The Texhoma Argus (Texhoma, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 8, 1914 Page: 2 of 8
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THE ARfcUS, TEXHOMA, OKLAHOMA
fiOADS
making a split-log drag
Every Farmer Should Posses* One of
Theee Implements for Use on
Roads After a Rainfall.
The halves of the drag should be
framed together by wooden braces so
that the split surfaces of the log shall
l>e In front. The face of the drag
«hould lie, at an angle of 45 degrees
with the lines of the road, thus draw-
ing the earth toward the center. The
rear log should follow In the track of
the flrst. Drags should be used after
rains, or continued wet weather to
smooth the earth's surface and pre-
vent ruts from forming to hold water.
Split-Log Drag.
The drag not only smooths the road,
but crowns It and puddles the mud so
that It Is hard when dry.
These drags have been used with
great success on clay or water-holding
soils. Many stretches of black gumbo
roads In the West are maintained by
the use of this Implement alone.
Every farmer should own one, and
after a rain he should spend a few
hours on the road adjacent to his
farm. If there are many depressions
to till, the drag should be used when
the road Is wet.
After It has been used long enough
to make the road fairly smooth, tbo
drag gives the best results If used
when the earth begins to dry.
gravel to surface roads
With Good Material and a Little Atten-
tion Highways 8hould Last
for Several Years.
(By E. D. HOUSE, Colorado Experiment
Station.)
There has been much agitation dur-
ing the past year concerning the sur-
facing of our principal roads and as
In many parts of the state we find de-
posits of gravel It seems that this Is
the material which may be economical-
ly used. A few words concerning the
construction of these roads may not
be out of place.
First of all the construction should
be such that the gravel Is confined and
held In position on the road. ThU U
accomplished by so grading the earth
foundation that shoulders are formed
at the sides. The earth forming the
shoulders should be well compact and
solid, otherwise they will fall In the
function required of them. Loose earth
thrown up from the ditch at the sides
of the road will not answer the pur-
pose unless moistened and rolled with
a seven or ten-ton roller.
The whole surface of the earth foun-
dation should be graded to the required
form and compact with the roller and
the gravel then spread In a layer about
four Inches thick, in the center and
two and one-half Inches at the side.
Enough sand or loam 1b then added to
make the gravel ••bind" well, this is
mlxf-d with the gravel with a harrow
and the layer 1b then sprinkled and
rolled until solid. Another layer of
gravel Is then spread over the first and
treated In the Bame way. The result
Is a graveled surface IB feet wtde and
six Inches thick at the center and three
and one-half Inches thick at the sides,
and if the gravel is of a good quality
th'B road with a little attention should
last for years.
Why a Country Road Unit.
A stretch of road of the utmost im-
portance to a locality may be of little
concern to a particular towushlp in-
volved (the people using another
road), and hence there Is no oppor-
tunity to have the entire stretch of
the road improved as it should be.
And we conclude that no system of
roads that will answer present needs
can be built under township units, be-
cause they are too small to carry on
the work. Moreover, the cost would
fall wholly on the townBhlp, whereas
the center toward which the road goes
1b as much benefited, but may be In a
different township. County control of
the main roads would be better; the
law could let each county vote for or
against county control.- A. N.
A Land of Bsauty.
Maryland appropriates $4,000,000 for
road improvements, a part of which
must be spent for planting trees along
the highways. Maryland Is naturally
a land of beauty; with good roads her
rural districts will be doubly attrac-
tive.
Italian Regulations.
Italy Is drafting and will enforce
• series of regulations covering ths
width of wheel rlins to be allowed on
felghwaj*.
orO?DIMRY
Peopled
DUCHESS A RED CROSS NURSE
Dressed In the cap and gowji of a
Red Cross nurse, the duchess or Suth-
erland, a famous English beauty, was
recently In command of the French
Red Cross work in Brussels, Belgium.
One of the exquisite salons of the
Cercle Artlsque was turned over to
her. There she installed 60 beds,
changed one of the rooms into an
operating theater, and another, where
beautiful paintings still hang, into the
kitchen.
In speaking of how she happened
to offer her services In Brussels, the
duchess said: "I was in Paris and
offered my services to the Secours des
Blesses. A few days after an urgent
message was sent from Brussels and
1 was sent here. Throughout the jour-
ney of eleven hours 1 was received
with the most amazing kindness. The
people wept when they saw the little
red cross upon my arm. I broke down
myself.
"I have one English lady with me,
Miss Gavin, and eight French ladles, Including the Countess de Pourtal and
the Marquise de Chargore. More English nurses have been sent for."
The duchess of Sutherland Is widely known for her beauty and position.
She had been married a year to the marquis of Stafford when she ac-
quired, through the death of her father-in-law, the late duke, the right to
wear the strawberry leaves.
