The Huron Expositor, 1955-03-04, Page 2e1
�.o
h.: ' x"}4i„� ,� �9"' Yi '""i'1:f'�''�'�rtk+'� td'�'�f�
PAM TWO
THE HURON EXPOSITOR
MARCH 4, 1955
THE HURON EXPOSITOR
Established 1860
Published at Seaforth, Ontario,
every Thursday morning by McLean
Bros.
A. Y. McLean, Editor
Subscription rates, $2.50 a year in
advance; foreign $'3.50 a year. Single
copies, 5 cents each.
Member of Canadian
?Weekly Newspaper
Association.
Advertising rates on application.
PHONE 41
Authorized as Sc.u,d Class Mail
Post Office Deparunent, Ottawa
SEAFORTH, Friday, March 4, 1955
Just What We Make Them
White the fact that "our schools
are what we make them" is some-
thing we should remember every day
in the year, Education Week is a
particularly good time to impress
ourselves with the truth of the state-
ment. Education Week this year oc-
curs March 6-12.
While they do not command the
publicity which is afforded industrial
growth and the forward march of
national progress, Canadian schools
are staging a march of their own and
it is more important and more far-
reaching than any other of the many
manifestations of progress in our
country today. In 1946 Canada had
about 2,100,000 children from 5-14,
and about 1,000,000 teen agers from
15-19 years of age. It is estimated
that by 1961 these figures will rise to
3,800,000 and 1,440,000, not just be-
cause of increasing births and new
Canadians, but because more chil-
dren stay at school longer.
Municipalities are inclined to shake
their heads and worry about the ex-
pense. Provincial governments are
urged to face the problem and take
up their share of the financial ar-
rangements. Building trades and
construction firms look kindly on this
avenue of more work for their men
and suppliers. And in the midst of
the arguments everyone forgets all
too often to remember that this lar-
gess of children in our national life
really constitutes riches for which
the controlled states of Europe have
been ready and willing to pay a high
price throughout the last half cen-
tury.
A nation rises over the graves of
its great men and on the hope of
more to come. Canada's teachers
and Canada's pupils will tell the story
of tomorrow for the pupils of the day
after tomorrow. So we must look
this problem squarely in the face and
next week, Education Week, is a
good time to start.
In the next few years we will need
more schools. They will be a capital
investment, not a current cost. We
will need more teachers and there
will need to be more incentive and
more opportunity for men and wo-
men who are willing to make this
their life's work. Teachers' salaries
have come into line throughout the
past few years but there is still a
great shortage of adequately trained
teachers for both the public and high
schools. The National Committee
sponsoring this "Week" says: "The
qualifications for teaching must be
raised. Much evidence points to the
fact that more persons will be at-
Lracted to teaching as a career if the
qualifications are raised—not lower-
ed. This is one fact to face today.
The Red Cross and You
March is Red Cross month in Can-
ada—and before you give your dona-
tion perhaps you should consider
this: The money you give is an indi-
cation of your support of a great
humanitarian organization which
helps the people of your community,
your country, your world.
Every year Red Cross helps all
kinds of people—an accident victim
right in your community—and a vet-
eran lying on a bed in a Veterans'
Hospital ;both are given the gift of
lite through the Red Cross National
Free Blood Transfusion Service.
-There's a disaster victim—burned'
out, flooded out, who needs food,
clothing and help. There are people
pe -located through the Red Cross
Enquiry Bureau—families who need
the Red Cross Homemaker Service--
'04)tvalescents who need ei tches or
hbe ital bed or wheel chair. There
tetans'even a more pleasant
Otte, Red Cross---switnm4rs:
who are saved because they learned
Water Safety through Red Cross
Swimming and Water Safety — and
young Canadians who are learning
to be better Canadians through Jun-
ior Red Cross. Red Crossis people
helping people across the street—
across the nation—across the world.
And Red Cross depends on YOU.
When the volunteer canvasser calls,
will you remember this and — Give
Generously.
WHAT OTHER PAPERS SAY:
The Harmonious Cut -Throat
(Manchester Guardian)
It is just a 100 years this month
since details were given in the press
of a "shaving machine", the inven-
tion of a North Shields joiner nam-
ed William Johnson, who confidently
predicted that it would soon put the
barbers out of business.
