The Rural Voice, 1985-07, Page 22BALE FEEDER �-,
.:
• 71/2' x 14' x 6' High N \\\
• Heavy Wall Tubing
• Holds Two Big
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• Front or Rear
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• 3" x 3" x 1/4 " Prong
• 2 — 1" Prongs on
Bottom
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R.R. 2, AUBURN, ONT., NOM 1E0
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20 THE RURAL VOICE
done when introduced a few years
earlier. Actually, Mr. Petit had some
very tough years ahead of him. As far
as I was concerned, 1 had a job ahead
of me which would pay me enough so
that I could save clear in the summer
what I would earn in a year with Mr.
Petit. I ended up forgetting my dream
of being a Southern Gentleman by
way of turpentine. I often think what
would have happened if....
Another dream that I definitely
would have pursued had I not been
discouraged was the Mactlraith pro-
perty. Jim Mactlraith was a college
mate of mine and for several years we
were very close to each other. At
Thanksgiving time of our second year
at OAC a group of us rented a car
and drove to his house at Lanark for
the holiday. There were five of us in
all but three drove on to Ottawa while
Jim and I stayed at his home. Jim's
father farmed 100 acres at Lanark,
making most of his income from a
summer dairying operation. He had
three daughters and one son, Jim.
Most of his life had been spent on a
farm about 14 miles north and it was
this property that interested me. Jim
wasn't interested in farming and the
north farm was for sale. The depres-
sion was at its height then and the old
man needed less work and more
money. I had been working and sav-
ing for three seasons and I had
$1,500. I had just returned from my
summer job of inspecting bees and
there seemed to be no immediate
opening for me.
The property in question was in ex-
cess of 400 acres. There were two
barns and a liveable house, all of log
construction and not in good repair.
About 160 acres were cleared and
suited for summer pasture, hay, and
possibly oats. There was a beautiful
stand of second growth pine with
some spruce, not large but definitely
marketable, and a grove of big old
branchy maple trees. Jim said there
were about 2,500 of them, but I think
this could have been overly op-
timistic. There were three lakes on the
property and some minerals. One
deposit had been worked for its iron
pyrites but was closed down. There
was also a considerable outcropping
of marble. Jim told me that they
would sell the property for $4,000
cash.
I pictured myself owning it and liv-
ing there. In March and April I would
make maple syrup from the maple
trees. All those trees would certainly
produce plenty of syrup; 1,000
gallons at $2 a gallon would make
$2,000, and this was a good annual