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The Clinton News Record, 1933-12-14, Page 6PAGE 6 THE CLINTON NEWS -RECORD THURS., DEC. 14; X933' HEWS AND .HHAPPEN INC1 d i n for the Information o TimelyI BusyFarmer ( Furnished by the Department of Agriculture ) Increased Egg Supplies; Lower Prices Prevail" • Receipts of fresh eggs have in- creased in volume to some extent on the Toronto and Montreal markets, resulting in a fall in prices. An ad- ded factor in this recession of prices. would appear to be a slackening in consumptive demand, probably due to, prices charged to consumers being somewhat too high for the present low spending power of the great ma- jority of consumers at the present time. It is hoped that the somewhat lower retail prices now prevailing will assist in retail sales. ees.I Branded Table Turnips Enjoy Great Attention ' One feature of the Royal Winter Fair which must be numbered a- mongst those receiving the greatest attention, was the exhibit of branded table turnips, an integral part of this Department booth. Each day, from early morning till the show closed, producers and con, sumers were crowded around this display, and hundreds of questions were answered. This is conclusive proof that a high-class product, pro. perly prepared for market, can al-+ ways be depended upon • to gain in- terest, and gaining interest is per- haps the most difficult stepin sues cessful merchandising. 2 Lack of Bill of Lading Results in • Huge Losses • Records of actual losses by live- stock shippers totalling $82,000 through truckers failing to pay for stock are in the possession of the Weekly Sun, states the Ontario Mar- keting Board. How many thousands of dollars have been Iost from unre- ported cases is not known but the total would be considerable. The Highways Act now enables ev- ery farmer to require a trucker -or dro- ver to furnish a bill of lading. This af- fords the shipper an opoprtunity to decide to whom his live stock will be sold, assures him he will get his mon- ey back, and provides that a full and correct statement of weights and prices paid by the purchaser will be returned to the owner. Every shipper of stock by rail is protected by law through the mani- fest or bill of lading which the rail.' way is required to issue to him. The Marketing Board suggests shippers to avail themselves of the same pro- tection on truck shipments which the Highways Act makes possible. reagemese Roots for Beef. Cattle When roots are fed to beef cattle, turnips are invariably used,eas it is fairly generally recognized that tur- nips are more suitable for fattening purposes than mangels, the latter be- ing better suited for milk produc, tion. Experiments in the feeding of roots to beef cattle conducted at the various Experimental Farms and Stations have proved that rootshave a high value for this purpose, Roots are particularly valuable when nq other succulent feed is available. Pulped and mixed with cut or chaffed straw', or poor quality hay, they im- prove the palatability and feeding quality of these coarse roughages very much. eeeriseres Keeping up the Winter ' Egg Production There should be a laying mash in hoppers before the flock at all times, also hoppers of grit, oyster shell and charcoal. Water must be •continu- ously supplied, and when possible milk. For green feed, well cured second cut alfalfa hay chopped and steeped is excellent. In addition, ad- vises the Dominion Poultry Husband- man, give a light feed of scratch grain in the morningand a full feed at night, in the proportion of about 2 of scratch to 1 of mash, the amount being varied according to the condi- tion of the flock. •If the birds are putting on too much weight, reduce the scratch feed. If they are 'losing body weight, increase the grain. erp.ii Sheep Winter Flattening Oats are peculiarly suited to sheep feeding. This grain is nourishing and safe to- feed. Two parts oats, one part peas and one part bran is a good ration for sheep of any class, Corn substituted for the peas aus- were well. Towards the end of the peri finishing iod the part o th heavyf •v.o..r^mac highly valued by many sheep feed- ers. It may be •substituted for the bran,- when' the proportion of heavy grain should accordingly be dimin- ished. From half a pound to one and a half pounds of grain per head per day according to the ends to be attained, constitutes a fattening ra- tion, when the coarse fodder used is of good quality and fed (liberally. - C�1G•3� Tuber's Thin Skin Bearing in mind that a potato is at all times a living organism, con- ditions must be