In form it resembled a dentist's
chair from the head of which sprout-
ed an arrangement of small cylin-
ders, each holding four razor blades
set at an angle of 60 degrees with
camel hair brushes between. Soap
was fed through the cylinders, which
revolving rapidly, were supposed to
lather and shave in one operation.
"The machine is put in motion,"
announced the inventor, "by the
weight of the patient, the seat grad-
ually giving way beneath and sink-
ing with him until he reaches the
ground, when the operation is com-
pleted.”
To distract the "patient" (or per-
haps to drown his cries) as he lay
supine beneath the whirling knives,
a musical box attached to and driven
by the cylinders continued to play a
"selection of airs" throughout the
operation.
This mid-century essay in the
macabre proved, not surprisingly, a
commercial failure,
Report on Our Equines
(Ottawa Journal)
From The Dominion Bureau of
Statistics comes the word that Can-
ada's horse population has dropped
by about 100,000 in the past year, to
fall below the one -million mark.
Most city dwellers if they think about
horses at all are surprised that this
country still has as many horses as
the government figures show.
For the past 25 years at least the
horse has been waging a losing bat-
tle against ever more diversified and
efficient mechanized farm ' imple-
ments. The other day Scottish breed-
ers of the famed Clydesdales—mas-
sive bay animals with feathered
hocks—publicly deplored the declin-
ing numbers of this renowned strain
on farms of the United Kingdom.
They found that not only were the
huge horses being forced off U.K.
farms by the tractor but that the
present-day farm orker simply
won't spend the time car for his
horses properly. -
On the Canadian Prairies the
horse has almost followed the buffa-
lo and the antelope into extinction
and this is partly true also for the
flatlands of some of the other prov-
inces. Yet in the back concessions
of Ontario and Quebec where roads
of dirt and gravel are still the rule
and snowplows do not operate the
obsolescent horse, above all in winters
like 1954-55, is doing yeoman service.
And the automotive industry has yet
to invent a type of motor -powered
vehicle that can compete with the
horse in such matters as daily deliv-
ery of bread and milk.
There is every likelihood that the
downward trend in the numbers of
horses in Canada.will continue in the
next few years as it has done since
the mid -twenties. Extension of
paved roads in rural districts and
probable three -day -a -week delivery
of milk will be among the factors
contributing to this decline. In the
next decade if the horse population
dropped by 100,000 a year as it did
in 1954 there would be none of them
left at all by 1965 except for saddle -
horses and other show types.
Yet this state of affairs is hardly
likely. The horse has served man
nobly in peace and war for some
thousands of years and it seems un-
likely for some generations at least
that he will make his final bow and
retire to an honored place in the
nati'oit0 'museums.
SEEN IN THE COUNTY PAPERS
Observes 90th'^Birthday
On Tuesday, February 15, James
Perrie celebrated his birthday, be-
ing 90 years of age. Mr. Perrie
was born in Peebles Shire, Scot-
land, in the year 1865. He came
to Canada at the age of six years,
and lived in Grey Township until
coming to Brussels 17 years ago.
—Brussels Post.
Placed On O.P.P. At Renfrew
William George Freeth, Jr., son
of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Freeth,
Park St., who recently joined the
Ontario Provincial Police, has
been assigned to the O.P.P. staff
at Renfrew. On joining, he went
to district headquarters at Perth
for training before proceeding to
Renfrew. He recently completed
four years in the U.S. Navy, serv-
ing as Boatswain Mate, second-
class, on the U.S.S. Iowa. Before
enlistment he was active on Gode-
rich Lions Club sponsored hockey
teams.—Goderich Signal -Star.
Huron Presbytery Council Meets
The Huron Presbytery Council
of the United Church met in Blyth
United Church on Sunday after-
noon with 45 men in attendance.
A devotional period was conduct-
ed by Mr. O. Harrison, of Mon-
crieff, chairman of the Presby-
tery Council, assisted by William
Mountain, after which Mr. Steve
Ponton, chairman of the London
Conference Council of the United
Church men addressed the meet-
ing. He stated that amid the world
of upheaval we need something on
which to lean and went on to say
that the Church of Jesus Christ
was the best defence. He conclud-
ed his address by saying that the
church must be an active organ-
ization. In order to do this, "lay-
men must awaken to the needs of
the church."—Blyth Standard.
New Court Started
In operation for the first time
in Huron County, a Juvenile and
Family Court has been set up in
Goderich with Magistrate D. E.
