The Huron Expositor, 1949-01-28, Page 2tablisfied 1860
1V1eLeau, i Editor.
fished tat Seaforth, Ontario, ev-
acsday afternoon by McLean
dvertising rates on application.
Aat}thOrized .as Second Class Mail
Post Office Department, Ottawa
:: ORPH, Friday, January 28
Community Responsibility
Why was it that there was barely
a score in attendance at the annual
meeting of the Seaforth Agricultur-
al Society held here last Saturday af-
ternoon? And why was it that of
that number, but two were citizens
of Seaforth? Granted, limited notice
was given of the meeting, and had
the small attendance been peculiar to
this year's gathering this might have
been a factor. However, this was
not the case—the 'attendance was as
Targe, if not larger, than the average
over a period of years.
Perhaps the lack of interest stems
from a tendency to take for granted
the Fair, which the Society sponsors.
'Those members of the rural com-
munity who may be exhibitors will
show their interest with the publica-
tion of the prize list. Seaforth mer-
chants may regard the Fair as being
the basis for another contribution,
while citizens at large think of it as
a day when there will be a large
Crowd in town. In every case sight
seems to have been lost ofthe under-
lying
lying reasons for the holding of the
fair.
In the early days of agricultural
,societies, the annual exhibitions came
about as the result of an inherent
desire on the part of those making
up the rural community, to compete
one .with the other, as to the merits
of the exhibits of each. And the
town people considered it an honor
to be hosts each year to such a com-
munity event. Through the years,
However, the number of exhibitors
has decreased as specialization be-
came the practise. And a lessening
in the number of exhibitors natural-
ly has resulted in a lessening in in-
terest in the operation of the fair.
This is not to say that last year's
fair was not good. On the contrary,
the 1948 fair, from the standpoint of
weather, number and variety of ex-
hibits, attendance and attractions,
was one of the most successful in the
long history of the society. This was
due, however, nct to a general inter-
est ,on the hart •of the public in its
success, but to hard, long and con-
scientious work by the society's sec-
retary -treasurer, Mrs. J. Grummett,
and its 87 -year-old President, J. M.
Govenlock, and his executive. ,
But how much more successful
Might it have been—how much bet-
ter might it have provided that link
so necessary between country and
town, had there been a more gener-
al interest shown in its mechanics,
both by the citizens of Seaforth .and
the rural community it serves?
The fall fair is a community pro-
ject, and the Seaforth Agricultural
Society which sponsors it is a com-
munity responsibility. The society
provides an opportunity for a com-
bined operation by town and coun-
try to ensure an increased useful-
ness on the part of the annual fall
fair in the years td come.
•
Seaforth's Trees
The damage suffered by shade and
ornamental trees in Seaforth and
district as a result of last week's
windstorm, brings home the fact
that while trees are living things,
they cannot live forever.
The extent to which time and neg-
lect had taken toll was apparent
when the rotted trunks and weaken-
ed limbs of the uprooted trees were
examined. If tht benefits they make
possible are to be continued, it be -
wines necessary to regard them as
something requiring regular and
careful attention—not as an asset
Which will continue to spread their
; eiiefits year after year regardless
of how they may 'be treated.
When one views the change in a
ittretto or the extent to which a
aniiliar and pleasant view has been
oiled by the. loss of one of a row
trees, it emphasizes how much
are prone to take such gifts.
t'te for, granted. Trees are
•Green -why worry about them?- -is
,y
all too frequently- our attitude,
But after all, as we pointed out
previously, trees are living things
cannot be expected that they will
continue forever to provide us with
their many benefits. This is particu-
larly so when we consider the little,
if anything, we do to lengthen their
years of usefulness.
