Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 23, 1917, Page 2

area TE DEUPLE WORK TOGETIIER 6y &.M.ALOOMIS to practical purposes : N TOO many cases country peo- people and town and city people inisunderstand one another, and both lose. As a consequence urban dwellers buy Oregon ap- ples and California grapes, and rural folk buy thelr furniture, farm machinery and supplies froin Chiengo mall-order houses. Here and there, however, some of the more far-sighted men and women of both groups are mak- ing determined efforts to sup- and contempt with fellowship and And it works—Ladies and gentle- Plant distrust ©o-operation. tnen, it works beautifully! The enterprising citizens of Jamestown, N. Y., and the farm people who live in the counties sur- rounding the city (which have a population of about 40,000) joined heads, hearts and hands this Inst autumn in a great “Farm and City Get-To- g@ther Festival,” and the affair was such a huge Success that a permanent organization was foemed and the festival will be held annually here- after. Here ts an tllustration of how misunderstanding 1s bred and why It persists sometimes: James Mason, a city dry-goods merchant, drove out In the country one pleasant Sunday afternoon in October, and was astonished at the number of apples he saw on the ground in orchards along the roadside. “I cannot buy good apples at the grocery next my store,” he complained, “unless I pay Alaska prices for them, 5 cents each. Yet here they are rotting on the ground.” Mason Jumped to the conclusion that the farm- ers did not try to save the spp! or to help the city man and his family get hy re both selfish and lazy,” he asserted when he told of the experienc Simon Neweomb lived on a farm near where Mason drove that Sunday. He had been tn town Saturday afternoon with a load of apples. The groceryman looked them over, and offered New- comb 50 cents a bushel. Newcomb had read tn his farm paper that apples were scarce, and he thought he ought to have a dollar a bushel. “But your apples are not sorted. There are sev- eral kinds in the one crate, and many of them are Inferior In size, and some badly worm enten,” objected the grocer. “You leave them with me for 50 cents n bushel or else take them some- where else Newcomb looked at his watch and saw it was nearly chore time, and he sold them, But when he got home he told his wife the grocer took ad- vantage of him and was little better than a rob- ber. But both men were wrong. The orchard owner was not Inzy nor selfish. He had other problems worse to handle and more necessary to him than picking up and saving a few bushels of apples. SPIDERS ARE NOT VERY DANGEROUS The famons tarantula, reported to be one of the terrors of the arid parts of the Southwestern states and northern Mexico, and which bulks so large in the tmagination and the fears of those persons who have friends on the border, is really not the tarantula of history and of fable. One of the numerous students of spiders—and the tarantula ts a spider—says of that terrifying insect that it is the Lycosa tarantula, a kind of spider found in some of the warmer parts of Italy and Spain. When full grown It is about the size of a chestnut and of a brown color. “Its bite was at one time supposed to be dungerous,” says this authority, “and to cause a kind of ‘dancing dis- ease,’ but it is now known not to be worse than the sting of a common wasp.” It is very likely that when the early Spanish explorers came upon the great spider of the South- west, and seeing a good deal of resemblance to the tarantula of the old world—those explorers not having been scientific entomologists—they called the new spider a tarantula, and the name shas stuck. There is no doubt that the big spider of Ari- zona, New Mexico, California, old Mexico and many other places is a relative of the tarantula of Spain and Italy, and in color, disposition and in the matter of his hairy legs a layman might easily mistake him for the tarantula. But perhaps there is not much in a name so far as spiders go, and it is just as well to avoid if possible that particu- lar spider which so many Americans call the taran- tula, though it is quite certaln that the mean- ness of his disposition has been exaggerated. J. H, Emerton, one of the spider experts of the world, writes, after years of intimate study of This is an article about the Farm and City Get- Together Festival at Jamestown, N. V.,where some enterprising dream-~ ers turned their talents SUOOTOS BY FRANK FLLET THE GRANGE FIATELIS Nor was the grocer a robber. He had a trade which required certain standards, and the stuff offered him did not conform to those standards. All wrong, almost from the start. Just as the foregoing illustration makes plain the problem more than pages of generalities, so the experience of Jamestown In Its first Farm and City festival will show how the