Holmes as Judge. The court has
been in operation since January 1
of this year and regular sessions
are held at the County Court
House here, usually preceding
magistrate's court. Main func-
tions of the court are to deal with
rases under the Juvenile Delin-
quents Act, and all family matters
including cases under the Desert-
ed Wives and Children Act. As
the court has been set up under
Ontario statutes, records are be-
ing kept, including dockets and
dispositions of cases heard. Un-
der the Juvenile and Family Court
system, there are probation offi-
cers and in Huron County, the
three field workers with the Hur-
on County Children's Aid Society
will conduct probation officer
work,—Goderich Signal -Star.
Must Learn To Live Together
If the world is to survive the
threat of atomic warfare, people
of all faiths, creeds and races
must learn to live together, Rev.
H. S. Rodney, Presbyteriarninis-
ter of St. Thomas, told Exeter
Lions and Kinsmen at their an-
nual joint meeting Friday night.
"All of us must face the future
together or there will not be any
future to face," Rev. Rodney said.
His speech was on the observance
of Brotherhood Week, Feb. 20 to
27. The speaker referred to a
recent statement by Winston
Churchill who expressed the be-
lief that few nations would sur-
vive an atomic war. ••In the face
of this threat," the minister ask-
ed, "Don't you agree we should
be thinking more seriously of this
business of living together." Rev.
Rodney, one of the most, popular
•speakers in Western Ontario, re-
cently received considerable pub-
licity when he refused a call to
the wealthiest church in Canada.
He was a Liberal candidate in a
federal by-election several years
ago.—Exeter Times -Advocate.
Favors Survey Route
Last Friday afternoon on re-
quest of a group of petitioners
from the township, R. E. Thomp-
son, clerk, called a special session
of the Goderich Township Council
to reconsider the matter of the
route to be taken by the Bayfield
Road. Headed by Reeve John
Deeves, the council approved a
route surveyed by the county en-
gineer last fall, which follows the
present course of the road fairly
well, cutting out all curves but
two, which would be long ones at
about a three -degree angle. It con-
tinues to serve the farm places
and summer residences along the
present route. Earlier this month,
with Chairman Arthur Gibson,
deputy reeve of Howick presiding,
the Good Roads Committee passed
a motion to re-route the road on a
straight line, direct from Clinton
to the Blue Water Highway, com-
ing out on Highway 21, some dis-
tance north of Bayfield. There are
no farm places nor residences
along this route. It is also said
to be about half a mile shorter
than the plan supported by the
township.—Clinton News -Record.
Protest Of Bepd Road
Protest over the proposed new
road at Grand Bend subsided at
council meeting Monday night
when it was learned that earlier
newspaper reports were erroneous.
Cottage owners and ratepayers
were set to campaign against the
road reported to extend from the
beach to the Blue Water Highway
and to cost $50,000 before they
learned the road would not go to
the beach and would cost only
$15,000. J. H. Wells, of London,
president of the Ratepayers' As-
sociation, attended the meeting to
protest the road as it was report-
ed. The Association is opposed to
another road to the beach because
it would commercialize a cottage
area and create a traffic hazard
for children. The Grand Bend
Council wants to open another out-
let to the highway to relieve con-
gestion when the main road is
choked with cars on busy days.
The plan is to extend Oak Street,
which runs•parallel to Main Street
one block north, to the highway. It
starts one block east of the beach
and runs to within about a block
of the highway. — Exeter Times -
Advocate.
Arena Manager Renamed
At a special meeting of the
Goderich Recreation and Arena
Committee on Tuesday afternoon,
Ted Williams was re-engaged as
recreation director for Goderich
and manager of the Goderich
Memorial Arena. Now playing his
third season with the Goderich
Intermediate hockey team, 25 -
year -old Williams was first nam-
ed to the dual position last year
by the committee. He was chosen
at that time from a list of about
30 applicants, and was the only
local applicant for the post. John
Berry, secretary of the recreation
and arena committee, said that
the reappointment was for a per-
iod of one year and would be ef-
fective May 1. In order to have
the local recreationdirector take
a course through the Ontario De-
partment of Education Commun-
ity Programs Branch, he said, the
recreation appointment had to be
made before March 1. Mr. Berry
said also that the director would
take a recreation course through
the University of Western Ontario.
Williams succeeded Don Emms,
who is now in Strathroy and who
last week was named as that
town's recreation director for this
year.—Goderich Signal -Star.
