Dayton tribune., May 13, 1921, Image 4

The
Homesteader
By
ROBERT J. G
STEAD
CHAPTER VIII—Continued.
The dinner was late that day, and
Harris was in worse humor than
usual. He had Just broken a plow-
beam, which meant an afternoon's de­
lay and some dollars of expense.
When he had started his meal his
wife laid the full envelope before him.
“A letter from Beulah," she said.
Without a word he rose from the
table, took the letter In his hand, and
thrust It Into the kitchen range. A
blue flame slowly cut round the en­
velope; the pages began to curl like
dry leaves In autumn, and presently
the withered ghost of the missive
shrank away in the dull glare of the
coal fire behind.
I right now to get land for nothin' that
I In a few years will be worth ns much
or more than this here. I'm ready to
go through the hardship mid the work
for the sake of what it wUl do for us.
Me can be Independently rich In five
years, if we Just stand together.”
"Independent of what?" she asked.
"W hy, independent of—of every­
thing. Nothin' more to worry about
and plenty laid up for old age. Ain't
that worth a sacrifice?"
“John," she said, turning mid raising
her eyes to his face. “Answer me a
straight question. What was the hap­
piest time tn your life? Wasn't It when
we lived tn the one-roomed sod shanty,
with scarcely a cent to bless ourselves?
We worked hard then, too, but we bad
time for long w alks together across the
prairies—time to sit in the dusk by
the water and plan our lives together.
M e have done well; we have land,
horses, machinery, money. But have
we the happiness we knew when we
had none of these? On the contrary,
are you not worried morning, noon
and night over your work and your
property ? Don’t you complain about
the kind of help the farmers have to
hire nowadays, and the wages they
have to pay? And If you get more land
won’t all your troubles be increased In
proportion? John, sit down and think
BULLETINS AID WITH FOWLS
Noteworthy Succosa of District
Columbia Woman With Small
Flock Attributed to Study.
Copyrtsht. All Richt» Reserved
rufct^r, ' ‘ Etc.
COMMUNITY HAULING CONSERVES
FARM LABOR AT BUSY SEASONS
POULTRY
CACKLES
of
trrvparsd by the United States Depart­
ment of Agriculture.)
One hen, a brood of 12 chickens,
and a few farmers' bulletins on poul­
concern, ought to bring about forty try raising were ths foundation on
thousand dollars, and 1 11 bet 1 could I which Mrs. M. Lohrberg, a resident
sell It Inside of a seek."
I of the District of Columbia, began
“Sell It?" she exclaimed.
1 ou don t , her poultry operations In the spring
h
y
" H 10,°' Durl"«
” raon‘b*
"Ü-;
...»
.
'of 1020 ber «wb of eight birds—the
Why not? If somebody else want« hen nluJ ^en
pullets—laid l.OM)
It worse'n we do, and has the money to ,
„„
egg*. an average of about 132. Dur-
pay for It. why shouldn’t 1 sell It?” ling ’the
'Mme |H*riod she hutched
The tears stood In her eyes as sho 1 ....... ...
from three settings of eggs 30 chlek-
answered: “In all these years whit«
ens, of which sho raised 2d,
we have been building up this home
The noteworthy success with poul-
I never once thought of It as some­
thing to sell. It was too near for that
—a part of ourselves, of our very life.
It seemed more like—like one of th«
children, than a mere possession. And
now you would sell It. Just as you
might sell a load of wheat or a fat
steer. Is this place—this home wher«
At last the plowing was finished,
we have grown old and gray—nothing
and. although the rich smell of wheat
to you? Have you no sentiment that
In the milk filled the air. It still would
will save It from the highest bidder?"
be almost a month before the ripen­
“Sentiment Is a poor affair In busi­
I H
ing crops were ready for the binder.
ness,” he answered. "Property was
Harris felt that he could now allow
made t’ sell; money was made t’ buy
himself a breathing spell, and that
It with. The successful man Is the
the opportunity to Investigate the rich
one who has bls price for everythin’,
Autotruck Delivers Farmer»' Produce and Collects Purchases at City Station,
lands of the Father West was at
and knows how t’ get it. As for grow-
hand. Many a night, while Mary milk­
(Prepared
by the United Hlato» Depart­ ail up nt once and i’ll bring them out
ln’ old and gray on this farm, why,
ment of Agriculture.)
ed the cows, he had walked over to
that's a grudge I have against IL
to you."