provided which will prevent severe losses in storage. Indeed, conditions are widely preval- ent in Canada which cause in many cases a high percentage of loss in stored crops. Above all, it should be borne in mind that the tender skin of a freshly harvested tuber is eas- ily scratched or broken, that diggers or implements may cause cuts or bruises which prove disastrous when such potatoes are placed in unsuit- able storage. • Rot and decay soon follow. Moist tubers, especially when cut or bruised, are the first to succumb. Therefore avoid bruising and, if at all possible, the placing of potatoes into any kind of storage un- til they are perfectly dry. itemise* . Hay Market Report An official report on the hay mar- keting situation shows that in East- ern Ontario the crop was short a- gain this year, but there has been little movement of market hay as yet. Current prices to growers are reported as follows: In the St. Law- rence Counties, timothy, $12 to •$14; in the Ottawa Valley from $8 to $11 according to kind, and straw $4 to $4.60 per ton. In Northern Ontario hay prices range from $11.50 to $18, according to the location. The hay crop in Western Ontario was heavier than last year and of better quality. There is also a con- siderable carry-over from the pre, vious year, particularly of timothy and grass mixtures. It is estimated that about 50 per cent. of Iast year's crop of market hay in this part of Ontario is still available, but it is being fed at a rapid rate owing to the early winter, The movement to principal consuming centres has been draggy, but the general demand for hay is expected to improve as the winter advances. Alfalfa hay has been in fair demand all fall for the manufacture of alfalfa meal for which there has been an excellent export demand. As a result, the supply of second cut alfalfa hay for grinding is rapidly diminishing. Cur- rent prices being paid growers are: No. 2 timothy, $5.50 to $6 per ton; mixed hay, 94.60 to $5.25; alfalfa, 2nd cut, $7 to $8; oat straw, $3 to $3.50; wheat straw, $3.25 to $3.75. Official Crop Report The dry bean acreage this year is placed at 52,300 acres, with an average of 14.9 bushels per acre, giving an estimated total production of 779,300 bushels against a five- year average production of 1,027,000 bushels. The bean crop was very spotty and the yield extremely var- iable. The price being received by growers is considerably more than last year and in spite of a much smaller crop, financial returns will be larger than last year. Sugar beets are, yielding better than weather conditions early in the season indicated. The acreage shows some reduction from last year being 33,300 in'1932 and 31,900 this year. Production in 1932 was estim- ated at 333,000 tons and in 1933 at 319,000 tons, with an acreage yield of 10 tons per acre both years. The average sugar content approximates 17 per cent. last year and as a result the yield of sugar will be greater than in 1932, although the total tonnage of beets•is less. - The persistent decline in prices of agricultural products in Ontario, which commenced in August, 1929, and continued uninterrupted for over three years has been checked and' definitely reversed this year. Some gains have been outstanding, while others have been of moderate proportions only. During the past twelve months select hogs have in- creased from $4.32 per cwt. to $6.45O per cwt., W.10'.0., 1orontli; good lamb's from $4.75 to $6.00 per cwt.; wool from 5c to 9 c per - 1h.; whole milk (Toronto dairies) from $1.45 to $1.81 per 'cwt.; beans from 55e to 90c per bus., and wheat from 45c to 65e per bushel. Why Burn the Leaves?. the ration may be increased to fully three-quarters by weight. Oil cake is It is a common practice to rake all leaves in the fail and burn them, which would seem to be a very .waste- ful habit. If, instead of being burn- ed, the leaves were put in a pile and allowed to rotwe would have what is known as leaf mould. Leaf -mould has' practically no fertilizing value, but its -moisture-holding properties make it a valuable asset to sandy soils' and :its (leavening powers are helpful in clay land; also; if mixed with garden soil, it is an 'excellent medium for starting almost any kind of seed. On the other 'handy little tan be said in favour of burning the leaves, as the resultant ash is of al- most no value,mnost of the plant food having gone into the twigs before the leaves fell. Breeding Essential for High Egg Production The average production of all the birds in the laying contest held at Harrow for the past three years is