Charlie: "Pop, do you know
why the cemetery has a fence
around it?"
Dick: "No, I do not, why does
it?"
Charlie: "Cause people are
just dying to get there."
CROSSROADS
(By JAMES SCOTT)
The Seatons
A couple of years ago a young
fellow I know about got a crazy
idea. He rented a house—it was
really nothing more than a tar-
paper shack—on the shores of
Lake Simcoe, and settled down to
live there for a whole year. Peo-
ple took one look at the place
where he had chosen to live and
began to shake their heads. When
he told them what he was planning
to do there, they were sure he
was crazy.
When people asked him why he
had given up a job to live in a
shack for a year, this fellow would
say simply that he had done it so
he could take pictures.
Well, you see why people con-
sidered him a little bit touched.
They thought he was even worse
when he told them that the kind
of pictures he wanted to take were
of the four seasons of the year—
pictures of growing things, and
birds and animals, and sky and
water, which would show how dif-
ferent they loat each season
of the year. ^.`'` a bathing beauty
in the lot!
Obviously crazy.
Anyway, Christopher Chapman,
that was the young man's name,
went right ahead and did what he
wanted to do. He didn't have very
much money and his house was a
mess. During the winter he was
there, he got so cold that he went
outside during a cold snap and
carried pails of water to throw on
his shack until it was covered with
a sheath of ice. This way he in-
sulated it and kept out the drafts.
When the year was over he had
about twelve hundred feet of movie
film—in full color—of what he had
seen on the shores of Lake Sim-
coe. He put it together and made
it into a movie and when some
people who ought to know about
these things saw it they thought
it was pretty good.• In fact, it
was so good that in 1953 it. was
chosen- Film of the Year and a
large oil eotiipany bought it out-
right and 'let our National r'itm
YEARS AGONE
Interesting Items picked
from The Huron Expositor of
25 and 50 Years Ago.
From The Huron Expositor
March 7, 1930
A farewell meeting was held in
the Oddfellows' Hall, Brucefield,
Tuesday evening, in honor of one
of their members, in the person
of Mr. Peter Moffat, who left for
Port Arthur last week, where he
has secured a position as school
teacher.
Mr. Lgo Stephenson, Constance,
attended.. a convention on Tuesday
of this week, held in London, on
egg -grading. Speakers were pres-
ent from various points in the
Dominion.
Miss Ella Armstrong has return-
ed home after spendinga couple
of weeks with Mr. and Mrs. Dave
Watson, McKillop: Mrs. 'Watson
was badly scalded with hot soup,
but we are glad to say that she is
better again.
Mr. A. G. Edighoffer, Zurich,
has sold his property and barber
business to Mr. Herb Krueger, of
the 14th concession, Hay, who will
take possession on April 1. Mr.
Edighoffer will assist Mr. Krueger
for a few months.
Mr. H. Ross, Zurich, is making
preparations to erect a service
station on the premises where fire
destroyed his public garage some
months ago. He is also having a
large gasoline storage tank in-
stalled on a vacant lot west of the
school grounds, and will supply
dealers and farmers with gasoline
during the year.
Miss Maybelle Rands, Seaforth,
is spending a few days with Mr.
and Mrs. Irvin Trewartha, Win-
throp.
Mr. and Mrs: Melvin E. Clarke
and c`;ildren, Betty and Ernie,
spent Sunday with friends in Var-
na.
The farmers around Hensall are
hoping for bright sunny days and
frosty nights to insure good sugar -
making weather.
Miss Katie Scott, Hensall, is vis-
iting with friends in Palmerston.
Miss M. Hoggarth, Hensall, has
been .quite poorly during the past
week, but at date of writing we
are pleased to learn she is im-
proved.
Mr. Walter Murray, of town,
brought into The Expositor office
on Monday an egg laid by one of
his flock of a dozen Barred Rocks,
which measured six inches by
eight inches, and weighed 3Y2 ozs.
It was perfectly formed and a
beauty,
Miss Nora Stewart, of London
Normal School, spent the weekend
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Harry Stewart, of town.
Mrs. Norman Knight has re-
turned to town after a two weeks'
visit with friends in Exeter and
London.
Mrs. Leo Stephenson, Constance,
motored to London on Thursday
with her parents, Mr. and .,Mrs.
Logan, of Blyth.
board distribute it through its reg-
ular circuits in this country.
Who's crazy now?
