HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1948-6-2, Page 6Some Notes From The Farm Front
Of Special Interest To Rural Readers
Ity John Russell
Another farm crop that's eom-
jag to the aid of afflicted man-
kind Is the good old pancake in-
gredient—buckwheat.
That's because buckwheat con-
tains a chemical substance called
rutin which—during the few months
It has been used—has proved high-
ly beneficial in certain types of
internal bleeding. Rutin does .this
by strengthening the walls of the
tiny blood vessels known ae ca-
pillaries.
To meet the national needs for
rutin in the United States alone,
medical manufacturers estimate that
at least an extra 50 thousand acres
of buckwheat will be needed an-
nually. The entire plant, around
blossom time, is used for the ex-
traction of its rutin, so that no grain
from this extra acreage would be
available for flour or for livestock
feeding.
* * *
Nothing is of greater importance
to the welfare of both man and
beast than proper protection of
drinking water supplies, Precau-
tions which will guard against pol-
luted water are simple, and either
boiling or chlorination will insure
that water is safe for drinking.
If boiling is used, the water
should be kept at boiling tempera-
ture for at least ten minutes.
For chlorination, two teaspoons -
lot of fresh chloride of lime should
be mixed to a smooth paste with
a little cold water. To this add
one quart of water and mix well.
You now have your sterilizing
solution, four drops of which —
added to one gallon of water and
let stand for 15 minutes—makes
the water fit for drinking. A fresh
sterilizing rolution should be made
every seven days.
* * *
An Australian farmer makes
cheap but highly effective bird
scarers out of empty fruit cans or
jam tins.
One end of the tin is removed
and then sir or seven cuts are
made down the sides of the tin
to within an inch or so of the
other end. These strips are then
bent at a slight angle. Dead cen-
tre in the unopened end a dent
(not a hole) is made, so that the
tin will sit snugly on a piece of
wire stuck in the ground.
The slightest breeze catches the
out -turned strips of tin and turns
the glistening contraption speedily
enough to frighten all the birds
from his fruit and vegetables, the
farmer claims.
* * *
A purebred Canadian Holstein
cow has fust established a new
world's record. Owned by J. J. E.
dcCague of Alliston, Ont., in 305
days she gave 28,243 pounds of
milk containing 980 pounds of but-
t! :Sat.
"this 30Z7 clay fat production is
al -o a n,w North American record
for the Holstein breed in the ma-
t: re t'::ns and makes her replace
ss Canadian champion over all
het r 1.—an Ayrshire cow with a
mase of !tuem puncta fat from 21,241
p,tt:ds of milk. The displaced
we rld champion milk producer for
30? day, is a United States Hol-
t• r. r,h a record of 27,613 pounds
of
*
t;e a rooting match with
,'f -m beef animal in or-
der in clip its horns is far from
the softest lot, in the world — par-
ticularly as there's a mach easier
way of ac'omplishing the sante
thing. Feu inst use a little caustic
potash On the new -horn calf.
According to a Provincial ex-
perimental station a little of the
caustic, in either paste or stick
form, applied to the horn buttons
when the calf is a few days old
will do the trick. To prevent un-
necessary spreading and burning of
the akin, apply vaseline or grease
around the outside of the area
treated, This method not only works
on small farms but is being used
with success on large cattle ran
rhes as well.
* * *
Protection of crops from frost
damage in early spring or at the
end of the growing season is still
a problem that challenges agri-
cultural scientists; and although
various methods have been suc-
cessful to some extent most of
them require too much trouble and
labor, or are too costly.
The smoke screen method of
protecting seedlings and trees front
frost has worked well on many
occasions, but is inconvenient be-
cause of the constant attention nec-
essary to keep smudge fires going.
In some places agriculturists have
worked on the development of ine
fra-red and fuel -burning radiant
heat generators; and while these
have been fairly successful, the
area each unit can cover is so
limited that the cost appears to be
much too high for general use.
Chemists are working on two
other angles of approach to the
problem. One is to find a chemical
which will increase the frost -resist-
ance of plants - an investigation
prompted by the discovery that po-
tatoes treated with certain fungi-
cides were not killed as readily
by fall frost as those untreated.
