Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 19, 1917 Page: 2 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Mercedes Area Newspapers and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.
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PAGE TWO
MERCEDE S TRIBUNE
NEWS FOR AGRICULTURISTS
BANANAS MAKE
A GOOD FLOUR
STOP TREMENDOUS
FERTILIZER WASTE
Farmers Urged By Assistant Secreta-
ry Carl Yrooman to Put an En<l to
Annual Billion Dollar Loss of Fer-
tilizing Materials
WASHINGTON, D. C.—Farmers are
urged in a statement issued recently
by Assistant Secretary Carl Vrooman
to make every effort to save the vast
amount of valuable manure now al-
lowed to go to waste in this country.
Assistant Secretary Vrooman esti-
mates that one-half of it produced in
the United States is not used as a fer-
tilizer, there being an annual loss of
material worth $1,200,000,000 — once
and a half the value of the country’s
1916 wheat crop.
“This is not a wild guess,” he con-
tinues, “but a very shrewd and con-
servative estimate based on reliable
statistics. It has been found that each
horse or mule produces annually $27
worth of manure (as compared with
commercial fertilizers); each head of
cattle $20 worth; each hog $8 worth.
Calculating from the 1910 census fig-
ures for number of animals on farms
—62,000,000 cattle, 24,000,000 horses
and mules, 58,000,000 swine, and 54,-
500,000 sheep and goats — the total
value produced is found to be about
$2,461,000,000. Recent investigations
by the department of agriculture in-
dicate that at least half of this great
wealth of fertilizzing material is sheer
waste. In some good general garming
sections not more than 15% of the
manure produced is used.. Even in
the most intensive dairy regions,
where cows are largely stall fed and
comparatively great care taken with
the manure, the loss seems to be ap-
proximately 25%.
“Here, then, is a job for the Ameri-
can farmer, worthy of his utmost ef-
fort and in keeping with the spirit of
this great hour in American history.
To save a billion dollars worth of
manure is a Herculean task—a verit-
able latter day Augean stable job. It
means the construction of concrete
pits, of paved feeding pens or sheds,
d- greatly increased care ill the con-
servation and use of bedding ma-
terials. It means a lot of work, but
it is work that can be done at odd
hours and moments, and work that
will pay tremendous dividends, not
only as a war measure, but conceiv-
ably for all time, for if we once get
the habit of making full use of this
supply we are not likely to lapse into
the old, wasteful ways again.
“The cheapest and best way to
handle manure, where convenient, is
to haul it to the field and spread
daily, or at least every two or three
—/Sr-Jn this way, if plenty of bed-
ding beMsed, practically all the valu
able constrtpents of the fertilizer are
saved, since‘"4^aching after it is on
arable land mVely serves to put the
fertilizing materials where they ought
to be. In this way,'"too, loss through
heating, or “fire fangirig,” is avoided.
“Many farmers, howevei%are not so
situated as to make it profitable foi
them to handle manure in this- way.
For such farmers the concrete pit off-
ers an ideal way. Such a pit need not
entail great expense. A pit three feet
deep, 12 feet long and six feet wide,
with walls and floors five inches thick,
will serve the needs of the average
*arrp. In ground that does not cave
in, only an inside form will be needed
for such a pit, except where the con-
crete extends a few inches above the
ground to prevent flooding by surface
water. The floor should be reinfor-
ced with woven wire fencing, put in
after about two inches of cement has
been laid, the section of fencing being
cut long enough to bend up a few
inches at either end into the side
walls.. When the reinforcing has been
put in, the remaining three inches of
the floor is laid, and the forms for
the side walls set up and used immed-
iately. Use one part cement, two of
sand, and four of screened gravel. A
pit of this kind is large enough • to
hold the'accumulation on the average
farm until such a time as it can be
hauled conveniently to the field and
"spread. --
“Another good way to save, espec-
ially in the case of hogs or of beef
cattle, is to have a concrete paved
feed lot, preferably under a shed roof.
Where the farmer cannot afford a
paved floor, a cheap open feeding
shed may be made to serve the purpose
very well, if abundant bedding is used
to absorb the valuable liquid manure.