One of the most peasant attri-
butes of life in Seaforth, and one of
the most remembered features of the
town, particularly in so far as motor-
ists passing through are concerned,
is the rows of stately trees which
line the streets throughout the town. _
But how many of the citizens of the
town remember that the trees we
now enjoy are in a manner of speak-
ing, the practical fashion adopted by
our forefathers in expressing their
faith in the fixture. In planting and
caring for Seaforth trees fifty or
more years ago, thought was given
by them to the asset that was to be
created over a period of many years
—not to an immediate benefit.
Is it not reasonable to suggest that
the same thought be given the pres-
ervation and maintenance, and where
necessary, the replacement of t he
trees as they exist today. True,
some consideration has been given
the matter, and an improved ap-
proach to the pruning and removal
of trees has been apparent in recent
years. To this policy of seeking out.
and eliminating decayed and danger-
ous trees on Seaforth streets, as car-
ried out by the Street Committee in
conjunction with the Public Utility
Commision, is due probably the
fact that no serious damage was oc-
casioned by those trees that were
blown down last week.
But does this policy go far en-
ough? Would it not be money well
spent—considering the benefits to be
derived over the years—to survey
every tree bordering on a Seaforth
street and begin planting new trees
to replace those veterans which the
survey might indicate would require
to be removed in the course of a few
years. The cost need not be great.
Various governmental agencies have
experts available for just such pur-
poses.
Seaforth trees are old. They have
survived years of neglect and of
careless pruning. Jt would be unfor-
tunate were provision not made now
—before it is too late—to ensure
that there always will be trees on
Seaforth's streets.
•
Symbol Of Tradition
It has often been Said that every
inch of 'England's soil is steeped in
history. And nowhere on the island
is this more true than in the grounds
surrounding Westminster. Striking
proof of this fact has been given by
the interesting find of a ninth cen-
tury sword by workmen, excavating
beneath the Hoixs8s of Parliament.
The sword, of fine workmanship,
was discovered about 30 feet below
the ground, and the place where it
was found would formerly have been
part of the bed of the River Thames.
Experts consider that it will make
a notable addition to archeologists'
knowledge of the Saxon period in
Britain. Despite the fact it must
have lain beneath the river for close
on ten centuries, the weapon is com-
plete except for a small part of the
grip and pommel.
The . length of the sword is two
feet, 91/2 inches. It has a double-
edged blade 21/2 feet long pattern-
ed with a design which resembled
watered silk. This is obtained
through building up the blade out of
steel strips or wires hammered to-
gether. Near the crosspiece at the
upper end of the blade there still re-
mains part of a wooden scabbard.
The hilt has a straight crosspiece
formed from a bar of iron and 31/2
inches long, tapering at each side.
This type of crosspiece dates back to
the' seventh and eight centuries, be-
ing later superseded by the curved
guards of the Viking period.
A pattern of four panels bearing
an ivy leaf scroll is' deeply cut into
the metal. It is this scroll design
which determines the date of the
weapon.
The sword will. be .exhibited in the
Houses of Parliament, where it will
form .a striking ;symbol of the firm
continuity of tradition on which this
historic seat of Government in Bri-
tain is 9'o firmly based..
LAZTY-MEADOWS..
Harry J, Boyle:
Whatever has become trf the old trans Dad 1 usedito poke at the boxes
fashioned farm kitchens? Today's
with his finger and enquire it they
farm kitchens are but. a. shadow of would ever come up. Mother
their former spacious selves. would threaten , to throw some -
Streamlined and modern,. designed thing at him, and gently pat the
"'to cut down on the 'housewives' earth down where he,• had, been
steps in a day, they certainly have rooting with his fingers. Finally,
less room.for the varied activities the plants would spring .green
that were carried out in the old- sprouts, up through the earth and
fashioned -ones. we would watch with interest to
You can .say what you like but see which would be first° The
the :kitchen has always been the
centre of the farm home. When
the neighbors dropped in, they
were entertained in the kitchen.
When so-called "important" com-
pany came along, they were ush-
ered into the stiff, uncomfortable
parlor room. The sheets were
pulled. off the chairs and after a
quick airing which failed to get
rid of the musty •odour, the folks
were shown into tho'^front parlor.