Second approach is through the
use of plant hormones. In England,
for instance, the same chemicals
which stop apples from dropping
off the trees have been used to
delay the blossoming of peaches un-
til the danger of frost has passed,
Development of plant varieties
which will grow to maturity with-
in the frost -free period is another
form of defence being tried by
some Canadian plant breeders,
* * *
In many soils across Canada it
is almost impossible to grow such
things as tomatoes, corn, cabbage,
cauliflower and tobacco unless wire -
worms are first destroyed. And al-
though benzine hexachloride was
responsible for tainting such crops
as turnips and potatoes last sea-
son, its use—under proper precau-
tions — for the control of wire -
worms, cabbage maggots and other
soil -infesting pests cannot be con-
demned.
In using BHC the recommenda-
tions of the Federal Department
of Agriculture should be strictly
adhered to at all times. For grain,
corn, tomatoes and tobacco BHC
dust (.5% gamma) should be
broadcast at the rate of 125 to
I50 pounds per acre a week to ten
days before seeding, and the soil
should then be lightly harrowed.
For control of maggot of cab-
bage, cauliflower, broccoli, etc., the
same strength BHC dust is used at
the rate of 40 pounds per acre. It
should be applied to the plants and
soil around them 3 to 4 days af-
ter transplanting.
Lazy Ants
American scientists, returning
from a survey in Cent.al America
—where ants are more numerous
and more highly developed than
they are in colder latitudes— report
that in the average colony only 40
per cent of the insects are real go-
getters. Twenty per cent work oc-
casionally, and the remainder, we
regret to say, are no good at all;
they spend their time "lolling about
the nest". That is a higher propor-
tion of loafers than in any human
society. It's all very disillusioning.
Every second of the year, $23
worth of pulp and paper rolls from
Canadian mills,
THIS CURIOUS WORLD By William Ferguson
9, SCALESS ON A REPTILE,
THE HAIR ON YOUR HEAD, THE
NAILS ON YOUR TOES AND FINGERS,
THE HORNS ON A COW AND
THE FEATHERS ON A BIRD..,ALr-
ARE FORMED of m'R'RAT/N.
COPS. 1976 ar NEA SERVICE, INC.
T. M. REC. U. d, PAF. OrP. �
IN THC UN1TIE0 STATES'
AN AVERAGE OF ONCE ABOUT
reildt?YGBNT.f 15 SPENT
BY EACH PERSON ANNUALLY
FOR 000/45:
tuo
'WHEN A HOUSE 15 ON FIRE,115
FIRES ON THE HoUSE;'Sar/t
'DONALD OSBORNE9
Afharts, 4476ama.
tCs1;t t!ip
In the Holy Land, a New Flag Rises Against Menacing Mort
are part of a heavy weapons group using French 75 min trench
few weeks in the battle for Jerusalem; as British moved out, nt
stand guard beside the colors of Israel that were raised over 11
of British Ilig-11 Commissioner symbolized end of Britain's rul
ars—These Lebanese soldiers of the Arab Army of Liberation
mortars. Such mortars have been used constantly its the past
ore Arab forces poised for invasion. Ttvoc"llanganah soldiers
alfa after the seaport city was captured by the lea's. Departure
e in the holy 1.cm1 and the formal birtlt of the State of Israel.
Footsteps
In the Dar
By
rf1f,EN BEMIS
At five -thirty P. bis as usual,
George Madison )eft the First Na-
tional bank of Crosstown. He start-
ed up the busy street with that
deliberate tread of his, then swung
back to the corner, It night look
suspicious to change his ways to-
night
"The same, sir?" asked old Tim,
blind since the battle of the Marne
in World War I.
"Yes," said George, wincing as
his nickel banged the tin cup.
"A bit cool for April," offered
Tim, handing up the Crosstown
"Let me go! I'm James Farnum!"
exclaimed the terrified George.
Evening News. "Get to know• wea-
ther, don't we — being out in it
every day like me an' you, Say—
jus' how many years you been cort-
in' from the First National to get
my papers?"