In such a feeding lot or shed, the ma-
nure is allowed to gather under the
feet of the animals, each day's bed-
ding being strewn over the well-
tramped accumulation below. Some
farmers using this system arrange
their feed racks so that they can be
vaised from time to time, making it
possible to feed till several feet of
solidly packed manure has accumulat-
ed under the shed. It has been shown
that manure suffers little from heat-
ing and leaching when handled in
this way.
“The feeding shed serves the pur-
pose of giving the general farm, or
the beef cattle farm, something of
the advantage in the matter of ma-
nure saving held by the intensive
dairy farm.. It has been shown by
farm management surveys that the
manure saved on the American farm
under present conditions is almost ex-
actly proportioned to the number of
animals stall-fed on the farm, and
that the manure of animals not stabled
has very little effect on yields, except
in cases where field crops are “hog-
ged-off” or otherwise pastured down
or where pasture is used in a rotation.
“This great war has brought home
to us Americans, as it has never been
emphasized before, the fact that we
are the world’s champion wasters.
Without making any comparisons, and
subject to correction if it can be
shown that the facts are otherwise, I
dare aver that our billion dollar ma-
nure waste is the world’s greatest
single economic leak—the prize waste
of the champion wastrels. With com-
mercial fertilizers scarce, and some of
hem almost unobtainable, it would
jm well worth our "while, in this
lure, even without any reference
to war conditions, to do everything
within our power to stem this tide of
loss, especially in consideration of the
fact that stable manure is the best
form of fertilizer known. And when
we consider further the possible effect
of a billion dollars worth of manure
upon world production at this time
when the solemn duty of saving the
world from famine devolves directly
upon us — well, the vital need for
manure pits and feeding lots in this
broad land of our becomes pretty
clearly apparent.”
-<j>--
SOUTHERN CONGRESSMEN
CONFER ON COTTON ZONE
Seek Federal Co-Operation in Tighten-
ing Quarantine So That Mexican
Pest May Be Stamped Out
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Southern
members of congress, after conferring
with representatives from the United
States department of agriculture,
agreed to urge the house appropriation
committee to report favorably upon an
appropriation of $500,000 to help a
fight against the introduction of the
pink boll worm from the cotton fields
of Mexico. It is thoroughly understood
that this new pest is more disastrous
than the boll weevil when once in-
trenched in a cotton growing section.
Also Representative John N. Gar-
ner of Texas, who presided at the con-
ference, was requested to name one
member from each of the cotton grow-
ing states to confer with Governor
James E. Ferguson of Texlas in the in-
terest of state legislation, which is de-
clared to be necessary if the.fight is
to be made effective.
Representative Garner named Rep-
resentative James H. Buchanan to rep-
resent Texas, and as chairman of the
committee.
With an enlarged appropriation,
which the department of agriculture
has recommended, it can tighten the
quarantine already declared against
cotton and seed coming from Mexico
and to render the district in Texas
free of conditions through which the
worm may be transmitted.
HIGH COST OF FEED
The high price of feed has caused
poultrymen no little concern. Never
before have grains commanded such
prohibitive prices. There must be
some changes made to lower the cost
of maintaining the flock, or there will
be little or no profit. It is advised
that more corn and meat scrap be fed.
Corn is a starchy, carbonaceous food,
and meat scrap is largely nitrogen-
ous, furnishing a large amouiPLof pro-
tein. In addition grass, vegetable tops,
scraps from the table, and whatever
offal there may be on the farm or
from the house should be fed. But-
termilk and sour milk are not only
relished, but are valuable additions to
the ration. Kafir-corn is a firly good
substitute for wheat.
Boiled oats, after draining off the
water, can be mixed with bran and
cornmeal to make a valuable egg food.
Clover hay, cooked or steeped and
mixed with bran and cornmeal, makes
a grand breakfast for hens. Green
stuff intended for mixing with the soft
food should be cut in )4-incb lengths.
Cowpeas are relished by poultry,
and should be added to the diet at
least twice a week. Squash or pump-
kins, cooked and mixed in the mash,
are good for growth, production and
health.^ All kinds of roots can he fed
raw or cooked.
Common field peas are egg food.
Peas contain a large amount of nitro-
genous substances.