“I’d almoat be money ahead If I
Hiles’, and the two had discussed their
though I don’t thti k I'm very gray and
The scheme was adopted and then«
dumped
this
milk
Into
the
brook
this
forthcoming venture until they had
I don't feel very old. And if I get my
farmers found the solution to their
morning instead of carrying it to the
grown almost enthusiastic over it. A
price, why shouldn't I sell?"
hauling problems.
creamery. With the best horse In the
quarter of a century having elapsed
"Very well,” she answered, "I’ve
Where there are only a few farmers
barn It's a two hour Job to curry 300
since his former homesteading. Har­
nothing more to say. Sell it If you
and the route Is short It Is sometimes
pounds of milk three miles, und It Ima
ris was now eligible again to file on
must, but remember one thing—I won’t
Purebred Rhode Island Red Cockerel, to be done every day. Those straw­ possible to organize motor-truck serv­
free government land; Allan cosld do
be here to see It pass Into the hands
ice In this wny. If a farmer can be
the same, and, by also taking advan­
of strangers.” She straightened her­ try, came to the attention of the berries simply must be picked this found who ia willing to undertake the
tage of the purchase of script, it was
self up. and there was a fire In her United States Department of Agricul­ forenoon, too. Hain lust night and work. In moat ruses, however, the
possible to still further Increase their
eye that reminded him of the day when ture recently, when Mr* Ixihrberg sunshine today; all the berrlM not in volume of business Increases so rap­
holdings.
she had elected to share with him the I called for an additional supply of the cooling room by noon will be idly that it cannot be bundled by one
Harris found the task of disclosing
hardships of the wilderness, and in farmers’ bulletins, explaining that spoiled."
truck or one man. and when this stage
his Intentions to his wife more un­
Tills farmer had encountered one of
spite of himself some of his old pride owing to her success her neighbors
Is
reached a co-operative motor-truck
pleasant than he would have sup­
in her returned. “I leave tomorrow for bad borrowed the bulletins which she the periods in his farm work when the association 1» the best solution.
posed. and It took him some days to
proprietor's
presence
la
desperately
a visit, and I may be gone some time, bud formerly obtained.
Forming an Aaaoclation.
make up his mind to broach the sub­
You reminded me of your liberality a
“I never kept any chickens before.” needed In two places at the same time.
Such
an ussoclatlon ran be organized
ject. He felt that he was doing what
Turning
to
save
a
profit
on
his
dairy,
few minutes ago; prove it now by : she said, "and knew nuthlng about
was for the best, and that his busi­
writing me a check for my expenses. poultry raising until 1 got the first ho was likely to lose one on his atraw- as a regular stock company, Bulletin
ness judgment In the matter could
berry crop; If he saved the berries he 341, United Statea Ih*partment of Ag­
Remember, I will expect to travel like brood and also the bulletins."
hardly be challenged: and yet he had
lost the milk, for milk and strawber­ riculture, which may lie had on re
the wife of a prosperous farmer, a man
Her chickens ure Hhode Island Reds
quest, contains Information regarding
an uncomfortable feeling that his wife
whose holdings are worth forty thou­ from good stock, and a standard-bred ries wait for no man.
the by-laws under which a co-oper­
would not fall In with hfs plans. That,
sand dollars cash.”
Starts on the Trip.
rooster is used. The flock Is kept en­
of course, would not be allowed to af­
“So that's your decision, is It? You tirely under back yard conditions In
“Well, I've got the milk ready to go, ative association should be organised,
fect his plans; since Beulah's depar­
set me at defiance; you try t’ wreck a space 30 by 50 feet, and the feed. but I haven't picked the berries. Here and farmers’ bulletin 1032 tells how the
ture unthing hut the most formal con­
motor-truck route ought to be oper­
my plans by your own stubbornness. । costing about $1 a week Is supple^ goes for the milk."
ated,
how prices ar® fixed, und the
versation had taken place In their
xou break up my family piece by merited
■ - • by
•
Two minutes luter he guided old
table scrapes, 'lased uu
household; yet it would certainly be
piece, until all 1 have left Is Allan. j retail prices, the estimated value of Jim and the buckboard around the running expenses met.
easier for him If Mary should give her
In the hands of the scrupulous In­
Thank God. the boy, at least, is sound. the 88 dozen eggs laid by this back­ maple on the comer and urged the
encouragement to his undertaking. He
Well, you shall have your check, and yard flock was about $02, but none horse into his best gait when they dividual, or as a co-operativ« enter­
felt that he was entitled to this, for
prise, the motor-truck route will offer
111 make it a big one that it may carry
j were sold. A fondness for fresh eggs reached the main road. Every minute
was It not for her that he was making
you farther.”
quick, economical trnnsfairtutlon to
was
valuable
this
morning.