about 180 eggs per hen. It is rough- ly estimated that it costs about 80 to 100 eggs to feed a hen for one year. The hen which lays about 180 eggs in a year produces eight times as much profit as a 110 -egg hen, less the small extra cost of feed requires to produce .the larger number , of eggs. The moral of this story is that breeding is one great factor which governs profits, and that if the farm- er has not the inclination or is un- able to carry on his own selective breeding programme, to save his own ,flock from deterioration he must de- pend on the poultryman who makes this a practice., Indiscriminate use of untested - males means reversion; and it should be borne' in mind that the yield of the jungle fowl, from which our high -record "egg machine" of today originated, was probably'a- bout two dozen eggs in a year. Soybean Varieties -Differ 'Growers of soybeans should give some thought towards the selection of a suitable variety to grow in their locality. Soybeans, like other crops, show wide differences between varie- ties, and undoubtedly a number of growers are realizing that this is an important consideration. At least it would be wise to investigate the characteristics of the several varie- ties available at present. - The Har- rOw Station will. be glad to assist in this matter with the results of tests carried out so far. Huron County Council (Continued from page 4) asked "How often did the Road Commission meet?" and was told. by Chairman Elliott that it had &net once a month. Reeve McNabb said men had to wait too long for their money and Reeve McKibben expres- sed the opinion that it is unfair to have the laboring man wait for cheq- ues. It was only fair to devise a means whereby the Road Commis- sion could pay him when the work is done. , - Enquiries regarding the costs of the Old Age Pension Committee were introduced by Reeve Haaeke, who said he was not criticizing the committee, but the expense of it. He thought it could be done away with "and let the Inspector do the work." This caused considerable discussion, some reeves contending that the committee was ornamental while others thought the local com- mittee was better qualified to pass on applications than the Inspector. Reeve Archibald: "Such matters as this can be better dealt with by County Councils than by Govern- ments," the Council on behalf of the war vet- erans. - Addressing the Council', George Spotton, M.P., congratulated the membersron their choice and the un- amimity with which it was made. He predicted the county had started on a new era. Polities was not supposed to have anything to do with the appoint- ments but incidentally, Mr. Roberts is a Conservative and Mr, Erskine a Liberal. Mol ions Francis-Consitt: That all taxes owing to different municipalities, which are now in possession of this county be returned as soon as pos- sible.—Carried. Hemmingway Leiper: That all treasurers notified to come to God- erich by Mr. Gibbs with regards to taxes, be paid $2.00 and 10 cents a mile one way.—Carried. J. W. Craigie—Goldthorpe: That the work of cutting down the hill and protecting the bend or turn in the road on Saltford Hill be pro- ceeded with as soon as possible and the work be done by the Company under the Government Relief Scheme as outlined by Mr. Hawes last night. —(Good Roads Committee. McGibbon Cardiff: That Council adjourn to meet at 9.30 ant. Friday. Friday Late Friday afternoon, J. M. Ro- berts, of Goderich, was appointed clerk and A, 11. Erskine, of Blyth, was- named treasurer of the County of Huron to fill vacancies resulting from disclosures in the recent inves- tigation into the county's financial affairs. Both men have enviable ov- erseas records. They were chosen from a list of 110 applicants. Al- though hours were consumed in com- mittee making the respective choices, the Council carried the motions .con- firming the selection and the accom- panying by-laws in the space of a few minutes and without division, There was no discussion in open Council. , J. M. Roberts, the new clerk, is a native of Dungannon, where he was born, the son of a private banker, 42 years ago. He joined the staff•. of a chartered bank and - became branch manager. He was three and a half years overseas in the artillery and air. force and was wounded in action. He left the bank's service in 1925 and joined the staff o fthe Burroughes Adding Machine Company, with which he was for eight years, with headquarters at London. His wife is a foster sister, of Bishop Seeger, of London. A. H. Erskine, suceessful applicant for treasurer, is but 34 