George started, paled. Couldn't
let on to the old fool that after
midnight he wouldn't be around,
couldn't explain that after tonight
he'd be a free man, 'a man of
means, no longer a slave. Only
thing you could call a bark teller,
wasn't it?
"Ifs — it's about 15 years,"
came from George's dry lips.
"No doubt the bank folks are
pretty fond of you by this time,"
commented Tint. "They're mighty
nice to me, too --from the presi-
dent down,"
"Yes, of coarse;" chopp, el out
George, swinging away.
Mrs, Islurray's gloomy hoarding
house irritated him more than ever
tonight. But after wsesn food and
lively table conversatiot with the
other boarders, his confidence rose.
Ile was able to let himself into
the First National that evening,
nearly as calmly as he'd done hune
dreds of former evenings. Only this
time he would not he working
overtime for his superiors. Just for
himself.
Finally, he was stuffing big enrolls
of currency into a traveling bag,
He hoped his luck would hold, that
Henry, the night watchman, would
doze in the back room, as usual.
His lurk did hold. It held so
well it was uncanny. Ever, his aged
automobile ran perfectly till close
to daybreak, when he abandoned
it and hopped a fast freight for
the west. His chief objective now
was to reach a certain man highly
skilled in plastic surgery, a man
who'd do anything for a price.
George Madison now became
James Farnham. His hair was
bleached white, his upper lip was
smooth -shaven, his once good-
looking nose was unpleasantly aqui-
line. Even his voice was )higher
pitched, He not oniy looked dif-
ferent, he felt different. He was
rich.
In Alaska, he neat into fur
ttndintr, became curprieingiy pros-
perous. He remitted a bachelor
and avoided making close friends,
Three years of this and he grew
restless. He went to Chicago, then
to New York and took in the best
shows and night clubs, Ile ran
into lid Ratchet, former clerk in
the old First National of Cross -
tow n. He talked with him at length
and wasn't recognized.
So he decided to return to
Crosstown and take a look around.
After all it was his home.
He was put up at the Cross-
town hotel with no questions ask-
ed. In the hotel lobby, on the
streets and in the shops, he was
treated like any stranger.
One day as he passed the bank,
he saw old blind Tim sitting on
his customary corner. Tim was
selling a newspaper to a strange
man. "Guess I'll drop a five spot
in Tint's cup for luck," decided
George. It gave him a warm feel-
ing inside to be going toward old
Tint again.
But as he paused before him,
T i m leaped up and grabbed
Gt orge's beautifully tailored sleeve.
He cried, "George Madison! It's
George Madison!"
"Let me go! I'm James Far -
num!" ,-aainmed the terrified Geor-
ge, trying to pull away.
"What a break." said the strange
man, holding out handcuffs, "I've
been looking for you a very long
time! Thought you might blow
back—they generally do!"
"Plain clothes, eh?" sneered
George. "I'll prove you're wrong
—111 sue—I'll—"
"Can't fool me," piped up old
Tim, "I get to know a man's foot-
steps after smearing 'em for 15
yenrs l"
The End
Coin -In -The -Slot
Gas And Oil Next?
Already we have automatic coin -
in -the -slot machines vending such
things as candies, peanuts, razor
blades, women's hosiery, towels
and many other articles. It is pre-
dicted that, before long, there will
be automatic dispensers of fruit,
ice cream, hot sandwiches, milk,
coffee, cosmetics, dry groceries,
canned soups, cheese, soap and
—last but by no means least—gas-
oline and oil.
Today there are probably some-
thing over 2,000,000 automatic vend-
ing machines operating in Canada
and the United States and it is
freely pedicted that even this im-
mense number is likely to be doubl-
ed within the next five years, also
that the amount of money taken in
by this means may reach as high
as two billion dollars s year within
the next decade.
A gasoline -selling slot machine
was announced front Australia some
time ago. Machines of this kind
would stake gasoline and oil con-
tinuously available, and there would
be no more arguments about clos-
ing hours. Attendants would not
he needed in this new -type service
station. But, human nature being
what it is, there will probably be
plenty of kicks from motorists over
having to wipe their own wind-
shields and fill their own radiators,
to say nothing of the machine's
inability to change or repair tires
or do a grease job.