How we longed to get back into
the comfort of the kitchen!
City folks wondered why the
farm kitchens were so big. They
had to be big. Take, for instance,
the woodbox. Our woodbox at
home was as big as some of the
so-called kitchenettes -tat they
have in the city. It took a filling
oncc a day with ple�,ty of room
for kindling. ''YY
When we progressed to the point
where a cistern pump was in or-
der„
:, very large pump was install-
ed with a siuk• The sink was as
big as many of the modern bath-
tubs, bet around dinnertime it was
nothing to see Dad and the hired
man washing their hands at the
sink while Mother pumped water
into a pail tor filling the reservoir
up with.
Along about this time Of year
Mother's window boxes would be-
gin to show life. The moist,
loamy earth was packed into box-
es and put away in the cellar in
early Fall. Late in the winter we
had to bring them up for the
planting season. Tomatoes, cab-
bage, radishes and flowers were
all pleated
it the boxes for
early
Y
boxes were always placed where
they could pick up the morning
sun and in the afternoon they were
moved across the room to pick up
the afternoon sun.
Lambing time, tr
'usally resulted
in one or two lambs whose mother
had passed away. They would•be
spread out on a comfortable rug
behind the stove and we used to
fuss over them with a rbottle of
milk and a nipple. The same
thing applied to pigs- Mother put
up with all this traffic through her
kitchen in a good-natured way, al-
though she did balk at the time
when Dad brought in a whole fam-
ily of little pigs for attention.
The kitchen furniture was al-
ways Large. For instance, • the
rocking chair in front of the stove
that accommodated the head of the
household perfectly, could carry on
occasions two of the family with-
out a great deal of difficulty.
The sideboard was very large.
A maiden aunt of mother's gave it
to her one time, and it survived
for many years. Each Spring a
coat of paint was applied quite lib-
erally. This added to the bulk of
the massive sideboard. which
Mother cherished for the simple
reason that "Aunty” would be hurt
if it were discarded.
The kitchen was large . and
comfortable . and the family
spread around it in the evening.
Mother used to knit beside the
table with the lamplight, and at -
ter father had perused the paper,
he would sit in front of the stove
while we children explored the
shadows of the big, homey room.
''ears. oae•
intereatinp ltterne Plcked From.
The Huron ,E:xposlter of Twee,
ty-five and Fifty Wears Ago.
From The Huron Expositor ,
February 3, 1899
Mr, Robert Hoggar•tb,, Jr., of
Oeomarty, happened with a ser-
ious accident one day last -weep.
One of his horses got er>;tangled
in its tie -rope, and to save the
animal, from strangulation, the
ropewas cut. The animal when
freed reared up, striking Mr. Hog-
garth on the face and head. The
blow rendered him unconscious.
Mr. James, Bell, son of the late
Robert Bell, Hensall„ shipped a
car of cattle and horses to the Old
Country this week.
A. most enthusiastic meeting of
the hookey- club of Egmondville
was held at Jackson's store, Eg-
monville, on Tttesday, when the
following officers were elected:
Honorary president, Samuel Mc-
Geoch; president, Richard Kruse;
vice-president, Harry Van Eg-
mond; secretary. L. C. Jackson;
treasurer, Geo. A. Jackson; com-
mittee: Wm. McDougall, Harry
Cresswell, Harry Colbert, Tudor
Jackson, Charles Kruse, R. E.
Jackson.
On Thursday afternoon last a
regular blizzard set in and since
then the weather has been
stormy and decidedly cold.
The congregation of St. James'
Church, Seaforth, are having ma-
terial laid down for the erection
of a new residence for their pas-
tor, Rev. Father McCabe.
Mrs, John Copp left Friday for
ltoso'r•nd, 13.C.. to rejoin her hus-
band, who preceded her some time
a e0 n1:11 where she will in future
make tee•r home.