years of age. He has held the offices of auditor, clerk and treasurer over a period of eight years in Blyth, was four years with the Bell Telephone Company and four years with the Studebaker Corporation in an accounting capa- city. He , spent nearly four years overseas. - Both appointees are the youngest men to hold these positions in Hu- ron County. After the selection had been confirmed Reeve Smith of Sea- forth, an ,ex -service matt, thanked • • Just before adjournment in the evening Warden James Balantyne, who has put in a strenuous year and did a big job and did it well, was pre- sented with a gold -headed cane and address, which said in part: "You have been a splendid and efficient warden, always honest, open and sin- cere, and have at all times thought first of the interests of the taxpay- ers. To you principally goes the credit- of discovering the defalca- tions of the former treasurer and your bravery and patience have been a tremendous force in straightening out the affairs of the county. You met with difficulties this year which have never before been 'encountered by a warden of Huron County." The address is signed by Reeves J. W. Craigie, of Goderich, and J. W. McKibben of Wingham. Police Affairs Again But it was not all plain sledding on Friday, even at that. Discussing administration of justice and police affairs in the county, Reeve McNabb complained that $25 had been spent in chasing the thief of a one -dollar dog "and they ^ never got thw dog, it came back." Reeve Jack McNabb thought township reeves could handle their own dance halls instead of having constables snoop- ing around hiding behind trees and poking their noses into automobiles. He recounted how one bottle of lig- our cost the county $150. the fellow having gone to jail, Reeve McNabb is on the criminal audit board. He was in reminiscent mood. Ile re- called he once saw a constable from the window of an hotel lobby it Kit- chener pick up a tipsy fellow and put him in his automobile. "They're taking that fellow to jail," says the genial reeve. "No," says a bystand. er, "they don't do that in Kitchener. They take them home." Reeve Mc- Nabb likes Kitchener. The warden's committee reported it had no power to dismiss Constable Tom Gundry as a police officer. A complaint would have to be laid, it was reported. A year ago the con- stable was stricken from the county payroll. 'Somehow or other County Clerk Holman lost his minutes of the . June session vecording the vote of those who voted for and against a special audit of the county's books. The vote was supposed to have been printed in the minutes, but never was. Friday the clerk made a diligent search but again failed. However, seven sour- ageous reeves stood up and admitted they had voted against an audit which had caused an eruption. They said they had voted against it be- cause it did not take in enough ter- ritory --did not go back far enough. The retiring clerk was voted $50 a month for five months for his ser- vices as deputy treasurer and his of- fice assistant, Miss Brownlee, $50. Motion Fails - Reeves Cardiff and Bowman mov- ed that thecountypay no further bills for . entrance examinations be- cause rural pupils were being dis- criminated against in that they had to try examinations and urban pupils were passed without the necessity of trying examinations. The motion failed 'to carry. The report of the special auditor ITEC ES:T..............._, will not be printed in, the county minutes, It was declared. ' A recommendation that provincial inspectors of old age pensions con- sult the County Council committee before making decisions was adopt- ed and a motion to ask Audtior Gibbs for an itemized bill of his $3,200 at- count scount was lost by 23-6, the yeas and nays being called for by Reeve Haaeke. .Council expressed its regret that Reeves Francis, of Exeter, and Mc- Kibbon were retiring from municipal life and sent a recommendation to Reeve ',Ballantyne's municipality that it return him by acclamation as a reward for his good work. The curtain was rung down' on the year's activities .of the council with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" and the National Anthem at -6.30 p.m. czegames REPORTS AND MOTIONS Reports of Committees The report of the Executive Com- mittee (J. W. Gamble, chairman) recommended:. That no- action be taken •on the application of Auburn public library for a grant; that, in reference to the letter from Gladman & Stanbury asking an investigation in back paysheets, as it is impossible to do so as many of the paysheeta have been destroyed, no