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Newspaper
Muscatine Journal
Location
Muscatine, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Aug 17, 1903
Page
4
A critique of agricultural fakirs who swindle farmers through dozens of schemes. The piece catalogs agents selling foreign nursery stock, lightning rods, smuggled goods, patent cures, hog cholera cures, lottery like consignment schemes, and overpriced stock ventures. It warns farmers to rely on common sense and avoid offers promising easy gains.
The note surveys diverse agricultural observations including cherries in demand, cauliflower grown for pickling, cotton and overalls pricing, horse gait history, cosset lamb turning to hunting buck, mint sauce with green peas, a Dakota raspberry, and meadow land yielding three tons per acre timothy hay at favorable prices.
A single remark notes that almost all fruits and vegetables common here deteriorate rapidly when exported to Japan, becoming nearly worthless after two or three years. This concise observation highlights concerns about long term freshness and market value for these exports.
In the sharp contest the government sides with homesteaders over cattle barons. If not, settlers would face hard lines.
The seven corn states Ohio Indiana Illinois Missouri Kansas Nebraska and Iowa produced 833 million bushels in 1901, 1.703 billion in 1902, and the Agriculture Department estimates 1.302 billion for 1903.
A writer argues that farmers are often represented in congress and state legislatures by lawyers, questioning why a lawyer would be better suited to make laws for farmers than a farmer. The piece suggests farmers should elect representatives who truly understand agricultural needs.
A company has secured 800 acres of peat marsh near Tomah Wisconsin and begun digging grinding pressing and drying peat to produce a high quality fuel. The operation marks the first organized effort to develop peat as a major fuel source in the region.
A simple method to prepare fine onion pickles. Boil small onions in water for four minutes to peel easily. After peeling, soak in brine for three days, then transfer to vinegar with red pepper seasoning for serving.
The article praises black bass for flavor and texture among freshwater fish, noting it rivals brook trout and should not be cooked immediately. It advises dressing the fish and laying it on ice for twenty four hours before cooking to achieve best results.
Americans note exports to China increased from 4 million dollars in 1883 to 19 million last year. The article mocks Chinese people, claims they earn little, and argues even small purchases of American goods will boost trade throughout the year.
Experiments in Florida show cassava roots can produce a pound of beef or pork at about 1 cent versus 34 cents from corn. The plant grows best in the south and yields abundantly, indicating a new profitable use for currently unproductive land.
Arizona is a hot dry country with 110 in the shade in summer and six inches of rainfall. Crops depend on irrigation. soil is rich and will grow almost anything when watered. Alfalfa is the leading crop. Catarrh cannot exist in the dry air and nobody smokes. Winters are delightful and clothing costs are minimal in summer.
The piece notes demand shifts in the west with prohibition, weather, and markets. It cites New York banks sending 50 million dollars west for crops, a Montana wool sale of 307 thousand pounds at 174 cents, and Kansas needing 3.5 million dollars to hire 20 thousand harvest workers. It comments on corn prices and potential meat use, and warns cattlemen about losing range leases in Indian Territory.
A rustic portrait notes the wild razorback hog of the south as the bacon hog with a big slab side a streak of lean and fat and a diet of roots and nuts contributing to fine flavor in its meat.
The text notes a short corn crop expected in 1903 due to favorable conditions limiting yields. It suggests prices for wheat may not fall, implying tight grain markets and higher or steady prices amid reduced output.
The article notes that young black walnuts picked while half grown or when a darning needle can be pushed through the heart yield one of the finest pickles with a delicate flavor peculiar to them alone.
The Netherlands restored its best land by pumping water out of the sea and reclaiming coastal territory. In contrast the United States aims to reclaim its arid lands by pumping water into deserts to create productive farmland.
A writer notes many residents live where frogs are plentiful yet few know how to catch and cook them. The piece mentions the unusual delicacy, said to cost a dollar at an upscale city restaurant.
College athletes expected summer labor in Kansas harvest fields but learned Kansas girls could endure fourteen hours of work. The observation highlights the resilience of local workers and aims to contrast athletic training with field labor capabilities.