Mr. Morley Hahkirk h:.s pur-
"hanet'. the 'Union Bus fermi i'Ir.
Shari_ and takes possession the
middle of the month.
While packing ice, in a ref ' g-
erator at Harpurhey on Wedne-
day, Wm. Keeler met with a pain-
ful accident.- His hand was caught.
between two ,biotic., of ice and two
main bones in the haucl were brok-
en.
Mr James Baird, Brucefield, hue
been under the doctor's care for
some days.
A pleasant eventtook place
Monday evening at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Thirsk, Blake,
when about fifty guests assembled
to pass the evening in different
amusements, it being the fourth
anniversary of their wedding day.
A number of young folks gath-
ered at the home of Mr, William
Nicholls. Chiselhurst, Tuesday ev-
ening :last, where they, spent an
enjoyable time.
Mr. Herbert Lawrence, son of
Mr. James Lawrence, of McKillop,
who is a graduate of the Bible
Training School, Toronto, in com-
pany with another young man,
sail from New York one week
from next Saturday, as missionar-
ies to the dark continent.
Mr. Samuel Swarye, Blake, had
a successful wood bee last week.
•
From The Huron i Expositor
February 1, 1924
Mr. James Murray, McKillop, has
sold his farm on the 2nd conces-
sion to Mr. Foster T. Fowler, prin-
cipal of Seaforth public school, the
consideration being $7,000.
On - Friday last while stepping
down on a chair from doing some
household duties, Aliss Hattie Suth-
erland, Hensall, had the misfor-
tune to nese her footing, and in
falling 'broke her arm above the
wrist.
N. Cluff & Sons are this week
installing a power loading eleva-
tor in their cold sheds near the
station.
Mr. J. M. McMillan, Manager of
the Provincial Savings Office, has
purchased the residence of Mr.
James Archibald, on Victoria St.
Mr. Norman Wheeler, of Bruce-
field, has gone to Detroit where he
has secured a position.
At the regular meeting of Fidel-
ity Lodge, I.O.O.F., held in their
lodge rooms Wednesday evening,
the following officers were install-
ed: N.G., William H. Bristow; rec.
sec., Chas. Aberhart; fin. sec., W.
H. Golding; treas., John Thomp-
son; warden, Syd- Deem; R.S., Ed.
Mole; L.S., Geo. Stewart; chaplain,
Wm. Edmunds; V:G., L. McKay;
R.S.V.G., _O. Elliott; L:S.V.G., Al-
lan Reid; I.G.,•Thos. Bickell; .P.G.,
J. A. Westcott; Sr. S., Dr. Har-
burn; R.S.S., D. F. Buck; conduc-
tor, Alex MoGavin,
The fierce snowstorm which rag-
ed on Friday, Saturday and Sun-
day, and which was accompanied
by intense cold, blockedthe coun-
tgy roads in many places, and the
t€dins were all running late.
The Catholic Women's League of
St. James' Church held a success-
ful membership euchre in the Par-
ish Hall on Wednesday evening.
The prize winners were: Ladies,
Mrs, James Atkinson; gentlemen.
William Flannery; lucky prize,
Thomas Lane. s
wan, was a guest of Mr. and Mrs.
Alex Campbell this week.
Mr. Reg. Fowler, of Goderich,
has been appointed manager of the
Seaforth branch of the Dominion
Stores.
Mr, James Robb, secretary of
First Presbyterian Church, informs
u•s that out of a total of 14 class-
es which comprised the Sunday
School last year, nine classes had
perfect attendance during the year
with a total attendance of 170
scholars. This is a particularly
good record. ,
The C.W.L. of St. columban held
their annual meeting on Tuesday
evening. A large croWd attended,
which showed the interest they
take in the society. The election
of officers resulted as, follows:
President, Mrs. P. V. McGrath;
vice-presidents,' Mrs. P. Stapleton,
Mrs. T. Moylan, Mrs, O. Hart; re=
Cording secretary, •Miss T. Lynch;
corresponding, secretary+,. Miss A.