effort to get to- gether succeeds better than more pages of plati- tudes, First of all Jamestown had a live board of commerce, and a secretary with a vision not bounded by the factory chimneys of the city nor its city limits, Secretary Fred Clayton Butler had been studying some United States census re- ports on Chautauqua county, Y., and he dis- covered that most of the rural towns of the county and all its rural villages, but two or three that had a lot of factories, had decreased in population in the last three decades. He did not ne be told about the increase In cost of living. was self-evident. In surveying the field he found that there w: an active apple growers’ ition in Chautau- qua county, also a milk producers’ association, a farm bureau, a lot of big granges, and a number of farmers’ clubs. The manager of the farm bureau was Hawley B. Rog nnd Mr. Rogers was called into conference with Mr. Butler, “You do not need to tell me anything about de- creasing rural populations,” Interrupted Re 8, when Butler started in on his pet paragraph. I knew all about that before you city people awak- ened. But what can we do abont it?” Right here the city man had the farm bureau man beaten. “We can get together and find out,” was his reply, “I know that the city people have n double stake at Issue; the cost of what they must have to eat, and the market for a large part of their goods. I think your people have some- thing at stake also. You want good roads, and good schools, and good markets. Perhaps we can get together.” Out of this conference grew a bigger conference, present at which were representatives of most of ASSOC spiders: “When undisturbed, spiders never bite anything except Insects yseful as their food, but when attacked or cornered all species open their jaws and bite if they can, depending on the size and strength of their jaws. The stories of denth, insanity and lameness from the bites of spiders are probably untrue. The species of spider are hard to number. The spiders of North America have been studied by Hentz, Emerton, Keyserling and Thorell, and po doubt by a number of other men who have spe- clalized in insects,” and it is estimated that there are 800 species In North America. The spider has heart, liver, stomach, intestines, thorax, lungs and several other Interesting organs, as, for ex- ample, the spinning glands and spinnerets. It ts recorded that a good many experiments have been made to throw ght on the effect of spider bites on man. A distinguished entomolo- gist, named Bertkau, allowed various kinds of spiders to bite his hand. Some of them drew blood, giving a sensation like that of a sharp needle prick. The wounds smarted and swelled somewhat and itched when rubbed, producing very much the sensation of mosquito bites, but no per- manent ill effects followed. Another entomolo- gist, named Blackwell, also allowed specimens of the big spiders to bite his hand. He reported that he felt no particular pain and little inflam- mation followed, and the wounds soon healed. Still another entomologist, named Doleschall, re- ported that he had shut up small birds with the Mygale, one of the biggest and fiercest of the spider tribe. The birds soon died after being bitten. He allowed one of his fingers to be bitten by a large jumping spider. The pain was severe and his finger and then his hand and rural organizations and some active busi- is mien from the elty of Jamestown. The pro- portion at this time, and so far as possible in every succeeding step up to the big banquet which closed the festival finally and successfully held, was just “fifty-fifty half city people, half farm people on every committee and in every confer- ence. This conference, held in August, decided to hold a Farm and City festival, a real get-together, in November. “Not a county fair, but better than a county fair, with the vaudeville features omitted,” was the way It was expressed. At the initial meet- ing it ~~cs decided to carry out this get-together idea by making the exhibits of an educational character as far as possible in every instance. To do this and to finance it s ral committees were named. A street was closed and covered with tents. Other tents were put up on vacant lots, and the state armory was used. All sorts of cexhibits—prize Hvestock, poultry, dairy products, grains, fruit, vegetable ete. ere shown and prizes awarded. State experts in all phuses of farming, in domestic science, dietetics, ete. delivered lectures to the city and country people. A railroad traffic expert dis- cussed plans for helping producer on the farm to get his products directly and expeditiously to con- sumer in the city. The government sent a good- roads exhibit, and motion pictures were used to many of the lectures more graphically inter- In child welfare, in And then there was a great closing dinner. Five hundred persons repr