takes jiat

Weir sores on

couuecrec wrm Silver Fox Farming

TOPICS

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readers will remember that ‘mm years ago a suit was start- “, by omar Brager—Larsen to en- deavor to have the United States government customs department declare platinum fox to be other than silver fox so that they would 3,, in duty free. case arose "our the bringing in to the United states of several hundred Norweg- m, pmlnum pelts which averaged "ll over . The government oollected its duty and Omar Bra- ‘ef-{JXSEII on behalf of the Nor- wegian shippers entered a protest. m we will be docketed again in gotober oi this year.

gr, L. J. Oftlelly. President of u“ American Fox Breeders’ Assoc- iation, gave a very fine address at the annual meeting and conclud- es follows: "It would be my belief that on return to normalcy that the United States will cori- tinlie as one of the larger. ii not the largest, fur centres of the’ world and as such our studies of ible export against the time of normalcy should go beyond the limitation oi the United States and South America in belief the war dgfllimmfiflb in “' " Ii will (ind u“ process of distribution entirely different from that which we have experienced t0 this time in our lives, with any city of the world l potential market not over sixty hours by air from the United

States.‘

one oi the most successful breeders of new mutation minks in a recent interview stated the following which should be true of fox mutations also. "From my ob- servations on breeding these muta- tions for the past five years sever- sl facts stand out. When two sirnil- arly marked adults are bred te- gether on tire average over so per cent of the offspring will be muta- tion animals oi like colored pat- terns. We have found. also, that by breeding two t0B¢ther on several occasions we have produc- ed mutation males that left only mutants regardless of whether they were bred to standard or ynutant females. We consider these males to be valuable animals. Succeeding generations of mutant to mutant will undoubtedly produce a higher percentage of marked kits. By crossing a mutant male with a standard female 5o percent of the offspring on the average will be mutann marked like their sire while the rest of the litter will be brown. Already we are working on the possibilities of an entirely new mutation by crossing our stra with the silver blue and other new types. Our experiments to date lead us to believe that; this is the be- ginning of an entirely new field for mink ranching in the future.

Michigan Fur News reports that e ranches cut down last season to only one-third of 1942 but most ranches kept about the same num- ber of breeders as last year though from of them increased the num- ber of breeders. The ,. roentage oi increase is up a little on one-third of the ranches, definitely down on one-quarter and the balance are holding their own with last veal‘. The average percent of increase for all parts oi the state oi Michi- lan as reported stands at 126 per cents or slightly over 2 1-2 pups per female, This is less than last your and when coupled with a 17 rcent decrease in breeding stock t means fully 25 percent less pro- duction than last year. Michigan is next to Wisconsin, the largest fox Producing state in the great re- public. so probably we can take its VYUKDlCCIOII as symptomatic of the other states, and that would mean I ‘ ‘ number of pelts going on the market this coming season by around 25 precent. It is pro- bable that the same holds true in Canada though no figures are ob- i-ainible.

We are‘ now in the month oi Alliwsl. a time oi year when it is important that (he foxes be fed liiht and kept right with a view V.‘ producing the best possible pelts 101‘ marketing the coming season. 355111111: this we are presenting to our readers an autlroratitlve article hi Dr. c. K. Gunn of the Experi-

fur hair and reached full grglthmihgulbewe? ca‘: glgilaedded in the lklfi is found w’ mauevoid of Rigment. The coloring e1’ has a passed out into ‘he hair shaft, which represents (M, portion oi the hair above the skin, while the hair root. or the pgfl; em. W“! l" the skin. is seen to be translucent and without ' ‘This °hfll18e accounts for the s...‘ llzlgmggted appearance oi prung

91"")! the Period oi Rrowth of fuir hairs. the black pigment; or muglirllsg matter continues down m the roots oi the fur hairs and

e skin is unprirne. It is the mass- ed effect of these pigmented hair wkllrichtllli/Isea unprime pelts

e c arac er call i n apwarmm v psme ted

Biol fur is chieil o

two kinds oi iur Buard fur and under-iur. The coar. oer guard fur covers the underfur and prevents it from matting in the fully iurred pelt. In a study of Irowth of fur. Buard hairs are found to Pmede that oi the und- eriur over the body e1 m. “m However. the growth of the new coat of fur in the autumn does not take place iinultaneously over all body surfaces oi the fox but follows a definite sequence.