Coyne; treasurer, Mrs, J. Downey.
Messrs, J. Passmore, Alex Mur-
doch, Tharnae, welsh and 0, C.
;Petty have returned to Hensall
from Toronto, where they were
lddlt lg after hydro interests.
• Just A Smile Or Two
•
After the family had increased
to three it was decided to engage
a girl as nursemaid,
"My husband is very particular
whom we engage," said the mis-
tress to the girl who applied for
the job. "Are you faithful? Have
you a kind and loving disposition?
Will you—"
"Excuse me, madam," said the
girl, "but am I to take care of the
baby for your husband?"
•
"Hullo, is that Brown?"
voice over the telephone.
Brower said: it was.
"•Come and have a round of
golf," said the first voice.
"I'm sorry," replied Brown, "but
I'm in half mourning.t' .t" :- .
"Ohl" dubiously from the other
end. ' "Well. what about nine
boles?"
asked a
�en in. the c�on tY Papel S,
A January Butterfly
Jim Howes captured a butterfiY
on Wednesday. It bad hatched
from a cocoon on a geranium plant
in the window when Jim noticed
it. --Blyth Standard.
Fire At Judge's Residence
• Fire, which started in a chimney
at the home of Judge T. M. Cos-
tello, spread to the attic, where it
was confined by the work of the
fire brigade early Saturday morn-
ing, Thee firemen worked for two
hours with two streams of water,
and were commended for their
work by Judge Costello, The first
and second floors of the residence
were damaged by .smoke and wa-
ter. A false alarm about 4 a.m.
while the brigade was at the Cas-
tello home caused some confusion.
It was suspected that it had be'n
put in by . some mischievous per•-
s•on. Three youths were question,
ed by the police, but they told a
straight story and it is now believ-
ed that the alarm was set off by
an accidental jar, as had happen-
ed on other \occasions.—Goderich
Signal -Star.
Secretary: "Your wife wants to
kiss you over the phone."
Business Man: "Take the mes-
sage and III get it from you later."
•
A man visited a friend for the
first time and was amazed at the
freedom of conduct allowed the
children. One boy was• building a
model on the floor and nails 'were
going through the rug ,and into
the flooring; another boyvas bus-
ily fastening a short poto the
back of a chair to make a sailing
ship: while the third was fixing- a
bar between the legs of the table.
Bewildered, he turned to his host:
"I say, don't you find it rather ex-
pensive to let your children play
like that?"
"Not at all," replied the father
cheerfully, "I get the nails whole-
sale:*
holesale.'•
Huron Federation Of:
AgricultureFarmNews
Feeding Potatoes To Livestock l quently, the prevention of draughts
While it is hardly possible to
construct a poultry house which
will provide ideal conditions
through every variation of wea-
ther, proper insulation and ade-
quate means of ventilation will
help. Generally, the type of venti-
lation should be 'designed to suit
the climate, but nearby trees, hills
or buildings will often cause air
currents for which provision must
be made. Whatever kind of venti-
lation is considered moat suitable,
whether cotton screen, sliding sash
or baffled slots, they should be
kept in free working condition in
order thAft adjustments can be
made quickly and easily.
Perhaps the most important time
for good judgment by the operator
is during the night hours. Rain
or snow beating in through open
air vents results in wet litter.
i'eually, weather forecasts can aid
in deciding upon the ventilation
needed during the night.
4t is not necessary or practical'
to pamper poultry, but when an
effort is made. to establish unifor-
mity of temperatures, dry sur-
roundings, and moderate air move-
ments in and out of the house,
good health is usually the result.
•
Normally potatoes are not con-
sidered to he a standard teed for
livestock. When crops are good
and markets limited, low grade
stock, small and cull potatoes may
be disposed of profitably as live-
stock feed. Farmers and growers
having a surplus of potatoes would
be well. advised to consider the
value of marketing a portion of
their crop through farm animals.