action be taken; that in future pay -sheets and other valuable papers be not burned nor destroyed. House of Refuge The House of Refuge Committee (Robt. Smith, chairman) reported that a stoker had been installed at a cost of $750 which is proving sat- isfactory, giving a decreased con- sumption in coal of at least 25 per cent. On 51 tons a saving of $350 was realized. The Home was report- ed in perfect condition. The Agricultural Advisory Com- mittee (F. E. Cardiff, chairman) favored the continuance of the On- tario 'Agricultural Advisory Board and sending a representative to it each year. It recommended that a stencilled report of the year's work and o statement of $200 Junior Ex- tension Fund and $500 county grant be presented at the December meet ing of the county council; that the printed matter pertaining to the Bot and Warble fly control be sent out and meetings be arranged to instruct the people in the control of these pests. The County Property Committee (M. Matheson, chairman) reported that filing drawers in the registry office, costing $950, had been install- ed, and recommended repairingwin- dows and fences, also the ,continu, ance of installing new fittings. The Good Roads Committee (G. H. Elliott, chairman) reported that a bridge had been constructed at Benmiller at a cost of $1;346.15. Grading and gravelling to the ex- tent of $479.12. A few 1932 projects were completed; crushers were over- hauled. Regarding the motion of Reeves Craigie and Goldthorpe that the county proceed with the work of cutting the hill at Saltford, since there are no funds available, recom- mended that it be considered by the 1934 Commission, but that a study of the Relief Act be made to ascer- tain th• extent to -which it can apply to the county road system. Education Committee Education Commitee (W. R. Ar- chibald, chairman) reported: Re the grants and payments to different high schools: Goderich C. I., levy $8,703.17, grant $1,238:58; to- tal, $10,541.75; Clinton, $10.199.17, $746.38, $10,945,55; Seaforth, $9,574,- 24, $844.62, $10,418.86; Wingham, $6,- 553.69, $700.43, $7,972.81. Outside high schools: Harriston, $253,50; Stratford, $41.95; Listowel, $1,090.24; St. Marys, $164.32; London, $556,88; Parkhill (not in.) We recommend these accounts be paid as soon as certified to the sat- isfaction of the Warden and Clerk. The reports of continuation schools are not all in yet and we make the same recommendation re the pay- ment of those accounts be made as to high schools.. Re the case of theLondon Board of Education refusal to deduct out- side pupils on any basis but the full payment of all fees: We are of the opinion that the people of Huron and surrounding counties should take this lesson to heart and patronize our own schools which are acknowledged to be among the best in the province. Your..com-r mittee recommend that we do not pay fees for pupils attending London secondary schools. Motions Archibald-,Craigie: That this County Council recommend the re- turn of Warden Ballantyne as the Reeve for the. year 1934 as we con- sider the Warden to be a benefit to the County, Council owing to his ex- perience and that a copy of this re- solution be sent to the Clerk of Us- borne Tewnship.—Carried. McKibbon--Archibald The Pro. perty Committee install proper fix- tures in the Treasurer's office as recommended by li'Ir. Gibbs at the. cost not to exceed' $350.—Carried. Scott=McNall: That the record- ed vote passed at the June session of T FARM ER 5 this Council regarding the ,engage -Galician spring wheat whish' iiusome ment of a Chartered Accountant by the W'arden's Committee and omitted from published June minutes be pre- sented'to this Council at its after. noon session today and before ad+ journment; also that this record vote be published in the report of the De- cember Session of this Council.--,Car- ried. ouncil.. Car- ried. - ,Craigie-Goldthorpe: That the Good Roads Committee instruct the County Engineer to prepare an esti- mate of cutting down the Saltford Hill, also the Auburn hill, and have it ready to present to the January County Council of 1934. ---Carried. Cardiff—Gamble: That this Coun- cil pay Miss Olive Brownlee $30. for services rendered for one month and' a half in connection with the Treas- urer'e office. Later amended to $50 by the Finance Committee. Haacke—,MeNall: That we get an itemized account of Mr. Gibbs' bill] and also all expenses connected with the investigation of the Treasurer's office from June 28th to the finish and have them printed in the:minuter of this session. --Lost. Wright—Moser: That the Ward- en and Clerk be authorized to sign (Continued on page 7) THE ROMANCE OF CANADIAN WHEAT The real romance of Canada's wheat is the story Of a single grain —a stray grain of Galician spring wheat which nearly a hundred years ago found its way into a Danzig car to go by boat on the Baltic Sea. In 1842 David Fife, an Ontario far- mer, received a pocketful of seed wheat from a friend in Glasgow, who had obtained it from a Danzig wheat boat. Fife got it in the spring, but not knowing whether it was winter or spring wheat he planted only half of it in the spring. It was really winter wheat so did not nature. But one stalk different from the rest bore three grains which ripened. • ' Fife saved the three grains and planted them the next spring, and the following year he had enough grains to planta small patch. • This wheat was something new to Fife. The grains were big and hard and the yield prolific. It was super- ior to anything that had been seen in Canada, so every grain was care- fully preserved, and as the stock grew, small supplies were distribut- ed among neighbors. This was the beginning of "Red Fife" wheat. An issue of the Coun- try Gentleman in 1860 contains a let, ter from a Wisconsin farmer extoll- ing the merits of wheat he had ob+ tained from a fanner named Fife hi Canada West—the name of Ontario at that time. "Red Fife" eventually became the standard wheat all over North America. Researches many years later dem- onstrated that David. Fife's single grain must have been a variety of manner had found its way; into the - hold of the Danzig cargo boat' hurl.,. dieda. of miles away.: But there is a second romance ine the eugenics of Canadian wheat' pros duction. Red Fife, for all its admir-•. able- qualities, was slow in maturing: Heavy , losses were suffered from, early frosts in Canada; though in the., softer clime& 'Wilted States Red Fife had few critics. In 1886, Dr. Wil- liam Saunders, the first Dominion, cerealist, began the development of wheat which would embrace all the, good qualities of Red Fife' but would' mature in a shorter time. , .dssociat, ed with him were his two sons: Crain, was imported from all over tile•. World, from Ukraine, the ' Crimea+, from India, the slopes of the Hima• - layas, from Australia and from the United States, : • a;^*; Countless experiments in cross £ees- tilization were made and a great: variety of new pilants were develop- • ed. Finally a cross between Red' Fife and Hard Red Calcutta, an In-• dian wheat, seemed to promise re-. sults. By 1904, Dr. Charles E. Saunders, who had succeeded his,. father as cerealist, had twelve plants. of a new variety which he .called: Marquis wheat. In the fall of 1904 all the Marquis, wheat there was in the world was - stored in a paper envelope. In 1914' its production taxed the elevator cap-• acity of the country. 1929 the pro- duction of Marquis wheat through -1 out Canada and the northern United States ran into hundreds of millions- of illionsof bushels. Marquis has been an amazing sue - cess. Damage by frost, at one time-, a nightmare, is rarely heard of now- adays. Moreover, • the northerly lim- it of wheat growing areas has been pushed back hundreds of miles. Canadian cerealists are not yet finished. In the last few years they have developed a new variety of wheat known as Garnet, which mat- urea even earlier than Marquis and is said to be proof against rust, the great remaining bugbear of wheat farmers. But Garnet is said to 'be• not quite so superior in quality as Marquis, which yield's, as No. 1 Northern, the finest wheat in the world, and remains unrivalled queen of the wheat fields. "It is confidentially expected that within the next two or three years the momentous announcement will' be made that a new rust -,resisting wheat of high quality and good - yielding ability is available for pro- pagation by farmers in those dis- tricts, which have ,been so sorely pressed." This statement made re - coldly by L. H. Newman, Dominion of Canada Cerealist, indicates to what length research work by plant breeders has been reached in solving - one of the Canadian wheat farmers' greatest problems. If you're Secretary of a lodge or club or business association—and you really like the ,job—you'll find it a great help to supplement the usual meeting notices with reminder telephone calls. And of course Long Distance now is so easy to use—as simple as 'phoning next door. For 30 cents you can telephone about 100 miles by making an "anyone" call (station -to -station) after 8.30 p.m. See list of rafts in front of directory.