CONSERVE MEAT SUPPLY
WASHINGTON, D. C.—To conserve
the nation’s meat supply each person
in the United States is asked by the
food administration board to cut
down by at least one ounce the amount
of meat eaten each day.
The adoption of this suggestion will,
is believed, relieve the demands of
the armies at home and abroad and
also a large supply for the allies.
--<*>--
KILL THE TICKS
Zone 50 to 75 Miles Wide
The department recommendk estab-
lishment of a free cotton zone from 50
to 75 miles in width along the border
of Texas, believed to be the most ef-
fective manner in fighting the pest.
The worm hibernates in seed and rap-
idly spreads when in new territory,
but if there is no cotton it soon ex-
pires. Cotton growing in the valley
is confined about 25,000 acres.
It was agreed that a zone could not
be established without action by the
Texas legislature. Representative
Blanton of Texas suggested to Clar-
ence Ousley, assistant to the secretary
of agriculture, that, owing to the poli-
tical aspect in Texas, it might be dif-
ficult to secure a session of the legis-
lature prior to the winter of 1919.
Mr. Ousley refrained from discuss-
ing the political situation, but expres-
sed the belief that a request from
Southern members of congress to the
governor, backed by the request of the
department of agriculture, would have
weight.
Texas Anxious to Do Her Best
Mr. Ousley expressed the fear that a
constitutional amendment would have
to be submitted to the people of Texas
before the free zone idea could be
made effective.
In the meantime the state
was willing to prohibit intrastate ship-
ment of cotton seed, while the federal
government denied interstate com
merce and had an embargo against in-
troduction of seed from Mexico.
That the federal and state govern-
ments would enter a joint persuasive
campaign to induce the cotton planter
in the Rio Grande Valley to drop the
crop pending outcome of the scientific
fight against the worm was suggested
Also the hope was expressed that ac-
tion would be taken by the authorities
of Mexico.
If planters can be induced to aban-
don their cotton it is believed the gov-
ernment would reimburse them, al
though that is not recommended by
the federal department. The prece-
dent, however, is in the payment for
live stock killed in the stamping out
of the foot and mouth disease.
The worm infests the Laguna dis-
trict of interior Mexico and seed from
there have heen planted in the river
district on this side of the line. The
normal progress of the worm is three
or four miles per year. It lives in
the squares, bolls and seed, chiefly the
latter, where it is known to have lived
two years.
-<§>--
MAXIMUM PRICES
ON 1917 CORN CROP
Chicago Board of Trade Acts To Fore
stall The Government
CHICAGO, 111.—Directors of the
Chicago board of trade fixed a mini
mum price of $1.28 for December and
May (1918) deliveries of corn.
No action was taken as to Septem
ber corn.
A three hours’ meeting behind clos-
ed doors preceded the action of the
directors. After adjournment a for-
mal notice was given out telling of the
course adopted but refraining from
any explanation.
According to an official of the board
the establishment of a new maximum
price for the December delivery and
for all later options, was needed to
bring trading conditions into harmony
with the government war policy of
preventing undue speculation and un-
warranted high cost to consumers.
By the measures taken the directors
■were said to feel that more drastic
steps were averted, including the pos-
sible closing up of the board alto-
gether. It was said that owing to the
smallness of the stocks of corn at pre-
sent and the unlikelihood that many
large accumulations would be avail-
able for a long time to come, the trade
in future options had much less sub-
stantial basis than under normal con-
ditions so that dangers of sudden wild
inflations of values had to be taken
into account.
Cattle ticks and powder don’t mix.
Would you rather feed a tick or feed
soldier? The dipping vat gives you
real choice.
Eyery herd marched to the dipping
vat helps our soldiers march to the
front..
Every tick is sucking at the nation’s
commissary.
Don’t let ticks entrench themselves
in the hides of your cattle.
That diping vat will keep our navy
afloat and our armies afield.
Give the ticks a ticket to the dipping
vat.
The more ticks, the fewer pounds of
meat, quarts of milk, parts of butter.
If you really believe in efficiency,
take ticks off and put leeches on—do
the same work but faster.
The days of cupping for blood are
over—dip that tick.