Not Christopher -Chapman, I'm
sure of that. You see he had a
good idea of what he was about
right from the beginning. Chris.
Chapman is a lad who was born
in the city, but his father owned
a farm right up there near Lake
Simcoe where he decided to make
his movie. As he grew up he came
to realize how tremendously im-
portant the world of nature is to
our development. Today he is a
foremost advocate of soil conser-
vation, and he has as good an idea
as anybody I know of how vital it
is for us to respect our natural
resources.
This is why he wanted to make
his movie. He didn't want to make
a propaganda film. He just want-
ed to act as eyes for a lot of peo-
ple who look at the country and
never see it. He wanted to make
a movie which would show them
some of the riches of the natural
world. His theory is that ifeo-
ple respect nature and enjoy it,
they won't be so likely to despoil
it. So he made his movie just to
help people enjoy nature.
I think Chris. Chapman is what
the advertising agency boys call
a "pretty smart cookie."
And you know another thing? I
think it would be a good idea if a
lot of people like you and me who
live right in the heart of some of
the most beautiful country in the
world, took a look at his movie. I
have an idea it just might get us
into the habit of looking at the
beauty and wonder that is right in
our own backyards. We take a
lot for granted, but if we opened
our eyes we might realize that
we are just about the luckiest peo-
ple in the world to have the op-
portunity to be living where we
are. And if we really understood
that, I think we might be a bit
more careful about, bow we care
for the wonderful land which is
our heritage;
•
NEVER A DULL MOMENT
(From Today Magazine, publica-
tion of the International Harvester
Co.)
R. W. Henderson, who as a
trouble shooter for International
Harvester in the early days of
tractors, travelled all over the
United States, Europe and South
America, apparently seldom had
a dull moment.
Once, after a tractor he was
delivering to Chile sank to the
bottom of Talcahuano harbor in a
storm and couldn't be recovered,
he undertook to cross the Andes
mountains by muleback with a
heavy tractor piston and connect-
ing rod. The mule carrying the
tractor parts lost its footing on
the narrow trail and fell over a
3,500 -foot precipice.
"Through my field glasses,"
Henderson reported to the com-
pany, "I observed that the piston
had burst and the connecting rod
had been bent in its fall. The
mule, of course, was dead. So I
did not undertake to salvage any
of the material."
Such incidents, Henderson said
in a masterpiece of understate-
ment, "make you feel rather dub-
ious about taking these trips."
The tractors themselves were
`often quite a problem. Once, in
South America, Henderson and a
farmer were plowing in some low
marsh land when their 45 horse-
power Titan "dropped in up to its
frame all around."
"The owner of the tractor told
me to let it set and he would bring
a yoke of oxen to pull it out," said
Henderson. "I suggested that he
bring 20 yoke of oxen. He felt
positive that two yoke eould move
it, but after hitching on six yoke
(12 oxen) and not being able to
budge it, he sent to the ranch house
for a longer cable and got all the
oxen in sight. After he had them
lined up on this cable, I counted
38 oxen."
When 19 yoke of oxen couldn't
move the 20,000 -pound tractor,
Henderson suggested starting the
tractor so it could help itself.
"I don't think any of these oxen
had ever heard an internal com-
bustion engine explode," Hender-
son
enderson said. "And neither do I •think.
it would have been possible for
them to pull it out of the hole if
they had not all been thoroughly
frightened. But the way it was,
with the help of the engine, it
came out. And after we got all the
oxen untangled, we found only
seven yokes broken."
FROM AGRICULTURE TO INDUSTRY,
FIFTY YEARS BRINGS MANY CHANGES
(From The Toronto Telegram)
Fifty years ago Gilbert Elliot,
Earl of Minto, was guest at a din-
ner in London. There was a little
piece in the Telegram about it.
His lordship had survived six
years as Governor General of this
Dominion and the good man felt
obliged to say a kind word. He
told the gathering Canada had
great possibilities as a wheat -grow-
ing country.
The march of 50 years has
brought great changes. Canada
today is pre-eminently a manufac-
turing country, with only 13 per
cent of its income derived from
farming. But when Minto depart-
ed agriculture was the chief indus-
try, and Canadians were proud of
the tile, "Granary of the Empire."
With World War I the Domin-
ion entered an era of industrializa-
tion which has- expanded almost
without interruption, and also
gained a place at international
council tables.
Canadians have more money in
the bank than even 10 years ago;
they carry more life insurance
than any other people in the world.
