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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-01-22, Page 15REM-MIX CONCRETE All Types of Concrete Work McCann Const. Ltd. DASH WOOD Phone 237-3381 (free estimates) Bill Stewart's aown tO earth Canadian influence in Cuba EXHIBITION PARK—TORONTO-10 AM TO 6 PM OKIHRI/Va THE LARGEST SELECTION OF AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT DOER ONE ROOF IN CANADA I °111 PREVIEW THE 1976 PRODUCT LINES 4OR5 CANADA'S FIRST IN-DOOR THURSDAY & FRIDAY AT 7 PM The Purina "Non-Ureas" Are Doing Well! 40 GOLDEN MILK CHOW B16 & B18 • COW CHOW B38 • GOLDEN STEER B32 BULK SERVICE A SPECIALTY BEV. MORGAN & SONS RR 1, Hental1 /35-1487 Get big, healthy, fast growing pigs . AT LOW COST! FEED..!.. Purina Feeder Pig Chow FROM 25 TO 50 LIVE WEIGHT SMA1.I. NURSING PIGS NEED . . . Purina Baby Pig Chow LW. BEV MORGAN & SONS RR 1, Henson 235-1487 A NEW TRACTORS 111 8 1—Formal 766 D w/standard equipment 1—Formal 1066 without cob 1—Formal 1466 with cab, 20.8x38 tires 1—Farmal 1466 D, cab, air, 20.8x38 tires 1—Farmall 1566 D cab, air, 20.8x38 tires 1—Int. 674 D w/18,4x30 tires USED TRACTORS 1—Farmall 766 D w/roll guard Low hours 1—Farmall 1066 D w/cab, 550 hours, 1 yr. old 1—Farmall 1066 0 with cab, 1700 hrs, Real good 1---Farmall 1066 D without cab, 1700 hours, sharp 1—Farmall Hydro 70 w/cab, 200 hours 1—Int. 656 D Clean & good 1—Int. 275 gas. Reconditioned 1—Farmall 544 D New tires, Sharp 1—Case 730 D. Cheap power and 1 SOLD 1—Massey Super 90 gas. Runs well 1—Massey 255 D, loaded, only 490 hours 1—Massey 135 D. Clean & good 1—Int. 354 gas w/1550 loader. 800 hours 1—Leyland 384 D. w/Dunham loader 1—Farmall C w/cultivator 1—Farmall Super M gas 1—Farmall Cub w/Woods' mower 1—Oliver 550 gas with loader 1—Int. 434 D, power steering, 1501 loader 1—J,D. 1020 gas with #37 loader 1—David Brown 1200 diesel, real good 1—Farmall 1256D with cab. Excellent 1—Int. 504D w/2001 loader. Real good \*1 N. T. MONTEITH EXETER LTD. 235-2121 "Tile best in service when you need it most!" MAJOR DOOR PRIZES OF A JOHN DEERE CHARCOAL GRILL • CLARK LOFT, RR 3, Ilderton • JACK MACGREGOR, RR 5, Clinton TWO OTHER PRIZES WERE WON BY • S. DIETRICH, RR 3, Dashwood. • R. A. FULLER, 39 Sunset Dr„ St. Thomas THANK YOU We extend our sincere thanks to all the people who visited us during our grand opening last week. We enjoyed showing our modern sales and service facilities, although a few people couldn't make it to our open house due to bad weather conditions. Please feel free to come in any time, we'll be glad to see you. HURON TRACTOR (EXETER) LIMITED Hwy. 4, north of Exeter 235-1115 JOHN DEERE C. G. FARM SUPPLY LTD. 236-4321 ZURICH 236-4934 Attention Contractors! Make 1976 A EIS] Year With .. . See for yourself why year after year, more and more contractors make CASE a FIRST CHOICE Before Buying . Drop In And See Our Machines BIG or SMALL * THERE'S A MACHINE FOR EVERY JOB Your local dealer of Cose Industrial Equipment Times-Advocate, January 22, 1976 Page 15 Woodlot improvement increases farm profit s In mid-December, I had the op- portunity to visit Cuba for a week'. as part of a special Holstein-Friesian Goodwill Tour, organized by Claire Burt of Brampton. Leaving the cold and snow of Ontario to spend a week in 80"F. weather was something to look forward to. However, we arrived in much cooler weather with severe north winds. Only on the last three days of the week in Cuba did the temperature warm up and the north shore beach become safe for bathing. Our group met with Ramon Castro. Minister of Agriculture and brother of Premier Fidel Castro, spending most of one day with him, viewing Canadian Holsteins and their offspring. One would be impressed with the effect artificial insemination of cattle and research has had in improving milk production on the island — but more credit is due to the infldence of Canadian Holstein blood lines. On several of the large state farms visited, we found average milk production to he about 50 to 55 lbs. per day. A few cows were 'tireducing 100 to 115 lbs. a day. We were advised Canadian-born Holsteins were kept under cover of shade at least 8 hours a day. Native-born Holsteins could stand the warm climate much better and were not given any special treatment. Although much modern equip- ment and new concrete cow sheds (open on both sides) have been