Analysis shows that potatoes
contain about twice as much dry
matter and total digestible nutri-
ents as do common root crops such
as mangels and turnips, and that
they are about equal to corn silage
in dry matter and total digestible
nutrients. They are, however, prac-
tically free of fibre and should be
looked upon as a watery concen-
trate rather than a succulent.
roughage. Potatoes are low in pro-
tein and bbeause of this, a ration
containing potatoes must be bal-
anced by the inclusion of some
protein -rich feed. The vitamin con-
tent of 'potatoes, too, is almost neg-
ligible. In the case of cattle and
Cheep, the feeding of well cured
mixed or legume hay will over-
come this deficiency.
To assist farmers in feeding pot-
atoesi to livestock, the Dominion
Department of Agriculture has pub-
lished a circular on the subject.
This includes information on meth-
ods of feeding, in the raw form,
cooked, as silage, or dried, and
gives results of experimental feed-
ing of potatoes at Dominion Ex-
perimental Farms to various class-
es of livestock, It concludes with
suggested well-balanced rations, in-
cluding potatoes, for all kinds of
livestock.
The circular may be obtained
from the Dominion Department of
Agriculture, Ottawa. Ask for Pub-
lication No. 818, "Potatoes For
Livestock."
'is important in flock management.
Poultry React To Weather Changes
During the winter months when
colds and allied reslSl'ratory •trou-
bles are to be guarded against,
lowered vitality is, ofteh caused by
bad conditions inside the poultry
house fallowing sudden changes in
the weather.
Over a period of many years of
recording egg production at the
Dominion Experimental Station at
Harrow, Ont., Says • W. F. Mountain,
It has been found that steady mold
weather does not greatly affect
vigour, but high winds or datfrp-
nege de half* a particularly de
,preeaeing effect on poultry, Conde -
New Elders Appointed,
At the preparatory service at St.
Andrew's. Presbyterian Church last
Thursday evening, eight new el-
ders were ordained; John Donald-
son, John MoKague, Leslie For-
tune, ., Wilfred McKague, A. LV,1,.
Peebles, Morley Somers, Samos,
Smith and .Ewart McPherson„ Nine-
teen were received into member-
ship -15 on profession of faith and
four by certificate: •-•Wingham Ad-
vance -Times,
Clinton Band Appoints Officers
Frank Strathearn,• of Stratford,
was reappointed Bandmaster of
Clinton Citizens' Band for 194o
and officers were re-elected, at the
annual meeting of the band, Gee.
H. Beattie again is president;
Harry Plumsteel, vice-president;'
Percy Livermore, secretary -treas-
urer; William Andrews, librarian.
The committee consists of Leslie
Pearson, George Levis, John Plum-
tree, Cameron Maltby and Donald
Andrews. Other members of the
Band at the present time are:
Charles Johnson, Carmen Te'bbutt,
"Whitey" Keys, A. M. Jackson,.
Jack Hall,Gordon Rapson, W. Mof-
fat, Ronald Steep, Jack Cowan,
Lewis Tehbutt, Ken Ashton, Rich-
ard Andrews, Ted Roi6s, BillShear-
jng, Murray Maltby, Donald Den-
omme, Richard Elliott, Sheila Rod-'
gers, John Hartley, Clare Maltby,
Douglas Mann, Terry Pearson, Bert
Johnson, Bruce Cann. Of the 33'
members, eighteen are •;unior mem-
ber: under 15 years of age. This
year, the Bandmaster will teach
junior members free of charge.
Weekly practices will be held from
7 to 10 p.m. Mondays. It is plan-
ned to hold monthly concerts in
the Towu Hall during the winter
months. Plans also are being made
to secure new uniforms, consisting
of trousers, tunic and hat. The
Band passed a motion thanking
Edgar Pattison for the. use of the
hall over bis store for band prac-
tise. Due to a further grant of
$90 from the 1948 Town Council,
h a
the Band closed the year with
small balance.'— Clinton News -Re-
cord.