Usually the new fur appears iirst on the belly (ventral) side of the animal and continues up the gldeg oi the body and finally along the back- The last areas oi the body on which Erowth of the winter fur takes place are along the middle line oi the beck and at the nape oi the neck. Consequently, since the fur reaches its full growth in the prime phase. therefore the re- gion at the nape of the neck oi the fox is the last area of the body surface to become prime.

However. as growth of the under- fur lags behind that of the gunrd fur. the prime state is not attain- ed untii the underfur has reached its maximum density and growth at the back of the neck in the fox. This fact serves as a very useful guide in the examination oi live foxes to determine whether or not. they have reached the prime state. Examination oi the skin oi this body area by parting the fur will usually show the presence or sh. sence oi pigmentation in the leath- er. In the prime condition the leather is a clear flesh color and upon miscroscopic examination oi the root ends oi a few hairs pluck- ed frcrn this area, they will be {pond to be devoid oi pigmenta-

on.

Pmm s knowledgg of the sequ- ence oi the growth oi the fur and therefore oi the priming process over the body oi the fox, we know that if the area at the nape oi the neck of the fox has reached the prime state the rest oi the pelt must already be fully iurred. The priming process. however, does not usually take place as early 1n the season in pup foxes as in adult animals. Studies carried out at the Dominion Experimental Fox Ranch showed that in groups oi pup foxes receiving the same diet and housed under comparable condition, prime- ness occurred about 3 to 4 weeks later than in adult foxes.

It has also been noted that cer- tain strains of foxes prime earlier in the season than others. Heavy feeding of meat tends to force the growth oi iur hair, particularly rhe guard fur, while the cereal portion of the ration tends to fatten foxes and favor s. denser growth oi un- derfux. Ii d fox ration contains too high a proportion oi cereal early in the furring season, the foxes become overfat and the undcrfur grows at the expense oi the guard iur, giving rise to a wooly pelt with thin leather that tends to break

open readily and is deficient in guard fur hairs. Ideal conditions are attained

when a balanced growth oi guard and underiur takes place and the fur reaches the prime state before it begins to go off color. Color in fox pelts is affected by several fact-

rnenial Station. Sumrncrside, in“ "Q90- "Culhr, Primeness. High Priced Fells".

"Color in fox pelts is affected by hasteuiuo or retarding priming. Ideal conditions, according to Dr. 5W1". arr- aiizslned nherr a balanc- fd growth of guard and underfur place and fur reaches a prime .c.befero going.oif color. Here b valuable suggestions on how to grtain this desired growth. . . . ‘Wflbly the two most important ‘mils which determine the value g! ’°X pelts are colour and prime- m- By the term prlnreness is meant that the fur is fully grown 211‘ mature and that the leather is Near flesh colour without any of the ha°‘b|"°k pigmentation character- " 0f vnprlrhe pelts. .

mm a study of- the growth of tar hairs, it has been found that ,9 YWnR hair first appears as a ldiekmenied wedge-shaped structure “WW situated rh the fox skin. is soon elongates into a typical

a‘

i914 season.

Bullets available.

i

"WANTED"

We require a number of flocks of Barred Rock ""1 New Hampshire hens to supply our" Hatchery for

Please iarlvise number of one year old hens also

u Your prompt attention will be appreciated for FLOCK LISTING AND TESTING.”

Swifts Chick Hatchery

ors. some oi which are common with those hastening or retarding the priming process. Certain diet- ary factors are known to have a definite tendency to cause fox fur to go off color. Among these the feeding oi fatty fish such as srnclts, caplin, mackerel and herring have been found to cause the fur to lose its Jet black color and to _as- sume a rusty hue. Fishmesl naa been nroven to lighten (h; color of fox fur, particularly the underfur, giving the animals a grey appear- anoe.

The heavy feeding oi horse meat and whole milk have also been suspected oi forcing the growth of fox fur arid shortening the per during which the fur is prime be- fore the color deteriorates. Other environmental agencies which are known to cause off colored pelts are ultra violet rays of in the presence oi moisture. Thus foxes which are housed in pens ex- posed to the rain and sunshine usually have pelts of inferior color

i

THE LITTLE TABLE (S)