Nine of 10 homes are electrically
equipped, and nearly all have la-
bor-ssving and entertainment gad-
gets of which the Governor General
50 years ago never heard.
We have motor vehicles to car-
ry the whole population, two trans-
continental railways and a net-
work of airlines. All these things
we enjoy while working a five -
hours -shorter week than 10 years
ago ,for a lqt. more pay,
Even with a 'disturbing -amount
of unemployment, we have more
From The Huron Expositor
March 3, 1905
The Chinaman, who recently
started a laundry in Clinton, has
been bought out -by Mr. Consigney,
one of the local laundrymen.
During the recent_ stormy wea-
ther, while the roads were im-
passable, Miss Olive Cooper, of
Clinton, who teaches on the 16th
concession of Goderich Township,
made the trip to and from her
school on snowshoes.
Mr. M. Geiger and his mother
and sister, Mrs. J. Geiger and
Mrs. A. Fisher, Zurich, have gone
to Michigan to see his sister, who
is sick.
Mr, John Cober, Brussels, has
been under the doctor's care dur-
ing the past week from an infec-
tion of the heart.
Mr. W. C. Huston, of Exeter, has
removed his stock of furniture,
etc., from the store in the opera
house, recently vacated by Far-
mer Bros., which has been recent-
ly fitted up for his use.
The handsome new brick resi-
dence of Mr. James Lawrence, on
the 5th concession, McKillop, is
now completely finished. The
building is certainly a credit to
both workmen and owner and also
to the community in which it is
erected.
Mr. E. Potter and daughter, of
Zion City, near Chicago, are vis-
iting Mr. and Mrs. William Ivison,
Kippen, Mrs. Potter's parents.
Mr. William Westcott, Seaforth,
was calling on old friends in Kip -
pen this week.
Mr. John Smillie, Walton, deliv-
ered a handsome span of heavy
draught horses at Seaforth on Mon-
day. Mr. James Archibald was
the purchaser.
Mr. James Turner, Hillsgreen,
has recently purchased a 'line
year-old Durham bull from Mr.
David Hill, of Staffa, for which he
paid well on to the hundred mark.
Mr. A. R. Sampson, at one time
teller in the Dominion Bank, Sea -
forth, is now assistant manager of
the branch in Winnipeg. Mr. Samp-
son is forging to the front.
While driving into Seaforth from
the south on Friday and while
crossing the railway track, a
young man named Ferguson met
with a mishap. His horse got
frightened at an engine, and shy-
ing, ran one side of the cutter on-
to a mound of snow, which upset
it. The man was thrown out but
was not much injured, and the
horse was captured at Dick's Ho-
tel stable. The cutter was some-
what broken.
Mr. William Chapman,- Sr., of
Hensall, has been visiting relatives
and friends for the past week or
so in Caledonia and neighborhood.
Mr. John Penhale had a number
of sheep worried by dogs one night
last week, some of which have
since died.
Mr. T. Johns, who has been en-
gaged in the implement business
in Exeter for a few years, has tak-
en a position with Mr. W. H.
Levitt, coal and produce merch-
ant.
Miss Holt, Godericb, has gone
on.. an extended visit to British
Coluttthia.
people working right now than in
, 1954, by reason of immigration.
We can point to increased move-
ment of newsprint, pulpwood, lum
ber, base metals and fishery pro-
ducts. Construction is at a record
mark. Pacing the next lap of our
progress are Kitimat in B.C., Un-
gava iron, St. Lawrence power
and seaway project, and the gas.
pipeline from Alberta.
Many Canadians have been ap-
prehensively watching other coun-
tries because of predicted reces-
sions, and have failed to note that
they are definitely on the up grade..
This applies to the United States,
with which our economy is close-
ly bound up, . and to Britain,
currently enjoying unprecedented
prosperity.
Why are people, in this of all
countries, so fearful? The factors
limiting the pace of economic de-
velopment are intangibles. One
affecting all Commonwealth coun-
tries, is the disturbed internation-
al situation.
Lecturers and writers have told
of Canada's boundless future. The
peoples of Europe are looking to
Canada, and every month the pop-
ulation equivalent of a small city
reaches our shores. Our heritage
may be diminished by governmen-
tal mismanagement or timidity or
by crippling taxation, but the path
is ever upward.. •
Defeatism has no place here.
Canada is too young; too full of
vigor, too well equipped, to falter
at any hurdle likely to he amaun
tered on her triumphant way.