built by the state, many of the Canadian Holstein breeders on the tour felt improved handl- ing and caring for the cattle would pay handsome dividends. More bedding and less wet manure in the loafing areas might have reduced what we thought might have been un- desirable arthripe conditions in the cattle. Canadian Holsteins have been used extensively for cross- breeding with native cattle — resulting in vastly improved milk production. And of course a great deal of beef is produced by the raising of all the calves to maturity. Seldom had anyone on the trip seen so many miles of, barbed wire fences dividing the farms into 5 to 8 acre pastures which would be rotated every few days. Concrete posts 6" x 6" x 7' were placed approximately every 10 feet 'with 5 strands of barbed wire fastened to the post in much the same way as an Ontario farmer would fasten wire to an iron post. The posts were all painted white as were most of the dairy buildings. Cuba has a large cattle popula- tion — grass grows well with the average annual rainfall of over 21 inches coupled with the warm year-round climate. We saw no clover or alfalfa but we heard research into growing these crops was underway. Cuba im- ports over half a million metric tons of corn for livestock and poultry feed annually. Pork production is being ex- panded as is ,,egg and poultry production. Eggs were selling at about 10e each, We visited a Crocodile farm with ap- proximately 35.000 crocodiles be- ing raised for their hides. We were told the farm would have a population of at least 50,000 before any would be processed since it took that many to main- tain a steady supply of leather to the market. They were a vicious lot and I wouldn't want the job at any price to look after them. Sugar cane is the main crop of Cuba, with thousands of acres just starting. to be harvested. Much of it is cut by hand, although several mechanized harvesters are coming in par- ticularly for use on the enormous state-run farms. Private land owners still carry on — many liv- ing under very primitive con- ditions by our standards — but using their red and often stoney soil to produce vegetables, coffee, tapioca, pineapple, bananas, citrus fruit. sisal (for baler twine), and of course sugar cane. We saw several yoke of oxen being used to plough and work the land and to haul the long wagon loads of sugar cane to the 150 sugar factories throughout the island. Never could I have even im- agined so many old cars still be- ing used. Even Model A Fords of pre-1930 vintage could be found. While some cars were showing their age, one might see more rusted-out cars in Ontario. Cuba might be described as an antique car fancier's paradise. Some new European compact cars are coming in particularly for use as taxis in Havana, the capital, a city of over 2,000,000 people. Next to.Canada, Cuba has the world's largest supply of nickel. The Cuban fishing industry is ex- panding. A $900 million order for fishing boats has been placed with Spain. These boats will be known as fishing factories. Already Cuba has fishing boats in every ocean except the Mediterranean Sea. Rum, which is a by-product of the sugar industry, is readily available everywhere. Rum and tobacco, particularly cigars, were virtually the only items tourists could buy. All other ar- ticles require ration books, which of course only are available to Cubans or to those working for the Government from abroad. and there appeared to be several of these! Only those. who owned houses or farms prior to the Revolution of 1959 can retain them. They can turn them over to members of their family but cannot sell them. All other people live in rented accommodation owned by the Government. Factories supp- ly members of their staff, known as 'builder brigades', to build apartment houses. These are go- ing up virtually all over Cuba, but particularly in the urban fringe of Havana. The workers pay 6ri of their salary as rent where factories build such apartments. Salaries range from 80 to 600 pesos per month — in a country where everyone is sup- posed to be equal, it appeared to me that some were a bit more equal than others! For those not living in such accommodation, the rental fee is 1.0`'- of salary. Farm workers are given free liv- ing accommodation when employed on state-owned farms, , We rode in air-conditioned tourist buses recently