GERMANY'S FIELD MARSHAL
Qen. Count Helmuth von Moltke,
field marshal of the German army,
now In supreme command, under the
kaiser, of the united forces of the
empire, is the favorite nephew of the
old field marshal of the Franco-Prus-
sian war of 1870. He Inherited his
uncle's favorite personal belongings
and his favorite estate. His father
was the old field marshal's younger
brother and was chamberlain to the
king of Denmark, the Moltke family
being of Danish origin. Helmuth von
Moltke, now fifty-six years old, was a
sub-lieutenant In the Franco-Prussian
war and was awarded the iron cross
for bravery. From 1882 to 1891 he
was his celebrated uncle's adjutant
on the general staff, and It took him
that whole period to advance from
the rank of captain to that of major.
When old Von Moltke died the kaiser
made this Intimate friend of his an
A. D. C. In his personal suite.
Helmuth von Moltke Is one of the
most accomplished musicians In Germany, and some twelve years ago, at Jt
banquet of the kaiser's cuirassier regiment at Neudeck, the kaiser led the
hand when It plnyed an old march corniK>sed In 1402 %'hich Moltke had resur-
rected and rewritten as a musical curiosity. It was about this time that the
kaiser appointed him quartermaster-general of the army, an appolntmenf
which pleased everybody, as the officer was popular and had an excellent
reputation as a military executive. He had become popular with the kaisef
for his accomplishments of culture as well as those of the soldier, a very
natural thing.
The kaiser twice oltered him the baton of the field marshal before Moltke
could be persuaded to accept It.
FAKING CARE OF SEED fertility in the orchards
KING OF THE BELGIANS
Europe, last haven of "the divine
right of kings," In the occidental
world, has long glared Impotently ax
Albert, king of Belgium. His casuai
democracy, his undoubted business
ability and his manner of dealing with
the Socialists, so that the Socialists,
cursing most labor conditions, paused
to praise their ruler, has worried them
alfnof.t into prostration.
He is called In the circles which
royalty frequents the ''Socialist king,"
but whatever his political belief tha
fact remains that he brought his coun-
try to a wonderful state of prosperity
and the state railroads under his di-
rect supervision became a little more
profitable than any In Europe.
There are few things that this
accomplished king can not do or hasn't
done. He fights, rides, swims, shooti
and engages In aviation, engineering
and writing with equal facility.
He was an ordinary newspaper-
man for a long time, carrying a police
card, visiting police stations and doing what would be known here at. "Bhlp
news."
As a reporter, It is said, he was a "snappy" worker, who scored many
beats and obtained timely pictures. Possibly his stay In America in 1898,
when he little dreamed of being king, gave him the training necessary to set
a new standard for quick newspaper work in Brussels and Antwerp.
PREPARE FOR A PROFITABLE
CORN CROP NEXT YEAR.
Preference Should Be Given to Plants
That Have Produced Most Heavily
—Short, Thick Stalks Are
Most Desirable.
As soon as the crop ripens, go
through the field with seed-picking
bags and husk the ears from the
stalks that have produced the most
corn without having any special ad-
vantages, such as space, moisture, or
fertility. Avoid the large ears on
stalks standing singly with an unusual
amount of space around them. Prefer-
ence should be given the plants that
have produced most heavily in compe-
tition with a full stand of less pro-
ductive plants.
In all localities the inherent ten-
dency of the plant to produce heavily
Shelves In a S ed-Corn Dry House.
of sound, dry, shelled corn Is of most
Importance.
Late-maturing plants with ears
which are heavy because of an ex-
cessive amount of sap should be Ig-
nored. Sapplness greatly Increases
the weight and is likely to destroy the
quality.
In the central and southern states,
all other things being equal, short,
thick stalks are preferable. Short
stalks are not bo easily blown down
and permit thicker planting. Thick
stalks are not so easily broken down
and in general are more productive
than slender ones. Seed should be
taken from stalks that have no suck-
ers.
The same day seed corn is gathered
the husked ears should be put in a
dry place where there is free circula-
tion of air, and placed In such a man-
ner that the ears do not touch each
other. This is the only safe proce-
dure. Frequently good seed corn Is
ruined because it is thought to be
dry enough when gathered and the
above precaution unnecessary. Seed
corn in every locality, no matter how
dry the autumn, will be benefited by
drying as suggested. If left in the
husk long after ripening, it may
sprout or mildew during warm wet
weather or become Infested with wee-
vils. The vitality of seed is often re-
duced by leaving it in a sack or In a
pile for even a day after gathering.
During warm weather, with some
moisture in cobs, the earB heat in a
remarkably short time.