A dipping vat may not be able to
float a battleship, but it can help feed
the navy.
How much of your feed is going to
fatten blood-sucking ticks?
Every dipping vat is a solid founda-
tion for the nation’s food store house.
WASHINGTON, D. C.—In a recent
report in Commerce Reports, Consul
Henry D. _Baker, Trididad, British
West Indies, says that the horticul-
tural club of Trinidad has arranged
to have loaves of bread baked from
banana flour prepared at local baker-
ies and offered for public sale in or-
der that the people may have an op-
portunity to know that a most palat-
able bread can be made from banana
flour...
At a recent meeting of this club
samples of banana flour and bread
were exhibited and the method of
preparation described.. It was ex-
plained that the bananas from which
the flour and bread were made had
been taken from trees only five days
previously, the “silk fi,g” small varie-
ty of bananas producing the best re-
sults.
The process was described as fol-
lows: Full-grown green bananas
should be selected. Peel, slice and dry
quickly, preferably on a galvanized
sheet, then grind in ordinary corn
mill. From 63 pounds of green ba-
nanas, 16)4 pounds of flour had been
obtained in the specimens shown. The
bread, which was very palatable, had
been made from two parts of banana
flour and one part of wheat flour.
The banana flour could also be used
as a substitute for oatmeal porridge
and also for making puddings.
Reckoning the cost of the bananas
used in the above experiment at 30c
and the labor for preparing into flour
at 20c, it had cost 50c, equal to about
3c per pound.
The London Lancet was quoted as
stating that banana flour is more di-
gestible and contains more nitrogen-
ous matter than wheat flour; also it
could keep for a considerable length
of time.
It was also stated at the meeting
that plantains could be made into
flour in the same manner, and such
flour was very nourishing for chil-
dren. Reference was made to the fact
that such flour was exported from
British Guiana and was known as
‘ bannanine.”
-<•>-
CHORE TIME
When chore time comes I feed old
Prince,
And latch the concrib door;
Then start the straw chaff flying
As I wash the whole barn floor.
The lantern makes queer shadows
As Pa goes left and right;
But I’m not scared, ’causee’m close by
Where Pa is—and the light.
I stomp and whistle round the loft,
While pitching down the hay;
The shadows seem some scary,
But I don’t look that way.
I ’tend right straight to bus’ness
And make things snug and tight,
And when scamper down the stairs
Where Pa is—and the light.
And then when everything is done,
Pa gives a look around;
Shakes out the harness, . pats old
Prince,
And ties old Nell, the hound..
The lantern sputters—’most goes out,
But I’m not scared a mite.
I like chore time in summertime,
When Pa’s there—and the light.
€> 4-
LIVE STOCK NOTES
The brains of the breeder build up
the herd.
Economy in feeding is efficiency in
production.
. A boar should back up his pedigree
or the pedigree will be worthless.
“Do your bit” for the country, but
there’s no need to overlook the home
folks.
A small amount of soft coal for the
hogs to eat is a good thing. Too much
is constipating.
If you believe in good roads, pave
the way over which the pig must
travel to become pork.
True worth in a bull is vindicated
by the performance of his daughters
at the pail and the showing of his sons
on the block.
It must not be forgotten that the
high cost of living is meaning quite
as much suffering among animals as
men, probably more.
Dead pigs at farrowing time result
from the sows climbing over a piece
of two by four in the door of the hog
house. The remedv is apparent—take
out the crosspiece.
A small pen built close to the sow’s
pen, with a hole through which the
pigs can pass and eat grain by them-
selves, will encourage them to eat
grain much sooner.
All sorts of folks are coming for-
ward with schemes to induce the farm
ers to do more work; but nobody has
arrived with a suggestion to give him
an occasional holiday.
Make the building work keep pace
with the breeding campaign. It is fol-
ly to raise more stock than can be
housed. It is wiser to breed fewer ani-
mals than to breed more, if they must
go through the winter unsheltered.
Alfalfa is one of the best pastures
for growing pigs. Sweet clover is one
of the earliest pasture crops on which
pigs thrive almost as well as on al-
falfa. Rape is a good forage crop
which is ready six weeks after plant-
ing. It can be sowed in the corn at
the time of the last cultivation.