imported from Spain by the Cuban govern- ment as part of an order for 115 such buses placed with Spain. The Cuban government is definitely interested in in- creasing the tourist industry. We were told 96 new tourist hotels are being built by the Govern- ment, We have pictures of some of these and in fact we lived in one for the week we were in Cuba. Night Clubs flourish. We visited the Tropicana in Havana, the largest and most popular, The floor show involved over 200 performing artists, from dancing to gymnastics, and of course all done to music, The show lasted over two hours and will run for approximately a year, And that was only one night club! We wondered how they could stay in operation. However, since everything else is rationed in Cuba — and there is supposed to be no one unemployed — Cubans could freely attend these night spots. We were told prostitution and gambling have been com- pletely wiped out in Cuba. Gas rationing provides for the owner of any car to obtain suf- ficient gas coupons to travel ap- proximately 250 miles per month, The cost of this coupon gas is 600 per gallon. However, gas is available over and above the coupon allowance but the price is $2.00 per gallon, an effec- tive and unique way of rationing! Hydro power is available and widely used. The rates are based on useage, but a normal average urban home would pay 7 Cuban pesos per month ($8.40 in Cana- dian funds). Telephone service left much to be desired but cost an average residence occupier about the same as hydro. Natural gas was mostly used for cooking, but I didn't get a price on that. Compulsory army service is required for three years for all young men. Call-up time is between the ages of 17 and 26, with those up to age 35 being, placed in the reserves after their three-year compulsory stint. Havana resembled an armed camp, bristling with all sorts of military hardware, as preparations were made for the first World Communist Party Congress ever to be held in Cuba. The city was sealed off on the day we left, which was the day the Congress officially opened. Our plane was 11 2 hours late in gotting away from Havana air- port due to strict security placed on all traffic. It was good to see the Canadian crest on our plane and better still to touch down at Toronto airport 3T t hours later. If the trip did nothing else, it made us all realize how much we A properly managed farm woodlot will furnish a convenient and economical supply of timber, fuel and fence posts for home consumption and, at intervals, will yield valuable sawlogs and veneer logs for market, Farm woodlots will produce much valuable material without improvement work, but there will also be many undesirable, crooked and defective trees of little value (hat could have been eliminated, More efficient management of many of these woodlots could double or triple the value of their output. The majority of farm woodlots in Southern Ontario are in need of some type of improvement work. Instead of being left to grow untended, young second-growth woodlots may be treated to produce more high-quality wood more quickly for higher profits. • The most important treatment in a young woodlot is a thinning when the trees are four to ten inches in diameter and 30 to 60 years of age, Thinning is done by cutting or girdling low-value trees to stimulate the growth of the remaining trees and to im- prove the quality and com- position of the woodlot. Thinning the young forest may be com- pared to weeding a garden in that the production of wood is con; centrated on the most valuable trees. Older woodlots will benefit if the less valuable species and the leaning, twisted, branchy, crooked, diseased and over- mature trees are removed. There is a great difference in the commercial value of the different species, those of least commercial value being known as !'weed trees", These "weed" species will never grow into good- quality timber and should be removed as early as possible. Improvement work in such older woodlots may still be carried out have for which to be thankful in this country. Democracy may have its weaknesses, but at least if we don't like the way our elected representatives are legislating we can, and do, vote them out of office by secret ballot, Just witness the recent B. C. provincial election. But of the five Provinces in Cuba, only one .is being