Use binder twine for stringing the
ears. Binder twine will support 15 or
9 ami*..*.
GERMANY'S GRAND ADMIRAL
Grand Admiral von Tlrplti, the
head of the kaiser's navy, Is the
dominating figure In German official
life. As far as the navy is concerned,
Tlrpltz dominates over the kaiser. A
man of comparatively huiuble birth,
born sixty five years ago, he entered
the royal Prussian navy when he was
only sixteen, cruising In the Baltic,
the North sea, the Mediterranean and
the Atlantic ocean, and rising to the
grade of second lieutenant In time to
serve In the Franco Prussian war on
board the Koenlg Wllhelm. Service
In South Amorlca. In the West Indies
and again In the Mediterranean fol-
lowed, and the young seaman had
soon become so Indispensable to the
service that In 1879 he was appointed
commander of the Zleten; In 1881,
commander of the Blucher, and In
1888, commander of the Bllti, as chief
of the flotilla. He wan made rear ad-
miral In 1895. In 1896 he became
chief of the squadron In East Asia,
and In 1898, secretary of state to the admiralty. There Is no naval expert In
the world who would not have to acknowledge that Admiral von Tirpltx Is
probably the most Illustrious minister of marine now allva He la the real
creator of the Uermau fleet.
A Good Rack for Drying Seed Corn.
20 ears on a string. Ordinarily the
best place to hang these strings of
ears is in an open shed or loft. Per-
manent seed racks are more conven-
ient
Late Turkeys.
Late turkeys are really easier raised
than early, but more often lost. Late
turkeys need all the chance that can
bo given them, yet they are generally
left to mam 'and take care of them-
selves. They should be isolated from
other poultry at flrst, and started with
all the care given the first hatches.
They should be permitted to roost
outside and far away from poultry
buildings and yards, and should be
given free range; but they should be
fed regularly and generously, and
should be frequently dusted with In-
sect powder to prevent Uce.
Scarcely Any 8oll Can Furnish All
Materials Required Without Some
Outside Assistance.
(By J. P. STEWART.)
There Is an important need for fer-
tility In any orchard that is actively
producing and growing. The actual
extent of this need can be approximat-
ed chemically by determining the av-
erage composition of apple wood,
leaves, and fruit, and by applying
these figures to what may be consid-
ered good annual amounts of these
products.
The total plant-food draft of a ma-
ture and active orchard is greater
than that of a 25-bushel crop of wheat
in every important constituent except
phosphorus.
It is practically inevitable, there-
fore, that sooner or later the output
will be reduced or in off seasons will
be developed in any productive or-
chard because of a lack of sufficient
plant food. Notwithstanding, the
trees are usually able to maintain
themselves much better and lodger
than wheat. This is probably largely
because of their much longer season
of root-activity, their more natural
demands, the annual return of most
of the plant food in their leaves, and
their ability to curtail production for
one or more seasons when conditions
become unfavorable. However, it is
quite evident that very important
amounts of plant food are annually re-
moved by an apple orchard. Scarcely
any soli can furnish all these mate-
rials indefinitely in the amounts and
times required, and, unless proper as-
sistance is rendered there must come
a time when production is materially
reduced unlesB these elements are re-
turned to the soil.
Part of the orchard's product re-
quires comparatively small amounts
of the important elements. This is.
notably true of the wood, even when
the annual production of mature trees
is considered. This largely accounts
for the fact that young trees are much
less likely to make a profitable re-
sponse to fertilizer applications than
those of bearing age. The younger
The Unfertilized Trees on the Left
Have Averaged 186 Bushels Per Acre
for Four Years, While Those on the
Right, Differing Only In the Addition
of Manure, Have Averaged 637 Bush-
els.
trees often respond very well to ma-
nure or any satisfactory mulch.
Most orchard soils are sufficiently
supplied with potash in available
forms and the chief shortages seem
to occur in the nitrogen and phos-
phates. This is the case notwith-
standing the fact that the latter ma-
terials are actually required in con-
siderably smaller amounts.
Dlacard Sour 8wlll Barrel.
Banish the sour swill barrel. Be
sure that the hogs have plenty of pure
water to drink, and keep the feeding
places clean and dry.
Grading Egg*.
Do you know how to grade and can-
lie eggs? Do you do It before sending
Ikem to market?
best machinery for farm
Before Making Purchaie It Would Be
Well for Farmer to Consider
Several Essentials.
(By A. H. BENTON, Minnesota Experi-
ment Station.)
A difficult problem on the American
farm Is to decide how much* and what
kind of machinery should be pur-
chased. Some farms are so over-
stocked with machinery that the de-
preciation, interest and repairs eat up
much of the profits.