To the horse, a little grass each day,
we imagine, must taste quite as good
as the first strawberries of the season
do to us. And then to the horse it’s
both meat and medicine.
On one of the British battle fronts
appears a sign pleading for “Kindness
to animals.” Heaven alone knows the
need for such a plea amid the cruel-
ties of war.
-<*>-
Before the summer is over, the ama-
teur farmer will have a much higher
regard for the genuine article.
He was a wise king of old who, con-
fronted by many! a sorrow and bitter
experience, learned the wisdom of say-
ing to himself: “This, too, will pass!”
Tim says that trees are known by
their bark, and also that some folks
are known that way.
Doubtless a good many millions of
weed seeds will be disseminated from
back-yard gardens this summer.
MAY LOSE LICENSES
V
Comptroller Says Saloons Must Ob-
serve Standard Time
AUSTIN,, Texas.—According to an
announcement at the comptroller’s
department the permits of saloonmen
who open and close their saloons on
sun time instead of standard time will
be forfeited, despite the recent deci-
sion of the courts in the case of
Walker vs. the Comptroller, from Dal-
las county, that the sun time should
govern.
The comptroller takes the position
that the Walker case was decided by
a committee of appellate judges as-
sisting the supreme court and that un-
der the law the decision does not fix
a precedent in other cases.
Communications have been received
at the comptroller’s office from some
saloonmen advising that they were
contemplating opening and closing
their places of business according to>
sun time.
Saloons Cut Qut Free Lunch
NEW YORK.—Free lunch and the
large glass of beer for a nickel
passed Into history last Monday, ac-
cording to an announcement of the
Retail Liquor Dealers’ Asspciatiop,*^*
New York. It was said the bafiia^
ment of the free lunch would save the
3,000 members of the association about
$25,000 worth of food each day. Be-
sides using smaller beer glasses at all
bars it was deecided to raise the price
for a pint of beer to 20 cents.
M. J. Jennings, a wholesale and re-
tail liquor dealer, predicted that 25%
of the saloon keepers in this city
will be forced out of business on ac-
count of decreased consumption, due
to high prices.
Cost Saloon $4,800 to Sell Quart Bum
BURLINGTON, Vt.—It cost Soliman
Zeekind just $4,300 to sell one bottle
of liquor here. Soliman has a saloon,
but under the law he is not allowed
to sell anything to be drunk away
from the premises. He broke this law*
and thereby forfeits a $3,000 bond,
gives up a $1,000 license and pays a
$300 fine. He is barred from ever sell-
ing liquor in this state again.
Camps to Have Dry Zone "
WASHINGTON, D. C,—A “dry” zone
five miles wide, unless there is a city
or town within that limit, is to be
thrown around all camps for the mo-
bilization or training of troops under
new regulations made public at the
war department.
If a municipality is within even
y2 mile of the camp the dry zone is
to be limited to that width in that
direction.
Prohibition under a penalty of $10,-
000 fine also is imposed under the
same law against the maintenance of
any immoral houses within the limit
of five milees in any case even where
the camp is on the edge of a town.
--
During some excavations in a district of
historical interest some workmen came upon
a stone which was shaped very much like a
coffin. They thereupon began to discuss cof-
fins, and an Irishman remarked: ^
“Whoy don’t they use stone coffins now?
They.’d save a lot o’ money!”
“Why ? How could they ? They’d ,
difficult to make,” said another Irishman.,
“Oh, but,” said the Irishman, “you see,
stone coffin would last a dead man all hi®
life.”
OVERLAND
THE FAMILY CAR
THE CAR OF SAFETY, STYLE AND COMFORT
By special arrangement purchasers whom
it might inconvenience to pay all cash, may make partial pay-
ment on their OVERLAND and use the car while making their
subsequent payments. Call and let us explain this feature fully
L. T. HOYT, Dealer, Mercedes, Texas
The Moline Tractors, Trucks,
Warner Auto Trailers
and .. . Delivery Cars
The best in their class that has yet been devised
Demonstrations given at any time
HOYT, Agent
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Hoyt, L. T. Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 19, 1917, newspaper, July 19, 1917; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1062880/m1/2/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.