enting every part of the county and city attended this affair. There was fine music, one thing—orchestral and choral work, led by Cornell university music Instructors, and solos nd Goy, Charles S. Whitman, who was in the city on a campaign trip, left politics behind and he and Mrs, Whitman attended the banquet. “Co-operation” and “get acquainted” were the watchwords of the occasion. Two weeks after- ward the committees met and decided unan!mous- ly to hold another “Farm and City Get-Together Festival” next year. arm became lame, but the soreness soon passed away. The Mygale ts one the best-known of the large and heavy spiders. It is a native of tropical and subtropical America. It is said that it catches and kills small birds with its poisonous bite and then sucks the blood of its victims. The body of this spider is pitch black and ts covered with long reddish-brown hair. It has eight eyes placed close together In the front of its head. It is a close kinsman to the so-called bird spider of Surinam. The offictal name of that American spider called the tarantula ts Cteniza Californica, and it is one of the trapdoor spiders. It is common In New Mexico, Arizona, and California. According to John Sterling Kingsley, this spider digs its hole in a fine soil which when dry is nearly as hard as brick. These spider holes are sometimes nearly an inch in diameter and vary in depth from two and three inches to nearly a foot. The mouth of the hole 1s enlarged and then closed by a thick cover which fits it tightly. That cover fits into the mouth of the hole very much as a cork does in the neck of a bottle. The cover is made of dirt fastened together with threads and, like the hole, is lined with silk and Is fastened by a thick hinge made of spider's silk. When the cover is closed it looks exactly ike the ground around it. This, ike many other species of spider, ts nocturnal in tts habits, raising {ts trapdoor at night and sallying forth in search of food, Its chief food being insects. There is so much diversity of opinion as to the effect of the bite of these spiders that in living where they are a man should practice safety first and take no chances with them. INVITE the BIRDS fo be NEIGHBORS PREPARED BY THE UPMTED STATES DEPARTIIENT OF AGUCULTURE NEST SHELTERS. One of the most valuable and inter- esting bidds to have about the home or farmstead is the phoebe, also called bridge-bird and preacher-bird. It feeds upon almost all kinds of insects and helps to make the country more hab- (table for man. Phoebes like to nest weather by one wall and a roof. This shelf if placed high under the eayes of a two-story building may attract barn swailows; phoebes and robins also are likely to build upon it if it is not less than eight feet from the ground. In some cases it will be ad- visable to leave only one side open. A nest shelter designed to be placed in shrubbery for catbirds, brown Outdoor Nest Shelf. about buildings, and a simple shelf under the roof of a porch or shed Is | all they require, it is pointed out by | the United States bureau of biological survey. If, however, it is desirable to have them stay outside, the shelf must be provided with a roof. Figure 1 shows a shelf shielded from the | Nest sneiter. | thrashers and song sparrows is shown in Figure 2. As it requires little lum- ber or Jabor, one may well be pla | in every patch of weeds or brush fre- quented by these birds. Fastened to a | large horizontal branch or in a crotch | of a tree it Is likely to be used by rob- ins. aaeaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeReaREeqEeEeEeEeEeaNpeympyjywy eae a eee | QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE BE- FORE BUILDING HOUSES, Before erecting birdhouses one should first determine the kind ot birds to which his premises are adapt- ed. The question usually next aris- ing is as to the number of birds that can be accommodated, Unless grounds are lar it is generally useless to ex- pect as tenants more than a pair of each species, except martins, accord- ing to the United States Biological surve However, the singular intol- erance shown by most birds during the breeding season to others of their kind does not operate between those of different species A dozen differ- ent kinds of birds will pursue their several modes of hunting and raise their famjlies on the same lot, but rarely two of the same sort. Of all our native house birds, martins alone are sociable. Birds Are Tolerant. The fact that birds are more tol- erant toward strangers than toward relatives was well illustrated by an observation made~recently in New Mexico. A one-story toolhouse ten feet square had nailed to three cor- ners of its roof rough birdhouses mad» from packing boxes. One was occu- pled by violet-green swallows, another by western bluebirds, and the third by English sparrows. A still more re- markable association