Heard This Oeee?
The famous bandleader, Paul
Whiteman, is built on a rather
large scale, but he'll never'admit
that he's fat, When people kid
him about his weight, Pahl tells;
them about the millionaire who
really was stout.
Calling on him one day a visi-
tor found the millionaire lying
comfortably on a couch clad—
all 500 pounds of ;tint --in a bath-
robe with enormous checks, In
the middle of each of these
checks a number was sewed.
"What's the idea of those
numbers?" inquired the visitor.
"Are you practising for when
The Law finally catches up with
you ' Bends you to Sing Sing?"
"Watch ate," replied the mut
of wealth and poundage. Press-
ing a nearby button he sunnnon-
ei his butler. "Wilkins, scratch
Number Twenty 'Three,' he com-
manded with a yawn.
"Butterhoppers"
3utterhoppers' was the name
coined on the spot by a bright
schoolboy when he examined some
curious grasshoppers on display at
the Royal Ontario Museum. Obvi-
' ously they fascinated him, And no
wonder—for these 'hoppers from
tropical South America, recently
acquired by the Museum, had the
grins -looking bodies of their kind,
but were transformed into things
of beauty by their gorgeous butter-
fly wings. With a spread of about
six inches, the wings have a colora-
tion in shades of reddish brown, and
dainty as butterfly wings should
he. 'These winged 'hoppers have
a fornmidible scientific label, of
coarse, but "Butterhoppers" suits
them perfectly.
Correct
Teacher: "If I take a potato and
divide it into Iwo parts, then into
four parts, and each of the four parts
into two parts, what would 1 have
Little I•.ntily: ""otato salad!"
New Fossil Reunai'ns
Of Ancient Ape -Men
Over a year ago a scientific ex-
',edition left America to study on
the spot the fossi remains of man -
apes found 111 1936 near Johannes-
burg, South Africa, The remains
eousisted of two skulk, a
femur and an ankle bone;
and they had born blasted by min-
ers out of some limestone caves.
More hones were later turned tip
about two 'Mice away,
This month Hier: carne news of
still further lints, including remains
of antelopes, porcupines, bush pigs,
hyenas .and jackals; and these new-
est discoveries seem to confirm the
belief of the scientists that the
earlier dise,verics represented sub-
human species hitherto unknown.
* * *
The early South African men -
apes, or ape -men, were small in
'tnture, only about four feet tail.
Their brains were about the size
of those of ehimpmtzecs or goril-
mas: while they had the .heavy jaws
of apes, their teeth were almost
human, There were no over -sized
ranine teeth, so characteristic of
the ape. 'Their hands were small and
delicate, and they walked like men.
1t is thought that they stand much
closer to modern nankin than do
the orangoutang, the gorilla or the
chimpanzee.
These finds have led to the be-
lief that at some period in the
earth's history there were creatures
with ape -like brains combined with
limbs and bodies that were virtu-
ally human — in other words by
something like the "missing link"
people used to tall' about 50 or
00 years ago.
* * *
How old are these fossil remains.
\\'hila geological dates must always
be accepted with a certain amount
of caution, these specimens may be
anything from half a million to
five million years old. The ani-
mals, especially the horses, found
among the remains indicate that
these South African men -apes lived
on the plains — an environment
which would not have been suitable
to the forest -dwelling anthropoid
apes. And there is some evidence
that they lived at least partly by
the chase—that is to say, crushed
skulls of ancient baboons were re-
covered, indicating that they might
have been killed by clubs or rocks,
mat
I37.71'8.1„ IICI�'0 .7fflP 116'
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THE MINER
Shut away from the light of day, burrowing
beneath the surface of the earth; searching,
finding, bringging to light the natural wealth
which so lightens and colours our lives.
The Miner—man of fortitude, whose wiry
hands, firm countenance and sterling heart give
impetus to the wheels of industry.
Men like this, some of Canada's finest, are in
the public's service—at your service.
DAWES BLACK HORSE BREWERY
One o
2 series o
advertiscntcnls i
ribule to those Canadians in the service of the public
By Arthur,' Painter
i Phi -LCF
our T46 KW/