given the right for provincial government, and this sixteen years after the Revolu- tion. Even when these elections are held later this year, there will be only one party represented on the ballot. The choice will be between that par- ty's candidates, Only those who are active Communist Party members can be candidates, and they represent only 10% of the total Cuban population of just over 8,000,000, Having been actively involved in politics all my life and an elected representative in On- tario's legislature for the last eighteen years, I came back to Canada quite reverently thank- ing God for the freedoms we en- joy, but so carelessly take for granted, in this great country, at a profit if the trees are big enough. To assist woodlot owners in the most efficient management of their woodlots, Ministry of Natural Resources staff will inspect a woodlot on the owner's request to advise on management techniques, Of even more im- portance, the Woodlands Improvement Act authorizes the Ministry to enter into agreements with woodlot owners under which woodland improvement work may be done free of charge by the Ministry. All owners of five or more acres of woodland qualify for woodland improvement assistance if the woodlot is ap- proved as suitable for forestry purposes. The Ministry of Natural Resources provides the labour and supervision to do the actual thinning of young woodlots or girdling of undesirable cull trees in older woodlots at no cost to the owner. The responsibility of the lan- downer is to protect the woodlot from grazing and fire and to report significant insect or disease damage to the Ministry office, The agreement extends for a period of fifteen years in most cases and, if the land is sold, the agreement can be assumed by the new owner for the balance of the fifteen year period. Any woodlot owner interested in details of this assistance is invited to contact the Ministry of Natural Resources office at Wingham, Ont. The Wingham District includes Huron and Perth Counties. Legal tender is that green and crackling stuff which is mighty tender when you have it, and mighty tough when you don't. Centralia Farmers Supply Ltd. Grain • Feed • • Cement Building Supplies Cool 228-6638 FREE 1976 SEED AND GARDEN CATALOGUE BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED Complete List of Flower and Vegetable Seeds, Lawn Seeds, Garden Supplies, Etc., Etc. Clip Out and Mail Today! ONTARIO SEED CO. LTD. BOX 144, WATERLOO, ONT, Name Address Prov, Dealers hold snownnobi le safety day One of the finest programs to draw the attention of snowmobilers to snowmobiling safety is being conducted by the Ontario Snowmobile Distributors Association in six Ontario centres this winter. Called an "OSDA Snofari", the kick-off event was held in Barrie on January 11. Even though heavy downfalls of blowy snow kept large numbers of people off the highways, over four hundred snow machines and their riders gathered for this excellently- organized snowmobile safety gala. Working with local snowmobile clubs which provide fifty miles of well-groomed trails for each outing, members of the association have arranged a superb opportunity for a snowmobiling family to become aware of the ways of the snowmobiling fraternity. The knowledgeable snowmobiler believes the most agreeable and safest way to enjoy the sport is by joining a snowmobile club and a "Snofari" experience proves what good snowmobiling is all about . . . scenic beauty, challenging trails, awe of our environment, congenial com- panions and snowmobile safety savvy. GRAND OPENING — Huron Tractor had its grand opening celebration last Thursday and Friday tq mark the opening of a new addition to the farm implement centre, in- cluding a new expanded parts department, service centre, and office space. Officials attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday included executives from John Deere, Canada. From the left; Harry Winters, owner, Herb Verbeek, owner, Jack Van Bussel; owner, Ken Simon; territorial manager, John Deere; Earle Long, Owner, Harry Mykolashyn, general sales manager, John Deere, Ed Stahl, vice-president in marketing of John Deere, Lawrence Ruud, division sales manager, Doug Knowles, Bank of Montreal manager, Jim McRoberts, regional manager, Bank of Montreal, and Ralph Franklin, vice- president of Bank of Montreal. photo by Robinson