The piece notes that businessmen often struggle to collect debts while earning profits, contrasting with farmers who are rarely asked to extend credit to buyers.
The writer describes lifting vines off the ground onto four foot stakes, pruning thoroughly, and cutting back as the recommended method. This approach avoids rotten fruit and yields larger, smoother tomatoes.
A late wet spring slowed farm work causing haying and corn plowing to suffer. Farmers faced confusion and mis-timed tasks with corn left to shift and timothy seed left to ripen while grain received some attention.
In the semiarid belt of North Dakota macaroni wheat produced thirty bushels per acre last year, selling at 75 cents a bushel, while ordinary wheat yielded twelve bushels per acre at 70 cents. The comparison is meant to alert local growers to potential crop choices.
The seven year drought in Australia ended by heavy rains, with cattle losses severe. One man with 7,000 head left 75, another with 1,000 head saved 875. Sheep losses were even greater as fences bore pelts and flocks diminished across many areas.
A columnist argues Africa offers no attraction for temperate zone surplus populations, noting soil and climate limits compared with South America. The piece claims Africa was divinely ordained for Africans, and that European colonization misused people by removing the colored man from native lands.
The department in Washington offers to analyze birds' stomach contents to determine which birds injure agriculture. Early findings show the list of harmful birds is surprisingly small, with birds overall serving a beneficial role by reducing insect pests.
The piece argues that a boy should be raised like a thoroughbred, with strong breeding from good parents, early training, physical fitness, and good morals. It stresses kindness to family, ambition in study, competitive drive, and steady harnessing toward becoming a thoroughbread man through attentive parenting.
The piece argues debt limits depend on the individual. It cites twenty-year-old cases of young farmers with $5,000 mortgages and $1,000 equity who paid off debts in ten years if they worked hard and had supportive spouses. It cautions that in settled areas land values near peak suggest starting with less land and debt, while in new regions with rising values one may safely take larger risks.
Local church leaders Bishop and Kern are actively soliciting donations to fund a community camp program. They aim to raise support through direct appeals and organized drives, seeking contributions from parishioners and local businesses to cover equipment, activities, and transportation costs.
Funeral services for Alexander Jackson were held at 3:30 p.m. at his West Second Street home with hundreds attending. Rev. H. D. Herr praised Jackson’s long, kind life, and the procession to Greenwood Cemetery included Shelby Norman Post veterans. Floral tributes filled the residence as the casket rested in the east parlor.
Do not miss the Baptist excursion to Davenport on steamer J tomorrow morning. Boat leaves here at 8 a.m. Returning leaves Davenport at 5 30 p.m. Tickets 50 cents, children 6 to 12 25 cents.
The author urges stage dramas with historical themes from the Crusades to the French Revolution as healthy entertainment. It praises Hinley & Son for A Gentleman From Gascony and argues such plays educate refined minds and spark lively parlor talk while offering insight into iconic epochs. Des Moines livery horses are affected with distemper.
The article notes two essentials for a good lawn proper fertilizing and adequate water. Large trees deprive soil nutrients. fall top dressing with well rotted compost aids recovery. If weeds dominate we suggest plowing fertilizing and reseeding. Avoid close mowing after June when irrigation is unavailable. set mower high to keep a thick carpet.
A Baptist group plans a trip to Davenport tomorrow aboard the J. S. with ample seating and ample room for passengers.
A Texas applicant to A. P. Hall’s stage tour sent a photo and a prepaid phonograph cylinder. Managers M. W. Hanley & Son played the record and heard a squeaky voice sing a popular song, prompting interest in the aspiring actor.
A fourth bank has been established at Denison, expanding local financial services and offering new loans and accounts. The opening signals growing activity in Denison’s economy and adds to the town’s banking options.
The listing notes Going North trains Mason City Mail No 3 at 11:47 am and St Paul Express No 15 daily 7:52 am Way Freight No 45 ex Sun 10:05 am Going South trains Peoria Mail No 4 ex Sun 2:38 pm Peoria Express No 16 daily 7:57 am Way Freight No 44 ex Sus 1:40 pm.
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