HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1972-12-14, Page 43f u
CH SIGNAL-ST4ltTHURSDAY. D
a
ry
•
Precautions ,.
first
then Christmas tree
" Children and adults alike en-
joy trimming the holiday! trek.
However, remember to take
precautions with .your .Christ -
Mas tree and evergreen
decorations„, Th°e longer they
are in the . house, the greater
fire hazard they become, says
• H.A. Fleming, horticultural
specialist, Ontario Mtiistrry` of
Agriculture and Food. •
First, be sure the tree you ob- fi
tain is fresh. Many trees are cut
several weeks- ahead and can be.
quite dry when sold. Keep the
tree outside until you are ready -
'to decorate "it,.. since the at-
mosphere in most homes is very
dry. Just before Christmas,
make a fresh cut about 2 inches
.up the trunk. To help. keep the
tree from drying out, the end of
the trunk should be set, in a
container' of water. Make sure
the tree stand is sturdy enough
to support -the, tree.
Check the water level often.
It is•surprisinghow m cl3 Water
is, absorbed by the tree .and the
atmosphere of many homes.
There should always be qater
around the base of the trunk.
Evergreen bough's :used in
.wreaths, centerpieces and other
holiday decorations should also
be pl ced in small ,containers of
water and refilled daily if
necessary. Dispose of tbeae
decorations as soon as possible
after Christmas. -
Na
'Check all 'Christmas lights
for frayed. wires and broken
sockets, Repair 'or -replace
before using. Keep the tree and
other evergreen decorations
away from fireplaces, hot air
registers and radiators.
Enjoy your tree and have a
safe, happy holiday!
FOR, THE 1111$111
HUNTING
FISHING
it-SPQRFS--iQUIFPAiN#f'—
Fora Light 'Snack
or a 'Full Course Meal,
WE INVITE YoU TO
DINE IN THE P,t,EASANT
ATMOSPHERE OF THE
GODIRICH RESTALJRANT
STEAKHOUSE I TAVERN
LICENSED UNDER THE 'LIQUOR LICENSE, ACT ,
40.
4
We Thought we'd see
forever a farm ...
"By the old wood, stove, our hats was hung,
Our stories told, and our songs was sung,
We thought we'd see, forever a. farm, .
But the chances was really, . a million to one."
That's not word for word the, way Bob Dylan wrote that
verse of "Train Goin' West", I've taken the liberty of splicing ,
two verses in one, butthe theme remains the same.' A lament on
the rapid disappearance of small farms that to many, only one.
generation ago, were a way of life. A lament aimed particularly;
perhaps to the disappearing family famiit:'"'°" """ -
As more and more such farms are said to slip into the
oblivion of larger units, corporate interests or even .under the
asphalt of urban areas; the public faces a barage of nostalgic
stories, television scripts and documentaries, as well as news
stories, bemoaning the loss of a way of life called, "The Family
Farm."
Some ,make futile.craes for help, from Provincial and Federal
governments toward saving such agricultural units, some shrug
the whole thing off as a half true situation blown out of propor-
tion and nearly everyone, agrees its all happening somewhere
else, like out west on the prairies.'
According to the Canadian census however,, the situation is
neither -out of proportion, or happening
gasomewhere everywherelse. It's
across
happening in Huron County,
Canada, and they seem to have the figures to prove it. --
In an advance li'ulletin •released by the census people Huron
County lost a total of 352 farms in the past five years alone. In
1566 there were 4,565 farms operating in Huron but by 1971
that figure had dropped to 4,213.
Farm land is disappearing as well. It is just not a case 'Of two
smaller farms , having been, joined into one since 1966.
Somewhere Huron County also Iost 9,078 acres of agricultural
land in that same 'time period.
Howich, Stephen and.Turnberry were the top three tgwnships
in farms lost. Stephen lei" the way as it dropped no less than 43.
Howick was second losing 32 and Turnberry third having lost
28.
Ashfield lost the lowest number having only fallen by seven
farms in the five year period.
Colborne lost 27, Goderich.22, Grey 19, Hay 11, Hullett 17,
McKillop 16, Morris 15, Stanley 13, Tuckersmith 27, Usborne
eight, East Wawanosh 21 and West Wawanosh 16.