of different spe- cies has been reported by a resident of St. Louis, Mo. who once had a pair each of flickers, martins, house wrens and English sparrows nesting in the snme house. The fact that there is a limit to the possible bird population on any given tract must be taken Into consideration. When the probable tenants have be decided upon, the selection of sites is in order, for the site often decides the style of house that is to occupy it. In the final placing of birdhouses, care should be taken to have them face away from the winds prevailing in stormy weather. The strongly deyel- oped homing instincts of birds can be relied on to attach them to the neigh- borhood where they first saw the light, and the identical pairs which nest in the house provided for them one year will often return the next season to enjoy the same bounty and protection. Location of Houses. The location of a birdhouse or food shelter has much io do with its suc- for the reason that birds have decided notions to proper sur- roundings for a dwelling. Martins prefer to breed near houses, but not within 20 feet of trees or buildings. Bluebirds are inclined to select or- chards or pastures having scattered trees. Wrens, thrashers and catbirds live in thick shrubbery. Robins like trees with sturdy trunks and branches. Titmice, nuthatches and most of the woodpeckers are woodland species, al- though flickers and red-headed wood- peckers are more at home among the scattered trees of roadsides and pas- tures. Song sparrows frequent weedy swales and brush fences. Swallows do not enter woods, so that a house would be as attractive to them in one open place as another. The eastern phoebe, the black phoebe and the house finch, while not limited to the haunts of man, are noticeably partial to them. Crested flyeatchers, screech owls, barn owls and sparrow hawks are governed more by convenience than by taste; although normally in- clined to hold aloof from man, they have In many pest reared their broods in close pgaximity to dwellings. 3arn owls, true fo their name, ace pt without hesitation suitable quarters in buildings, _——_——errrnr rer eee CATERING TO THEIR NEEDS. Btrds may be gitthered about us in all seasons of the year with ease and certainty merely by offering what they desire. In winter they are often pushed for food, and if we supply this need they will report daily at the lunch counter and help to relieve the tedium of our indoor life. In sum- mer they care less for food provided by their human friends, and other Bird Baths; a, Pottery; b, Metal or con- crete. means mast be sought to attract them about the home. They appreciate fresh water for bathing and drinking. A shallow pool of varying depth, if only a foot across, becomes on hot days a center of attraction for all the birds in the vicinity, and it may be made with little effort and material. Only a small amount of cement is required, or, if that be lacking, a pan with stones in it set in the ground will be equally serviceable. Trees, shrubs and vines bearing fruit relished by birds are great attractions in their seasdn, Birds are desirable about premises hot only on account of their beauty and song, but because of their eco- nomle worth, according to the United Stutes “bureau of biological survey. They are especially useful as insect destroyers during the breeding period. when they huve to work early and late to obtain sufficient food for their nestlings, and their movements at this time are more interesting than during any other season. There is, therefore a double purpose in offering them spe cial nesting facilities. If mud is avail- able, swallows, robins and phoebes wil! found and wall their nests with it. If we put out feathers, bits of wool or twine, a dozen different kinds of birds will make use of them. If we furnish safe retreats In which they can reat their young comfortebly, most of them will be occupied. In fact, no attrac: tion for summer birds is more effec- tual than a series of houses suited to the needs and habits of the various kinds of house birds. A few years ago only four species were commonly regarded as house birds—the house wren, the bluebird, the tree swallow and the martin. Since the movement to protect birds and make neighbors of them began, how- ever, their natures and needs have be- come better understood, and it is now known that many other species will avail themselves of houses construct- ed for them by their human friends. The practice of erecting birdhouses in this country, while now nation wide, is not so common and uniformly distributed as it should be, and more extended provisions of this nature cannot fail to result in a largely in- creased number of house birds. “ Mrs, Casey’s Dilemma. “An’ how are thim twins o’ yours, Mrs. Casey, thot look so much aloike?” “Sure, wan o’ thim’s sick, an’ we don’t know which wan!"—New York Times.