New Arrivals Honored
Hugh Gray, who recently came
to. Canada from Glasgow, Scotland,
and joined' the , Willow Grove
Creamery staff; was given a tangi-
ble welcome by them on Monday
night, when they gathered at the
creamery and presented him and
his family with gifts of linen, cook-
ing
ooking utensils and two large boxes of
jams, jellies, etc., as they took up
housekeeping in the village of Ful-
lerton that afternoon. They leaver
been residing at the Machan home
sincetheir arrival in Mitchell.
Ross Pearce voiced the good wish-
es of the 'staff and welcomed the,
family to this country, and Mr..
Gray thanked them heartily for
their kindness. Cards were played
and lunch enjoyed -=Mitchell Ad-
vocate.
Bears Seen on Road
We are informed that two bears
were seen crossing the, Zurich
Road in one of (the swamps last
week. They are coming close en-.
ough, as recently a number of
wolves were also seen in the big
swamp. We must not forget to be
on guard as one never knows what
might confront us. A female bear
with a cub is usually a very- dan-
ge'rous thing to encounter, and
most• of us would know so little
just what to'•do were e e approach-
ed by a bear, Parents will do well
to see that their children are es-
corted to and from school until
these unwelcomed guests are clear-
ed out of the country. — Zurich
Herald.
Lodgs Installs Officers
The installation of officers of
Blue Water Lodge, No. 1863, Inter-
national Association of Machinists,
was held at the last regular meet-
ing in the British -Exchange Hotel,
The following officers were in-
stalled: President, John P. Grace;
vice-president, Earl Norman; re-
cording sec., Howard W. White;
financial sec., 'Stephen Helesic;
treasurer, Ronald R. Price; con-
ductor, Harold O. Sheardown; sen-
tinel, Jas. J. Morris. Trustees are
Warren A. James, Leslie Pitblado
and Donald A. Stimson. The pres-
entation of a gold pen and pencil
set to Past President David Har-
man was made by Jas. J. Morris.
A large number of new members
were initiated, — Goderich Signal -
Star.
Purchase Home
Mr. J. H. Jones has purchased
the residence of Mr. William Ty-
son on Sanders St. It will be oc-
cupied by Mr. A. J. Payne, an em-
ployee of the Jones &. May firm,—
Exeter Times -Advocate.
Soil Conservation Everyone's Job
Nature did a good job in creat-
ing our soils. In most instances it
gave the world large areas of good
productive soil and provided all the
necessary plant food to promote
growth. Nature (lid more—it select-
ed the crops to grow on the dif-
ferent types of soil. For example,
on the low wet muck soils were
the Cedars; on the heavier clay,
loam soils, the hard,woode (maples
and oaks) ; and on the sand soils,
the pines.
When man disturbs• this balance
of nature by cutting the timber,
or when fire sweeps the area,
Nature does not allow the land to
stand idle. First the weeds appear,
then the berry bushes or scrub,
followed by fast-growing trees like
poplar. By the time these die, the
original trees are 'taking posses-
sion again, and if the stand is
undisturbed long enough it will
revert to its original condition.
During such a cycle the fertility
is returned to thesoil by lea^ves,
fallen limbs and decaying trees;
says G. W. Michael, Dominion
Department of Agriculture, Ot-
tawa, The humus .content, -
le
content, -le very important, lit inainteened
(C•ontintied tin Page t)
New Standard Screw
Thread
Did you ever try to fit an Ameri-
can nut on a British bolt—or vice
versa? And after you had tried a
pair of pliers and a big wrench
and finally stripped the threads,
d'id you discover that they just
would not fit?
A lot of Canadian boys woks up
to the fact when they wrestled
with machines and parts in the
army, navy and air force during
the last war. The fact that Bri-
tain and the United States had two
different standards. for screw i
threads cost these countries, and
Canada, 'hundreds of millions of
extra dollars.