Home Germination Tests
Germination tests at home are
the practical and common sense
answer to farmers who question
whether their seed is going to
germinate properly after they sow
it. This is particularly the case
with seed retained from last year's
harvest, the germination of which
may be low. For the common
crop, home germination tests can
be made successfully on a sample
which will most nearly represent
the entire lot.
The usual practice is to use 100 -
seed counts, in duplicate, or more.
The average of the separate tests
is then used in determining the
percentage of germination.
Clean blotting paper, absorbent
cotton, paper towels, or cloth may
be used to hold the seeds. Place
100 seeds on the material selected
and cover with the same kind of
material. Place on a large din-
ner plate and cover with another
one. Sand may also be used for
testing seeds of cereals, corn, peas
and beans.
Seeds should not be allowed to
rest in water. The material should
be soaked in water and the free
water allowed to drain off before
the seeds are planted.
Uniform temperature ranging
from 65 to 85 degrees F. is suit-
able.
Sprouts should not be removed
and counted before they are large
enough to determine if they are
healthy and appear capable of de-
veloping into useful plants. Clovers
and other legumes) in particular
should be examined carefully for
broken and abnormal sprouts that
start growth, but are incapable of
continuing to grow into plants.
$ $
Crop -Weather Studies in Canada
A crop -weather study is being
made by the Canada Department
of Agriculture to determine pre-
cisely the characteristic response
to certain crops to their natural
meteorological environment. The
project is country -wide and super-
intendents and staff at Experimen-
tal Farms located at Fort Simp-
son, Fort Vermilion, Beaverlodge,
Lacombe and Swift Current in
Western Canada and Normandin,
Ottawa, and Harrow in Eastern
Canada are co-operating. The ex-
periment is under the direction of
the Chief of .the Division of Field,
Husbandry, Soils and Agricultural
Engineering of the Experimental
Farms Service. Mr. George W.
Robertson meteorologist second-
ed from tiie Department of Trans-
port to the Department of Agri-
culture, and Dr. J. L. Dionne,
agronomist with the latter Depart-
ment are supervising the teehni-
caI details of the experiment and
Y1�f14i1 l eib.4
G
co-ordinating the results. Standard
meteorological equipment for the
project is being supplied by the
Canadian Meteorological Service.
Weather at the eight co-operat-
ing stations afford a wide variety
of environmental conditions under
which to study crop response. July
mean temperature ranges from 60
degrees at Beaverlodge to 73 at
Harrow, summer rainfall from 4.9
inches at Fort Simpson to 10.7 at
Normandin, summer free -water
evaporation from 9.5 inches at
Fort Vermilion to 19.3 at Swift
Current and day length on June
21 from 15 h. 15 m. at Harrow to
19 h. 40 m. at Fort Simpson.
Similar crops,. consisting of four
cereals and three vegetables are
grown at all co-operating stations.
Growth is determined by periodic-
ally measuring the height of
plants such as wheat, the size of
vegetables such as pumpkin, and-
the weight of roots in the case of
beets. Final yield is also measur-
ed. The development of crops to-
ward maturity is measured per-
iodically by noting the dates when
crops reach certain stages such as
heading, flowering, first formations
of fruit and ripening of fruit or
seed.
Some interesting. facts have
been learned in the two years that
the project has been in operation.
For example it has been found,
that length of day is as important
as summertime temperature in de-
termining the length of time re-
quired for wheat to come to head,
while temperatutre alone determ-
ines the length of time for wheat
to mature after heading. Elonga-
tion of stem is faster under longer•
periods of daylight and appears
to be almost independent of tem-
perature. Yield of wheat has been.
found to be higher with lower
temperatures during the first three
weeks after crop emergence.
These characteristics of wheat and
possibly other creal crops help to
explain why such crops grow well,
mature early and yield high un-
der the short, cool, dry growing
season of Northwestern Canada.
What Can the Crop Grower
Expect From the Chemist?
The chemist has co-operated
with the farmer in providing fer-
tilizers, insecticides, fungicides,
soil conditioners and herbicides to
aid in the production and protec-
tion of crops and livestock. Chemi-
cal research -has improved the
quality and palatability of plant
products resulting in greater con-
sumer acceptance.
By intelligent use of chemical
fertilizers, the farmer has increas-
ed the potential capacity of his.
(Continued on Page 6)
'T