Last week we left Simon Eyer consulting his wife about the pup. (‘hide of a cargo oi linen which a Greek trader had for disposal. She h"! mlflllfid to get the story of the 5h1l>wreck and the salvage of the B00415 out O1 him, and he told her that the purchase (if he could nc- °°mplish t)’ would make my self Lend Maier and thee a lady." “Now 5°11 1181p you‘ (quoth she) "I pray God make us able to pay every man l!“ Own. that we may live out of debt and danger: and drive the woolf frcfn the doore, and I desire no more.’ In spite however oi these most laudable words a wveious and ambitious spirit began to tug at nor 11118811180011; she began to reckon the money she had saved up. but —~ Alasse. wife (said Simon) all this comes not neere that matter": I (whips-re it would do some good in buying some hides of leather. but in this thing lt is nothing, for I hear that whosoever‘ will have this linen (which is rare) must: lay down three thousand pounds ready money. Yea wife, and yet thereby he might get six thousand pounds profit "

By this she. too. could scarce find time to eat her supper for llllnklh! of the six thousand Dpllnds: so when they had supt and given God thanks. says the n15- torian. she began again to prompt her husband. “I pray you 00mg hither, I would speak a word with you," (says shee): “that man is not alwayes to be blamed for sometimes taking counsell of his wife: though Womcns wits are not able to com- prehend the greatest things, yet in doubtful matters they oft help on I! suildPn." Simon asked phat she Was driving at? "In truth (quoth she) I would have you to pluck up a mans heart and speedily chop up a bargain for these goods you talk of."

To Simon's objection that he had not three thousand pence let alone threelthousand pounds, she answer- ed: ‘Tush, man; what of that? Every man that looks another in the face knows not what he has III his purse. No doubt the merchant will be content to stay a moneth for his money or at. the least three weeks. Now I would have you take John (i. e. Jean) the Frenchman with you to this Greek and drive a sound bargain. with good discre- tion, ior the full ira ht of the ship; there upon give hm halfe a dozen angels (coins) an earnest, and eight and twenty days after the delivery of the goods contract in give him the rest of the money.”

"But woman (quoth hee) dost thou imagine that he woudl take any word. and deliver such n maggot goods upon no better security?"

"Good Lord (quoth sire) have you no wit in such a case? Ile tell you what you shall do: tell lrim that you bargain not for yourself but in behalf oi one of the chief slderrnen in the City, but beware in any case that you do not leave him your own name in writing."

Simon praised her wit and told her that she was worthy to oe a lady. but what would happen if the Greek be desirous to see the alder- man to talk it over?

She was prepared for that: "Now, sweetheart. the alderman shall be, thine owne self. Let John the Frenchman go with thee in the morning, and go thou in thy doublet of sheepskin, with a smuched face, and thy apron before thee, with a foule band about thy neck. and a Breasie cap on thy head, and bid John tell the merchant that the alderman will be with him in the afternoon to complete the bargain."

Such a garb. in Simon's opinion, would do him no credit, and make the merchant doubtful of dealing with him: but she argued that John could tell the Greek that he was a very honest man (as was the truth) and that his working clothes would comwnnd respect, as being no show- off. ‘Ihen she unfolds the rest. of her little plot: brit Whether she really conceived it. or whether it had its origin in the fertile imagin- ation of historian Delonev one can- not be sure at this date. Her plan was this: none of their household was to be privy to their intent. so that they would dine at her cousin's John Barber's, in St Clement's Lane. whore she would have every- thing ready for Simon to imper- sonate an alderman: the barber would crrt‘ his lrnir. and fashion his brrshv heard to the grove trim of an aldermarfs Then he was to strip off his "common weeds" and pin on n fair doublet of tawny satin, breeeches of black satin. etc. etc., the extraordinary particulars whereof must be omitted for con- sideratinna of space. Thus attired, with Jchn Barber- posing as his man, (very neat, and fine in his apparel) he was to visit the merch- ant, and deliver him his promissory, note," and so come home." A51, neither party could understand the’ other, there need be no conversation 5 to give the plot away. The next day he was to tell John the French- man that the aldemian had visited the merchant. and bid him go ccm- mand that the goods be brought, to London. In the meantime he (Sir-non) was to give notice to the linen drarers of the commodities he had coming. to those kept in covered sheds. Similarly. it is found that, in sheds which have wire floors there is less staining of the belly fur from urine and ammonia fumes than on board floored pens.

However, some cutting or chafing of the fur around the hips takes place in wire floored pens. This can be reduced to some extent by using I inch mesh wire, and by bedding the wire floors with hay or straw during the furring sea- son. The bedding. however. must be kept changed regularly or it will become soiled with urine and feces and will defeat the purpose of the sanitary wire-flcorcd pens.