Assuming the average deprecia-
tion on machinery at ten per cent, and
the interest on the money invested at
six per cent, we have an average
yearly expense of approximately $13
on each $100 Invested in machinery.
A man who has $1,500 worth of ma-
chinery would have $195 expense on
this alone In interest and deprecia-
tion. If his work could be done with
half this amount he could save $97.50.
This would be equivalent to the in-
terest on $1,625 at six per cent.
A farm of 80 acres cannot profit-
ably use four-horse machinery be-
cause three horses should do the work
on a farm of this size. In buying ma-
chinery too large in proportion to the
size of the farm unnecessary expense
la added. This comes not only In the
Increased cost of the machinery, but
also In the maintenance of any extra
horses required.
Beftore purchasing new machinery It
is well to consider the following ques-
tions:
Will the use of the new machine
give me a larger net return from the
crops on which It Is used?
Will the new machine reduce the
demand for man labor?
Where a machine la required only a
few days each year, can It not be rent-
ed more cheaply than purchased?
Will the money to be Invested re-
turn more in some other way?
Has the machine been thoroughly
tried by others and found satisfac-
tory?
Clean Seed Important.
Clean seed is of prime Importance,
no matter what variety is Bown.
Whether the seed le furnished or pur-
chased, It la well to be euro it 1B thor.
oughly cleaned, or else recleaa 11 br
fore lowing.
♦FARM*1
POULTRY
protect the late hatches!
Chicke Are Special Prey of Rate,j
Weasels and Hawks Unleaa Proper j
Precautions Are Taken.
Late-hatched chicks often become
the special prey of rats, weasels and
hawks unless proper precautions are
taken to avoid losses from this
source. These enemies seem worsei
in late summer than early in the sea*
eon. In the case of rats, this is act
counted for by the fact that as soon
as hot weather arrives many of them
desert their hot quarters around the
barns and sheds and take to the old
board and rail piles, as well as to the:
patches of thick weeds and grass-
Here they lurk, ready to pounce upoa
unsuspecting chicks.
As to preventive measures: firsts
all harbors near the chicks' runs,
should be banished and the rodents
destroyed before they have had time
to do any harm. Until this is done
the best preventive measure is the
free use of wire netting about the
coops, such as screening ventilation
holes, providing screen doors. Nor
must it be forgotten that rodents can
burrow, hence when these enemies
are present floors in the coops are
necessary if losses would be avoided-
It is when chicks run in an open
field that hawks and crows do the
most mischief. When there are trees
or shrubbery in the yards, with a.
few convenient shelters of boards ot>
boxes under which the chicks can
speedily seek protection when a bird
of prey swoops down, the losses will
not be great. When a hawk or crow
gets the habit of visiting the poultry
yard regularly, however, as some of
these birds often do, the only remedy
Is to take the necessary time to ex*
terminate it by the gun route.
regarding ducks and geese
Latter Will Practically Take Care of
Themselves If Given Free Range
of the Farm.
Never feed ducke without first pro
viding plenty of fresh, clean water, as
the birds always take a sip of water
after each mouthful of food.
Ducks will often choke themselves
on dry food unless water is right at
hand.
A chicken will pick up the grit it
needs, but a duck will not, therefor®
it must be provided for them in their
food.
Young geese are ready for market
when the tips of their wings reach the
tail, or in about ten or twelve weeks.
Fine for Thanksgiving Day Dinner.
If allowed free range of the farm.
gee«e will practically take care of
themselves alid only require a hand-
ful of grain once a day.
A swamp where other animals sel-
dom go furnishes excellent pasturage
for geese in the late summer and early
fall as they find In such places tender
grass and roots and many fat, juicy
bugs and worms.
three breeds of chickens
Heavy Layers Are Not Confined to
Any One Cla88 la Shown by
Auatralian Competitiona.
(By PROF. DRYDEN, Oregon Agricul-
tural College.)
That the heavy layers are not con-
fined to any one breed has been shown
by laying competitions in Australia,
which have extended over a period of
six years.
In three of the six years, the white
leghorns laid the most; in two other
years the silver wyandottes won, and
In one year the black langshans stood
first.
These breeds represent the three
different classes of fowls, namely egg
breeds, general purpose breeds and
meat breedB. In 1906-1907 contest,
the pen of black langshans laid an
average of 247 eggs per fowl, the
white leghorns 239, and the silver
wyandottes 199 eggs per fowl.
Big Onea Are Profitable.
Don't forget that although Bmaller
birds will sometimes lay more eggs
with leBS care, the larger ones bring
the most money when marketed, and
at least half of each year's chicks
must be marketed because tiiey will
be roosters.
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Buckley, Joe L. The Texhoma Argus (Texhoma, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 8, 1914, newspaper, October 8, 1914; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metapth351956/m1/2/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.