Each of the Townships also showed a drop in farm acreage in
`keepingrwith the,over all drop shown by the County figure.
Such -decreases 'are nothing new for Huron County however.
A good example of this fact would be that in 1867 the year
Canada became a nation, Huron County boasted a population
of about 80,000 people. Today that figure is just slightly more
than 52,000.
Since the. urban ' areas 'of Huron County have for the most
part maintained a steady population increase over the years it
stands to reason that much of the 28,000 drop must have come
' , e
"�M h ti'te-rtrra�l a1eas It&been a s1oW.and.-steaclxsdeell�'ver Q more � .R.
than a century and according to those recent figures it shows ho
signs of stopping.
Mike Miller, who works with the Department of Agriculture
office out of Clinton says .the situation may not be as bad as the
figures seem to indicate although he does agree there have been
•
some reductions in farm numbers during the 1966 to 1971
period.
"The census figures given take into consideration any unit
which markets more than $100 in a year," he explains. "If one
looks at the figures for farms with sales of over '$5,Q00. the
decrease is much smaller and then' even smallerwith farms ,
showing sales of over $10,000 per year."
'The $5,000 figures which are available to show that the
decrease trend.:is not nearly so critical. As a matter of fact every
"1"4.51ii tOWiip shows an' increased -number- farms in this '
category, the increases are small usually involving one or two
units but in some cases as many as 10. More a - sign of
stabilization than of increase but a healthy sign never the less.
.r
Combining the .degrease figures from the general census and
the break down figures of the $5,000 sales category the results
still come out on the -negative side, but only slightly. It would
appear the downward slide in farms and farm vacreage is finally
skidding to a stop.
Most of this decrease Mr. Miller feels are retirement
situations (to be expected) and should not be taken with a great
deal of concern. ,
"The trend is not as bad as the overall farm figures seem to
show," he stressed. "As we come down to the farms over $5,000
sales' the real trend can be seen more clearly. The trend in this
part of the country is beginning to level out."
Mr. Miller explains that the acreage decrease could be ac-
counted for through "Holiday Acreage" like reforestation,,.
Some land, he says, is also• Lost to ARDA from those figures.
"ARDA would own several thousand acres in the county
which farmers are renting."
"The loss of population in rural areas is probably turning
around as well," he said. "We are getting more and more
people moving to the country to live but not to farm."
"Many areas are showing a rising percentage of rural non
farm people," ' he adds.
The family farm too ,may be "Alive and well and living in
Huron County."
"Figures show," Mr. Miller .explains, "that only two percent
of the farms in Huron are owned in corporate structures and
those are often father -son operations who incorporated for tax
and succession benefits."
Mr. Miller did concede that because more farms are on a
good economic basis at the moment more young people may be
deciding to stay on the farm than will at a later date, but he ad-
ded that he was hopeful the situation would continue to
stabalize itself over the next few years.
All isnot perfect in the fields of Huron County agriculture
but things are improving. There are still• problems to be correc-
ted but the downward fall of far"ms and farm acreage seems to
. be slowing up and even stopping.
Maybe we will see the rolling country sidecovered with
farms, and even, family farms, for a few years to come.
NOTICE
To the ratepayers of the Corporation of the
Town of Godericb
Under the new Ontario Property Tax Credit Plan,
, residential and farm property taxes levied and due in
1972 'must' be paid by December 31
The payment of. these municipal taxes will enable you
to receive full credit Under the Ontario plan on your
1972 income tax return.
Signed:
"J. HAROLD WALLS"
Tax Collector
iM6
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Wh„Sryyq,, 'Ml'Aa„y.`f.,� ... y •Xq
thru
December 14
daily, per person
56 of 420 rooms, Europel. an Nan
tavishldinnemerlaae breakfast.
add $0 daUY aklast,
et
They'll Find.
•SLIPPERS •SHOES or BOOTS
ndtr.lhe .ket1rnt Ross Shoe
1
Allow Us To SIip'A
Merry Christmas
UNDER EVERY TREE
ROSS.
Froin The Staff Of
SHOE
se
OR MAY' WE SUGGEST .«.
-
GIVEA,
IFT RTIFIC E
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