A
half
i prompted the family to keep every
the sacrifice? Was not all he had
Even in the teeth of his bitterness ' one fur family use. In addition, fried mile from home a forewheel began to those farmers who must reach the mar­
hers? And were not all his labors di­
ket every duy or two with small load«
the mention of Allan's name strained chicken and roast fowl graced the give off slight, complaining sounds.
rected toward Increasing her reserve
of
milk or farm produce and whoso
the mother's heart beyond her power table frequently.
“A dry axle,” groaned the farmer.
against the rainy day? And yet In­
business does not warrant them tn
qf resistance, and she turned with out­
“
I'll
hate
to
stop
ut
Yelp's
and
grease
Acting on suggestions In Depart­
stinctively he felt that she would op­
purchasing a truck solely for their
stretched arms towards her husband. ment of Agriculture literature, she Is the wheels.”
pose him.
own use.
For a moment he wavered, the tiaine
When
he
reached
Yelp's
farm
two
planning to “put down” In water-
It was the evening of a long day in
of love, still smouldering In his breast,
more of the buckboard's wheels were
July when, very much to Mary's sur­ "You!" He Exclaimed. "Yau Plannin’ leaping up before the breath of her re­ glas« solution a goo<] supply of eggs
next season. Her poultry house is squealing wildly.
prise, her husband took the handle of
sponse. But It was for a moment only.
"Can I borrow your wngon wrench,
small, but scrupulous care In clean­
the cream separator from her. To
this thing over. W e don't need more Weakness would have meant surren­ ing It out every day. combined with Jack, and some axle grease?" he « ailed,
the sad-hearted woman It seemed that
property; what we need is a chance to der, and surrender was the one thing close personal attention to good feed­ catching sight of bls neighbor, oddly
the breach was at length beginning to
enjoy the property we already have. of which Harris was Incapable. So he ing Is resixinslble, she believes, for mu filed in gauze and gloves under a
heal, and that happiness would short­
W e have all the chance to choose now checked the Impulse to take her In tils the absence of poultry diseases and tree In the orchard.
Work Is Now Being Carried on in
ly return to their hearthside. Below
between life and land; won't you think arms, and walked stolidly to his desk ailments.
"Sure! Help yourself," came the
the din of the separator she actually
In
the
parlor.
Vigorous Manner.
it all over again and let us seek that
hearty reply. “I'd find the tiling» for
found herself humming an old love-
He returned shortly and placed a
which is really worth while?"
you myself, but I’m so busy I can't
song of the 'eighties.
“Now I know where Beulah got her check in her hands. She looked at it SANITARY HOUSES FOR HENS spare a minute. I'm trying to hive County Agricultural Demonstrator«
But her happiness was of short
through misty eyes, and read that it
and Rodent Control Experts Mak­
nonsense,” he retorted. “All this talk
some of my bees that swarmed this
duration. When the milk had been
about real life is very fine, but you was for $200. It represented a two To Secure Adequate Returns In Eggs morning, and I've got a dozen crates of
ing Determined Efforts to
run through, and the noise of the
and Growth Building» Must Be
don't get much life, real or any other hundredth part of their joint earnings,
lettuce all packed that must go on the
Destroy Little Posts.
whirling bowl no longer prevented
Light and Ventilated.
kind, unless you have the cash to pay and yet he thought he was dealing lib­
noon train.”
conversation. Harris immediately got
down for it. We’ve done pretty well erally with her; he half expected, in
“There's another man In the same (Prepared by th« United Htate» Depart­
down to business.
Chickens will not give adequate re­
here, as you say, but it’s only a begln- fact, that his magnanimity would bn>nk
ment of Agriculture.)
fix,
” thought Stevens ns be worked.
“Allan and me will be leavin’ for nln’ to what we can do. If we set about her down where his firmness had turns In eggs or growth when kept
According to reports to the United
"He's
got
to
stop
profitable
work
to
the West In a day or two,” he said. “I it, and don’t wait until the cheap land
failed. But she only whispered a faint under Insanitary conditions, say spe­
haul stuff Into town. Probably Hamil­ States Department of Agriculture,
suppose you can get along all right is all gone. I don’t see why you should
“Thank you,” and slowly folde«! the cialists of the United Slates Depart­ ton and Groaner and Phillips and Jones rat extermination work throughout
for a few weeks until harvest Bill
go back on me at this time o’ life, paper in her fingers. He waited for a ment of Agriculture. The construction are no better off, either. 1 can’t af­ the country la being carried forward
(the hired man) will be here.”