It was expensive in peacetime
too. Machines made in Britain
and on the continent of Europe
followed the British standard. Ma-
chines• made in the United States
and Canada used the American
standard. Because parts were not
interchangeable, firms in other
countries hesitated to buy Cana-
dian. and American machines. •
The first step in salving what
has become a difficult and costly
muddle was taken in Washington
a few weeks ago when representa-
tives of Great Britain, the United
States and Canada signed an
agreement to standardize screw
threads in the three countries.
Agreement among these nations
for adoption of one standard screw
thread is held' to be one of the
moat important and fundamental
actions they have ever taken joint-
ly.
This business of standard
threads affects a lot more than
just machine bolts and screws—
although they go into almost every
manufactured product. It is hoped
that standardization will extend to
pipe threads, a question which is'
more than usually complicated be-
cause some large firms, such as
shipbuilders, still operate ' with
their own thread forms. There al%
special screw threads and connec-
tions for compressed gas cylin-
ders; there have to be standards
for making those exceedingly small
and fine screws that go into cam-
eras, optical goods, microscopes,
and many small precision instru-
ments. There are sheet metal
threads and moulded plastic
threads. There'are special threads
for studs- And one of the biggest
problems is to resolve the differ-
ence between the British and, Am-
erican methods of measuring and,
gauging threaded) products,.
As an ertample of the confusion
caused by the two standards.
Americanemad:e bomb sights that
were placed in British aircrafthad
to :be re8•tted,,, which caused con-
siderable del'hy.
Looking at a British and an
American bolt side by side, not
Much difference 1seapparent. But
as every engineer knew, the dif-
ferenoe was so real that almost ne
aoi` ew thread made la one country
(Stelo Flashes)
1
would fit anything made in the
other.
The First World War showed
the need for an allied stau•dard.
For the first time in historv, mil-
lions of threaded parts were made
in various parts of the country,
or in different countries, and
these had to interchange with one
another at different assembly
points. An effort was made then
to reach an agreement, without
success. Again, in 1926, a British
mission visited the United States
and submitted a compromise pro-
po`ea1 in an effort to unify the two
systems. But the Second World
War broke out with no interna-
tional standardization in effect.
The great advance in mechaniz-
ation made the problem acute. In
Canada,. the Empire Air Training
Plan was just getting under way
when it became necessary for Can-
ada to manufacture planes in large
numbers. Production was delayed
for months while plans of British
planes were changed to confrm
with engineering requirements of
Canadian plants, particularly in'
regard to screw threads. An
Am�erican B-29, with 225,000 bolts,
might be inactive for days if it
lost a nut, and there were no Am-
erican parts available. British and
American 'gun parts could not be
interchanger, even though, in many
cases, the completed guns were of
identical design. When a British
warship tied up at an American
Pacific port, badly in need of re-
pairs at a critical period in the
Pacific war, parts had to be made
and flown from Toronto because
nothing in the United States would
fit,
Canada, as the country in the
middle, suffered greatiy from the
mix-up. Precious months were
lost early in the war, re -tooling
Canadian plants, from American to
British specifications to make
armaments badly needed by the
Empire's fighting forces.
When the new standard has
been put into practice, it should
open wider fields for Canadian ex-
port trade. For it will means that
machinery will he much more in-
terchangeable in a large part of
the world, and the world will be
brought that much closer together.
It will take considerable time to
put the new system into operation,
for, of necessity, this will have to
happen gradually. First of all,
engineers in sill three countries
will have to be •furnished with
standard designs for in,eorporat-
ing the new screw thread e{recifi-
cations tato their drawings. Then,
new taps and dies Will have to be.
developed for machines making
threaded, parts as government de-
partments and large • industrieo
switch to the new eta.ndard- Fac-
tories making threaded, parts grad-
ually Will turn over more and more
of their production to items made
toto the new etexidard'.