggses a grudge for tho last fifteen years and I got myself called up as a witness on purpose "to git even with 'em, and I feel that I've dona it Good-by." Ddroit Free tress. Queer Lascar Sailors. The British'stcamship Mameluke, at SpreckolV refinery wharf, has a crew of sixty East Indian coolies, commonly called Lascars. The officers of the vessel speak very highly of them, and say they would rather sail with them than With a white crew. They are docile, obedient aud trustworthy, in this respect differing from the Malays, who are extremely treacherous. Some of their peculiar customs are very amusiug to Americans. For in stance, they always eat their food in tho open air, with their faces toward the west, and tho greatest insult a white man or "Geaonr" can offer them is to walk between them and he sun while they are eating, causing his shadow tofall on their food, which im mediately becomes unclean. Their appearance is rendered pecu liar by their habit of shaving their heads, leaving but one tuft at the side for "the Prophet" to drag them into Paradise by. When married they wear a ring on their big toe. They stand the cold remarkably well, and make good sailors, being as active ns monkeys. Ia running aloft they ig nore tho ratlins and use the backstays, a perpendicular wire rope, which they literally walk up. Philadelphia Record. 9 i , A Man Finds His Exact Worth. A traveler in Morocco tells in "Tho Laud of an African Sultan" the follow ing story: "The Sultan not long ago discovered that one of his viziers was becoming too powerful. He thorefore summoned him to tea and compli mented him on his great wealth. Tho vizier, becoming vain, boasted of the number of his houses, horses, wives and slaves, and the Sultan rebuked him, saying that ho was too rich and thought too much of himself. To show tho man exactly what he was worth, His Majesty had him taken by soldiers to tho slave market, where he was put up for sole, aud received only one bid of eightpence. He was then taken back to the Sultan, who said to him: 'Now you know your proper value eightpence. Go home and ponder over it.' When the man reach ed home, however, he found that nearly all his property had been taken away by order of the Sultan. Only ono small residence, one wife, one horse and oue slave had been left him." To Keep Flowers from Flagging. One way of preventing dolicato and sweet-scented flowers from flagging is to cut them with several leaves on the stem, and when the flowcr-head is placed in water to allow only this head to remain above the 'rater," while the leaves are entirely submerged; by this means the leaves seem to help support tho flower, which uill then last for three days in a fairly cool room. "..." The Hiccough. It is uu old remedy for the hiccough to hold one's breath, and if that fails then to gargle with a little water, nod if the hiccough still continues to tickle the nosu to the point of soeczittg once or twice, then the hiccough is ure to c. t America has 1.000,000 telephones; the world l,200,gi0. HIGHLAND STOCK FARM TOP33KA, KLAN"eU3. J r Maryvillo Nodaway Oo. Mo ;. We her n horse of the above broad whisk at po aioeiied. A certiDoat or restaur Want a GOOD CStrtTL STALLION, WORtS ASKABLI r-ria and w will surprtM rou wHh BARN AT WABASH PASSENGER DEPOT. WhMwmar . this WILLIAM ERNST. GRAF, JOHNSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. U1POBTIB ACT) BRKIDKR 0 H-ta Percneron and French Coach Horecv 1 I hsra the larrest and best lot of ParobsTon. Itallloni of li iluabte ar et of ttie Mississippi. 1 bar over twenty tested and aoelimatM stallions, which, together with my this year' Importation, -ska OM of tba nnest oolleotloos of horse erer seen at on man's barns. I have also a fine lot of youn imported sod home-bred mare and a f obolo Krenoh Coach Stallion. All my horse ar reoorded la the American and Freuota Btud Book andoertlSuatM fumiakarf t lI I J t me un uiuoa in exisionce in my aiua you netter none tor less money man any omer importer or Breeder, I will pay your erae e of oomlnv to say plaoe, and you shall be the Judge. My farm, known a th Woif UroM Btook Kann, 1 located on tb 0. B. - Q. By., between Teeumseb and Nebraska City wltala hi 'luumu di s ouw bi nuuvMi iuiuud win OHIO HERD Jumbo 11809, The largest herd and iet or west. I have forltwi, Bumbo 1WI0; 7 I I f , m v DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE GROWER AND Save Micldle Profits! BSTABUIHKD IIT ItTt. $00 ACRES CHOICE TREES AND PLANTS Suited to Ncbruka, Ready to eeU. i Stock True to Namo. Sttlsftotion GuirtntssS i PACKED TO CARRY 8AFELT. 1 lam ttook of forest seed linn at Low Bates and twyoMlMe yarttst ea -Mt Crrpe4 a ono bofor rush of delivery. Boat far OMaiegw. MaUoa abmbm' Au-oa warn wittta Address CRETE NURSERIES, or E. T. STEPHENS, CRETE, KZ3. 834 P Qt, ITortH of. O. Centrally located and newly furnished throughout Table flrtt-oUit. LAEGB A ND Term, $1-25 tc $1.50 Per day. N0N EXCELLED J. .W HARTLEY, State Agent. ELITE STUDIO, 1 he finest ground floor Pnctograph Gallery in the State. All Work in the finest finish. Satisfaction Guaranteed. 2263 nth street, iotf. T. W. TOWNSEND, Proprietor. The Latest Improved and Best End-gate Seeder 1 ' fl .MX" P. B. EH & Co. Proprtv Importers aad BwiIm f SHIRE, PERCHERON, CLYDESDALE AC? COACH HORSES. ' aperlo Merit lor horses, lea dm. lew I nisi rata Brloaa. Ho other flna la Is. Ill aem to meg ooasysoi aaaer cm mm fx M tern that we do. whloh Insures to eoaa. Square deallaj'aueoeeaful breeders aa lutesuooeaa. Wohava tpr la m9 atablea the wtnaere ef 107 prlaaa ia rope end Artoi Kansas State fair ana Atchison Axrloaltaral Fair was twenty-two pi aa, fourteen susW prlseaaod six sweepstakes, tar" Write for Illustrated eataloana. Our record last at Maannrl fttata Kate. ARK AJTD 8T Two tsilM Blfhland Park TOPBKA, XAS. T. OTJTHIBR&SOT, ixrorma or English Shire, Percberonand Frencii DRAFT HORDED. for fM iadtvMaelS and lohato trseCtw C id fiiarmai mm tr oooapaaia aaoh horse. D f4 Moaar, aoaie to our hare with tM mm ft our mob aoasas uw rauaa. ana sen norses oa easy lertns Itlgon tC unu. rile lor oaiatof ue or come see tee. OF POLAND CHINA SWINE, niADcn ar the Iowa First Prize male 1890. the lara-eat individual owned by oao asaa pig- of all sires and either sex for sale, from the farmer's boor to tne most valuable now animal, ana oi au mm rnmlllps known to Poland China hon. The following nialaa In uaa Doctor 6811? Orient 12167; Young Jamb liXHfT ana Junino jr., vol. vt a. y. v. tv. Inspection Invited. Free livery to drive to farm on applloaUoa to O. W. Baldwin, liveryman. Catalogue and price on applloaUoa. 6mS8 T.J HAKH18, Wet Liberty. Iowa. JAMES McHAFFIE, Prcpr DISC HARROW LAWRENCE fflPLEMT CO, Wholesale and Retail Dealers in Sttj FARM MACHINERY. Best in the market. No , Fa r m o r should be - without one ;For Sale by- We can make you special prices on a limited number of WFm mese. i'U. - Send in your order fit" ftTlftft. Address J. W. HARTLEY, tt i-incoin,