Mary. We’ve stood together for a' minute, suspecting that she was over­ of the poultry house should receive
vigorously under the combined ef- -
In an instant she saw the motive long while, and I kfnda figured I could come, but as she said nothing more he first attention. Sufficient air space, ford a truck to haul Just my own prod­
uce, but If those fellows would make forts of the county agricultural dem­
behind his apparent kindness, and the count on you.”
at length turned and left the house, lighting and ventilation should be pn>
it worth my while to buy a truck and onstrators sent out by the states re-
hopes she had Just entertained only
“So you can, John; so you can to saying gruffly as he went out, “When vlded, and the entire house cleaned at carry their stuff to market, too, there Intlons service and the rodent control
deepened the flood of resentment
the very last, for anything that Is for that’s done I’ll send you more if you frequent Intervals.
ought to be a way out of this for all of experts representing the bureau of bio­
which swept over them. .But she an­
While these precautions cannot be us.”
logical survey.
your own good, but when you set your write for it”
swered quietly and without apparent
It was now 10 at night and almost depended upon to control mites and
heart on something that means more
At Blackstone, Va., the home demon­
He
thought
the
matter
out
to
n
con
­
emotion: “That's unfortunate, as I trouble and hardship and won't add dark, but Harris’ footsteps instinctive­ lice, they aid the poultryman In de­
clusion, and that evening drove around stration agent and the biological sur­
was planning for a little trip myself.”
one iota to your happiness, I think It ly turned down the road toward lilies’. termining when these pests are pres­ to his neighbors with his proposition. vey representative Joined in a rat
“You!” he exclaimed. “You plannin’ Is my duty to persuade you If I can.
At the gate he met Allan, returning ent. Furthermore, the fowls are kept
He called only at the farms that lay campaign which promised to send
a trip! Where in the world do you
We've been drifting apart lately; why home from spending a social hour In vigorous condition, which In Itself between his own place and the village, 12,000 rodents Into the rnt hereafter.
want to go?” Such a thing as Mary
aids In controlling pests. Dirty and and to their owners he made a propo­ When the final count of rat falls
not let us both go back to the begin­ with the Grant boys.
going on a trip, and, above all, unac­ ning and start over again, and by kind­
“Where going. Dad?” the younger Insanitary houses provide ideal breed­
was taken It wns found that 30,000
sition that ran something like this.
companied by himself, was unheard ness, and fairness, and liberality, and man demanded.
ing conditions for Insects and germs
“How much would it be worth to you of the pests had been killed In the
of and unthinkable.
—and sympathy, try to recover some­
“Oh, I thought J’d take a walk over which are detrimental to poultry. Dis­ to have your milk and farm produce one town.
“Yes, I thought I would take a lit­ thing of what we have lost?”
t’ Rile< There's a lot o' things t’ talk eased fowls, or those with malformed carried Into town for you every day?
At Fargo, N. D„ the citizens were
tle trip,” she continued. “I've been
bills or feet, fall ready prey to lice,
"I have always thought I had been about."
There are days when you have to make annoyed by a heavy Infestation of
working here pretty hard for some­
“What’s the matter. Dad?” The mites and other Insect pests, and a trip thnt takes an hour or more of rats.
liberal enough.” he said. “Didn’t I
A bureau representative en­
thing over twenty-five years, and you
build you a good bouse and buy furni­ strained composure of his father'« should be removed as soon as discov­ your time at the busiest season of the listed the co-operation of «he city com­
may say I've never been off the place.
ered.
ture for It, and do I stint you In what voice had not escaped him.
year just to haul your milk to the mission, the commercial club, the
A bit of a holiday shouldn't do me
“Nothin’ • • ’ I might’s well tell
you
.«pend,
either
on
the
table
or
your
­
any harm.”
creamery, and there are other times health department, the boy scouts,
self? More than that, didn't I put the you now; you’ll know It In a little ESSENTIALS OF EGG MAKING
when you’ll have a load of things that women’s clubs, and other organiza­
“Where do you think of golnT he
title to the homestead in your name? while anyway. • • • Your mother is
demanded, a sudden susplc on arising
you want to send. Suppose I buy a tions, and conducted a very success­
goin’ away—on a visit.”
Sprouted Oats or Steamed Clover and light truck—would you be willing to ful campaign against the pest. In this
In his mind. “Goin’ to visit Jim and And ain't I ready to do the same with
“Like Beulah’s visit, I suppose. So
the new homestead, if that's the stick­
Meat Scrap Take Place of
Beulah?"
pay me enough for hauling your prod- Instance the poison, barium carbonate,
er?”
