The Lucknow Sentinel, 1987-03-18, Page 59Increase income from your woodlot..
• from page 18A
Commenting on the MNR's involvment in
marking trees, Mr. Smith said, "The only
limitation we have is the availability of
manpower. We can't do it the day after you
phone, it may take three or four days."
As well as the financial benefits, Mr.
Smith said there are other aspects which
should be taken into consideration.
If there is an old, defective tree, it
doesn't have to come down -if it provides
shelter for wildlife. If it is the home of a rac-
coon family, you may want to leave it and
get a return on the pelts," he suggested.
One thing to keep in mind is that Huron
County does have a tree cutting bylaw in
place •A woodlot owner who wishes to sell
the trees must notify the county in advance.
If he is using the wood for personal use, this
does not apply
A few problems a woodlot owner may run
into is the temptation not to wait the re-
quired amount of time until the trees are
ready to be cut. Also, Ivhen dragging the .
fogs out of the woodlot, be sure to cut them
so they do not damage the other trees.
Growing Christmas Trees For Profit
Neil Edgar, a farmer in Whitechurch, got
into the Christmas tree selling business by
accident.
-We bought a 100 acre farm at
Whitechurch and found some spruce trees
'on a part of it, cut one for ourselves and/.
some for the neighbors and our friends in
town. We sold about 50 of them," said Mr.
Edgar, adding, "That was 12 years ago and
'We sold them for $2_ each.
He went on to explain' that the following
year they phoned the MNR and found out
where theyrCluld buy some and decided to
plant between 200-500 Scotch Pines.
As for the question of whether he recom-
mends people get into the business of selling
Christmas trees, Mr. Edgar said, "The
potential is there now, but I can't tell you
how it will be in 10 years. If you do get into it,
do it in a small way."
Mr. Edgar estimates it takes between
seven and 10 years for a tree to reach its
mature height.
Although he has been in the business for 12
years, Mr. Edgar says he still can't meet the
demand for trees and is forced to bring in
trees from Somerville Nursery in Alliston.
Providing a few pointers for the audience,
Mr, Edgar said a person's location and the
number of _Christmas tree sellers „around
him makes a great difference.
"Your location is important. We're right
on a highway, so we're easy to find," he
said.
As for other sellers, there is only one near
Mr. Edgar and the two of them work closely
together.
"I phone him or he phones me and asks
how many trees I'm selling., This `helps us
know how many trees to cut because you
can't discount the trees and sell them on
Boxing Day," said Mr. Edgar.
According. to Mr. Edgar, Christmas tree
shoppers are starting earlier.
"This year, for -the first time, we started
selling trees in November. People are buy -
Speaking on tending the woodlot at the In-
come From the Farm Woodlot seminar at
the Clinton Legion on February 26 was Mar-
vin Smith of the Ministry. of Natural
Resources (MNR) . The seminar was spon-
sored by the MNR, Wingham office, and the
Clinton office of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Food. (Anne Narejko photo)
ing them earlier for parties or they may be
going south and want a tree up early.
"Some people get tired of their artifical
tree and buy a real one or maybe, they want
tree in the rec room and the living room,"
he explained.
Some tree sellers offer a cut -your -own
deal, but Mr. Edgar doesn't feel this works
very well.
"Some people will cut the tree, start to
drag it out and then realize they're never go-
ing to get it to the car because it's too big, so,
they go and cut another one and leave the
first one there.
"Others get it half cut and I can't tell.
What I do is, if they want to cut their own, .I
go back with them," he explained.
Some problems the Edgars have run into
in growing the trees is damage by rodents,
snow breaking the branches and improper
pruning.
"You have to prune the tree to get it to
branch out - nip the top off where you want
the next branch to grow," he°,said.
The snow on the branches of a young tree
also does damage.
"Snow on the branches the first, second or
third year is a problem, but after they're
about four feet tall, it's not a real big pro-'
biem," said Mr. Edgar.
Last year, Mr. Edgar brought in between
$12 and $25 for each Christmas trees.
OAC Pisces is mildew resistant
Soybean growers concerned about
powdery mildew problems will find OAC
Pisces a welcome alternative in 2900 heat
unit areas.
Offering resistance to powdery mildew,
new OAC Pisces is a later maturing varie-
ty similar to Hodgson. The protein content
of OAC Pisces is higher than Hodgson and
Evans.
Along with powdery mildew resistance,
OAC Pisces offers tolerance • to
Phytophthora root rot. It is also tolerant to
the herbicide Metribuzin, allowing
growers an effective weed control
program.
r
Developed at the University of Guelph,
multiplication and distribution of OAC
Pisces soybeans has been assigned to
SeCan Association.
SeCan Association, works closely with
leading government and university plant
breeders to make outstanding new
varieties available to Canadian farmers.
At present, over 100 varieties are
distributed by 2,500 SeCan members
across the country. A Certified tag or bulk
certificate accompanies every seed pur-
chase, as proof of strict adherance to
government standards for purity,
cleanliness and germination.
-J
-Page 19A
•Urethane Foam Insulation
• Homes
•Farm or
residential
" buildings
FREE
ESTIMATES
• Backhoeing
and
tiling
•Open ditch
•Weeper beds
•Septic tanks
R.R. No. 6, Goderich 529-7571
a
1`1ano�,
"You are cordially invited to
look over a fine crop of BOARS in our
newly renovated Boar Selection Barn"
Performance Figures For Boars Presently
Offered For Sale......
AVE. B.F. - 11.3mm - AVE. DAYS TO 200 LBS. - 143 - AVE. INDEX -
133
Check out the figures on this fine selection of boars.
Give us a call & we will select one for you, or stop
around at the farm.
TATTOO SIRE BACKFAT m.m. AGE INDEX
YORKSHIRE (To 200 lbs.)
1571U 1033S 12.7 151 97
1573U 1033S 9.9 143 137
1574U 1033S 9.8 142 139
1407U 1542S 12.1 137 126
1472U 241T 10.2 151 119
1473U 241T 7.9 140 159
1478U 241T 12.1 143 116
1344U 1542U 11.9 152 102
LANDRACE
65R 10.9 158 116
7202P 14.3 150 100
7202P 11.4 148 126
65R 11.3 147 128
63R 12.7 145 119
7202P 13.5 132 130
7202P 11.4 137 140
7202P 10.7 132 153
7202P 12.4 160 101
7202P 14.0 151 101
1492U
1500u
1502U
1495U
14970
1501U
1503U
•1504U
1233U
1295U
1410U
1424U
1429U
13551;
1284U
2703U
2710U
3106U
2503U
2903U
HEALTH
Closed minimal
disease herd for
your protection
Ranked Good
CROSSBRED AND COLOURED BOARS
YL 9.0 145
YL
YL
YL
HD
HD
HD
H
D
10.4
13.8
10.7.
12.1
15.4
13.2
16.7
10.2
11.8
132
144
140
153
129
153
135
150
150
CONSIDER THE ADVANTAGES
PERFORMANCE SOUNDNESS
Continued R.O.P.
testing and at
test station.
They've got to ,
be sound or we
won't offer them
for sale.
138
145
105
158
129
121
135
PRODUCTIVITY
Yorkshire and
Landrace breeds
offer top
Productivity.
CALL TO -DAY
DON HENRY & FAMILY
BWEVALE' Coll Collect (519)-335-3240