Where labor is scarce it would be advisable to omit such bedding and the alight chafing of the fur caused by tha bare \v'rc would be more than compensated for by; clecrriers in color" of th- fur of the relts taken from these foxes. whori- foxes are iurred out. on wire hot- tnmed pens care should be taken

to sec that they are riot too draity.

- NEWSY NOTES 7

NINA

It is doubtful whether anybody could transact business 1n such fashion. in the sophisticated. London of today, but in those simpler and more adventurous times the little plot worked to the letter. The "aldermaw took dellyery or the goods, which (as has already been stated) were rare and at a premium: Simon turned them over to the diapers, who were glad to get them and paid cash. T/ren Simon paid the Greek merchant, and found himself with a neat profit of six thousand pounds odds, say thirty thousand dollars. No wonder that Simon appreciated his good lady's counsel as will presently appear. The historian says that this gain turned him from shoernaking to trading." having (by God's blessing)

many a prosperous voyage, whereby The

his riches dariie increased." Plant for Naming

In answer to Mrs . R ., King's County. the plant which reached me by mail last week is the Bladder Campion, silene latifolla. As a weed in hayficlds and pastures it can be a great nuisance. since it. ls perennial growing from a running rootstock which sends up fresh stems. Like all of its class it pro- duces abundancc of seed and quick- ly spreads by this means. It is readily known by its inflated calyx (whence its common name); but here is a short description:-

Silene laiifolia (formerly called S. inflatrr). Bladder Camplorr. Perennial herb branched from the root, stems to 4.5 dm. high. erect. Leaves opposite, ovate or lanceolatc, acute, pale green. Fl. White num- erous in cyrnose panlcles often drooping; corolla 2 cm. broad petals 5, biild. calyx globosc, inflated, a- bout 12 mm. long. 5-toothed, veined. Seed capsule with 5 teeth.

This Cainpion is widely distribut- ed. being found in Europe, North Africa, the Himalayan regions, and is naturalized on this continent Its wide distribution has given it a

in

varety of names: White Behen, White Bottle, Spatlings. Herba articular-is (of the lrerbals); Car-

millet. and Behen blanc, in France: and several others.

Johnson, in his "Useful Plants of Great Britain" (1862), says that the young shoots resemble green peas in taste and make a very good vege- table for table when boiled. In 1685 the crops in the island oi Minorca (Spain) having been near- ly destroyed by locusts, this plant afforded support to marry of the inhabitants. Another writer says that the leaves are cooked and used as food throughout the Levant. Thus far" my notes; but if the cri- quircr will consult “Farm Weeds of Canada" (1909) (Public Library) she will thrrc find mcthods of con- trol. as well as a colored plate (No 22) of this plant.

Seeds of Columbine

I have for distribution to read- ers. a small quantity of seed oi the Copenhagen variety of Columbine. A, “ ‘ glandulosa. It differs from the ordinary European Columbine in that the flowers are larger. showier, and considerably earlier. In color it ls dart; piri"plish blue Sorvn now in n box and protected by a covering of spruce (or prefer- ably fir) for" the winter, the seed- lings should be transferred to per- mrrnent quarters in the spring. Those taking advantage of this oi- fer, must enclose a self-addressed envelope.

Odds and Ends

How to sit. In n rccoirt issue of The Guradian there appeared in article dealing with different loot- troubles. One sentence in particular struck my cyc: "Always sit with feet resting squarely on the Ground or floor" (1 forget which). The point, I take it, is flint this dis- tributes what strain there is, equally over the muscles and bones of the feet and ankles Very good; but I recall on old habit of sitters teet- ering urrgrncefully on the hind legs cf n choir. Such chair" lcgs are usually worn in a sharp edge and will make a crescent-like dent in n wooden floor‘, or cut through linoleum. The back of the chair, too was under" a greater" strain than was necessary. Happily this old custom is first dying out.

Found Wanting. The “uncrring weather guide." attributed to the astronomer" Hcrsclrcll, and based on the changes of the moon. has been "weighed in the balance and found wanting." We should have had fair v/eaiher for" the rvesk following last quarter‘ (cu Jilly 23rd) but there was rain on the 25th, 28th, and (very heavy) on the 30th. as there was a great dcal of hay cut. thil was a serious matter for farmers. Personally I cannot see how the time of the lunar change can af- fect weather conditions at all. It is a very different, matter when the moon and the sun are in con- junction or opposition. (new or iull moon); after centuries of experi- ence. mankind has observed that the tides are strongly influenced at these times — arid perhaps the wea- ther, though as far as my reading goes, this has not yet been in- vestigated. v