It’s come td this. I’ve seen It for some
Bugs and Grass.
was purchased In quantities and used
duce to make it worth my while?"
“I think you might at least be fair
“I never thought of such a thing,” time. Dad, and you must ’ve seen It
to Beulah,” she retorted. “If you had
"Yes; we’d be willing to do that, as n destructive agent with excellent
she protested. “And you shouldn't too. But you're not really goin' to let
Laying hens need the elements of
read her letter, instead of putting It
providing your charges aren't too steep. results.
claim too much credit for putting the her go? Come back to the house with egg making that are found so freely
A statewide rnt eradication cam­
in the stove, you would have known
homestead quarter in my name. You me—surely you two can get together In fhelr summer range—meat nml How would you regulate the prices?"
better."
paign
In Texas will soon be launched
“
I've
been
consulting
a
bulletin
on
know when you bought the first rail­ on this thine if yon try.”
grass. Both are vitally necessary to
"I ain’t Interested In anythin' Beu­
this subject Issued by the United against rata. The bureau of bio­
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
road land you were none to*, sure how
making hens lay, and can be supplied
lah may have to say, and any other
States Department of Agriculture. logical survey has been naked to de­
things would come out, and you
with but little trouble, In the form of
letters that fall into my hands will
Maryland farmers have already put tail a specialist to direct the operation.
thought It might be a wise precaution
Ever Meet Anyone Like Her?
meat scrap, and sprouted oats or
go In the same direction. And what’s
an Idea like this Into execution, ac­
to have the old farm stand in your
A man who Ilves In a West side steamed clover.
more, she’s not goin’ to have a visit wife’s name."
cording to the department's represen- CAREFULLY TEST OLD SEEDS
boarding house describes his land­
from any member of this family at
tatlves.
They own and operate a
“That’s all the thanks I get,” he said
lady; “She is a kind of parallelo­
the present time. I'm goin’ out west
bitterly. “Well, I’ll take the new one gram; that Is, an oblong, angular fig­ DON’T FORCE BREEDING HENS truck on co-operative basis, and th«* Moistened Blotting Paper and Two Or-
to take up land, and Allan’s going
rate la 15 cents per hundredweight for
In my own name, but I’ll take It Just ure which cannot be described and
dlnary Dinner Platea Make Sat-
with me. It ain't fair or reasonable
the same. If you don’t want to share which is equal to anything; and any If Strong Healthy Chicks Are Desired first-class goods. I believe I can haul
(•factory Cont'rlvance.
for you to try to upset our plans by
your produce with a light truck for
Fowls Must Be Kept In Good Con­
In It you won’t have to. But for the two meals in her house are together
a notion of this kind.”
20 cents a hundred pounds during the
dition in Winter.
present it’s your duty to stay here and less than a square meal.”—New York
Test all old seeds before planting.
“It isn’t a notion, John, It’s a re­
summer months.
The co-operative Make a tester from two dinner plates.
run things till we get back.”
Times.
solve. If you are bound to take up
“What are you going to do after you
Many a breeder has fallen Into the Idea in Maryland Is not managed to I ut a piece of moist blotting paper In
more land, with more work and more
get your new farm? You can’t work
pit of forcing his breeders for winter secure a profit, but I shall have to one plate, place some seeds on IL put
Day
by
Day.
worry, why go ahead, but remember
Every day Is a little life, and our eggs and then wonders how It Is make a profit to pay for the tlpe I another piece of molut blotting paper
two farms a thousand miles apart, can
lt’a your own undertaking. I helped you?"
In am taking from my own work.”
whole
life is but a day repeated. that the eggs don’t hatch well
oyer the seeds, nnd Invert the other
to make one home in the wilderness,
“Oh, I guess that won’t worry us Those, therefore, that dare lose a day the spring.
“How will we manage when we want plate over nil. In a few days, remov.
If you want strong
and one home's enough for me.”
long.
The Americans are cornin' In are dangerously prodigal; those that healthy chicks and big hatches you things brought out from town?”
the plate, turn back the blotting pa­
“Don’t be unreasonable.” he an­
now with lots o' good money, I was dare misspend it, desperate.—Lisbon will do well to keep your hens In
"Telephone your orders and have per, figure the percentage of germi­
swered. “There's a great opportunity
figurin' up that this place, as a goin’ Hall.
good condition but not force them for the merchants deliver the goods at nated seed.«, and if below ninety per
the creamery where I can pick them cent, buy new seeds.
heavy egg production.
EXTERMINATING RATS
THROUGHOUT COUNTRY