The Rural Voice, 1983-03, Page 49NEW EQUIPMENT SALE
SOLD 514.999.
Innes 570 Windrower & Conveyor 56.999.
IH 300 Tool Bar Planter. 8x30" . 56,999.
111 729 rugaye Ilar.naler,
1000 P.T.O. SOLD $5,799.
SOLD.. 55,499.
IH 595 spreader, 350 bu. 56,499.
MBW. 400 Bu. Grain Buggy. Demo 57,999.
Above items are below Cost
CALL NOW"
USED TRACTORS
IH 1566D. Cab, Air, exc. unit 524,900.
IH 12060 cab, rebuilt 510,500.
IH 674D. recond. 58,200.
IH 886D, cab, air, deep treads 526,500.
IH 986D, cab, exc. 1900 hr. 522,500.
CASE 1370D cab, air, 24.5x32 tires . 525,300.
Cockshutt 1750D, cab, runs good $6,800.
J.D. 40100. cab, new rubber 57,250.
IH 624D tractor, 60 H.P. 55,250.
Used tractors
Interest Free Sept. 1/83
USED COMBINES
AC Gleaner M2 diesel. low hr
IH 1440 Axial flow, loaded
IH 844 C.H. 406" rebuilt
IH 843 c.h. 4x30" clean unit
IH 810 G.H. 15' Flex Head
535.500
547.500.
55.900.
56.500.
54.700.
Above Units are Interest Free
Till Sept. 1/83
USED
PLANTING EQUIPMENT
IH X510 Drill, 16x7, comb. D.D. 52,800.
IH #10 Drill, 16x7, S.D. Grass Box 51,800.
IH #56 Planter, 4x30", Insect. 53,650.
IH #10 Drill, 13x7, Semi -Mount 51,050.
IH #400 6Rowx30•", Monitor & Insect. 53,200.
Interest Free Terms available or
12.9% Financing
C. A. BECKER
EQUIPMENT
LIMITED
lucknow, Ont.
529-7993
PG. 50 THE RURAL VOICE, MARCH 1983
STRIKING BACK
AG. COMMISSION 1881
Into the Woods
by Detonator Dan
A process destructive to our forest
wealth has been "rashly, recklessly,
wastefully, and wantonly going on."
That is how the Commission ex-
pressed their concern for Ontario for-
ests in 1881 (now, 102 years later, the
same terms could be used to describe
the same circumstances).
Further, the Commissioners said
"even with the bare facts staring them
in the face, our farmers, who are
practically today, the owners of the
remaining timbered lands in the Pro-
vince, in all the settled areas, are in a
condition of profound lethargy, or inno-
cent unconsciousness of the dangers
they invite or losses they incur" (strik-
ing back, we still wantonly destroy our
forests: we allow the forest industry to
devour their own livelihood without
thought of replenishing; we allow our
forests to be denuded by unscrupulous
log buyers, using out of date log rules.
Enough! I must strike back in a future
column).
Back to 1881. The Commission was
appalled that some Ontario farmers,
who took up bush land 30 years ago
(1850). have so thriftlessly managed
their timber, that today, they have used
the last stick and are actually buying
cordwood.
The woods of Ontario consisted of
species we are still familiar with, along
with butternut, chestnut, cotton -wood
and tulip trees.
A major dealer of hardwood lumber,
John Oliver and Co. of Toronto, gave
considerable information to the Com-
mission, indicating prices and the uses
of many types of wood, as an example,
the prices of lumber, loaded on rail
cars, per 1,000 board feet measure -
walnut, $60.00; oak, $18.00; birch,
$11.00, and hard maple, $10.00. Oliver
and Co. indicated that white pine was
the most sought after, because of the
wood's versatility.
Other species carved out their own
niche in day-to-day trade -soft elm made
better chair seats than basswood, white
ash for furniture, hard maple for axle -
trees, and oak for barrel staves and
railway ties.
Black walnut was in demand for
furniture. It is suggested that Peregrine
Maitland first inroduced walnut to Onta-•
rio. At one time, walnut was so
plentiful, that some was used in the
making of split rail fences!
"Coppices", as referred to last
month, is the cultivation of young
timber from the stumps of former
growth. Basswood and ash are two
species from which coppice growth will
appear.
The majority of plantings were deci-
duous or hardwood. Very little work
appeared to be done with conifers (is
our own Ministry of Natural Resources
on the wrong track by using coniferous
species just to "make Ontario green?").
A witness said, "I believe the plantation
of white pine will eventually pay when
our timber region to the north becomes
used up or burnt out."
In 1881, as now, windbreaks were of
considerable importance. Norway
spruce, while slow to grow, made the
best windbreak. Other species included
black spruce, Scotch pine, Austrian
oine and Arbor vitae.
The tree pedlar! According to the
Commission, the tree pedlar (nursery
stock salesman) was a deceitful man
full of knavish tricks. He not only
deceived his customers, but also
cheated his employer. As an example of
dubious practice, trees sold as a highly
recommended variety of apple, turned
out to be balsam poplar.
The Commission recommended the
Ontario government follow the arrange-
ments and laws relating to forests in
Europe and the U.S., along with' assis-
tance in the form of grants, exemptions
of forested lands from municipal taxes,
and the establishment of large tree
nurseries.
Next month, we will show the Com-
missioners evidence on hog raising.
How would you like a barn full of
"racer" or "alligator" pigs.? ❑
Detonator Dan [a pseudonym as you
may have guessed] is a practising
farmer in the boondocks of Colborne
Township, Huron County.