,_ T99

’ for Labradors.

JA_NUARY g 22. 1949

-e'p_,_ ‘TI i i ( Ifau. Despite the fur slump in tho United States due to the mild

and the tremendous vqlumg of raw skins warehouscd. a recent sale of 11,150 silver fox pelts from the ranches o! H0111!" a, Nieman d: Co. was 04% 1°14 by the New York Auction Com- pgny, The report says there was ‘Q94 interest (IIIPIIWQ lhmulh‘ out the sale, principally B0111 "I111- mmg buyers and from European guurcea that wanted the darker varieties. Top price 101 P11011111“ fox. of which there was a limited quantity. was $33-50 1" u" 5km‘ dard varieties the top price W" $18.00.

W Odthfl’

The Seattle, Washington 111*- one of the principal vendues in m, west, saw a fairl)’ aood de- mand for ranch mink. 49% being disposed oi. Fine lots broushl- m... $13.00 to $11-00; 11111111111’ 513,00. sllverblu mink Wll 34% mid gt an average of $10 to W; Kohinur mink was 98% sold 8W- agmg ,5 m g9; Rnyfll pastels were 90% sold, averaging $22 W Wild mink was 06% sold gtdvanclnfl 5%, Top prices for extra 18180 Yukons were $32 to $38; mediums and imam 53g to $26, Muskrat was 69% sold with prices renslns irom 75c to 31-75-

Last week we mentioned an im- parent mink sale that would be hcldpn January 12th and 13th by Lampson. Fraser d: Huth. N-Y- A short report received states that despite a comPBTB-“WIY 118m l!‘ inndance the offering 0! 39-574 silverblumink, raw. WM 40% 1°14- Competition for clear. 118119 med‘ ium goods was keen throughout the sale with prices reported fully m line with, ii not higher than, December 10th sales lcvels. Toll Drioe was 834- D116 1° ""1" °!‘ ierings of this article the trade l1 very selective. Breath of sprint: silverblu. raw. offered 1.116 PEI“-

nutiv sores on rorlcs ccssrcrrc uml

Silver F ox and Mink, Farming

‘¢‘d;‘é.$‘é.‘

$28. or possibly less in 1949.

,or countries, are receiving a. pro-

‘i.

ter silvers, good colors m; ordln. ary colors $12; full silvers. select. ed colors $09; ordinary colors $16.

Reports from all over the Unit. ed States show that fox ranches l" ""5111! 11P- The largest one In New York state recently pelted all its foslas and has the property offered for sale. Now we notice that the Wausau Silver Black Fox Ranch 1n Wisconsin has pelted off over 1.000 foxes and the company l8 Bolng out oi business. The sec- Ntfl-IT. Arthur K. Beyreis. has had a long experience with foxu 11511118 back to when the ranch was established in 1918. It was 1°! 1115111’ liters top Wisconsin ranch. It is a safe bet that the silver fox population of the United States (breeders) _on January lst. 1949. would not be more than one- tenth of what it was five years I30- Bimilarly ranches have cut down all over Canada and it is Predicted that the silver iox pro- duction for Canada will not amount to more than 70,000 pelts

Meanwhile. the Norwegians and Swedish iox breeders. because Q1 the barter arrangements conduct- ed by their governments with oth-

iitable price for their fox pelts. Having some knowledge of the wily ways oi these Scandinavians it is our opinion that they expect to see the Canadian and American fox farmers put out oi business so that they will enjoy a practical monopoly of iox farming and the rewards which will come from it.

One of (the remedies we must have against this situation ii we are to survive is abolition of taxes collected by the federal govem- ment. We trust Finance Minister the Hon. Mr. Abbott will realize the terrible position the Industry is in and help the situation by re- mdving these taxes. At a recent

Sold 100%. The top price 364- The trade desires Breath oi Spring due

I0 their blueness and clearness ofI

i , Sil erblu, dressed. oflcred $585 penl’. sold 30% Top prlcel-was passed which will in due $3050. Asa,“ the “ma: appuredwourse be sent to the Minister

most interested in the clear col- ors. Breath of Spring Bilverblu. drcssed. offered 1.046 Pfilli- 109% sold. Top price $50. ROYBI K Nur. raw, offered 4,167 pelts. 100% sold. Very firm. Top price $1325- Blufrost. raw, offered 5.137 pelts. Sold 90%. TOP price $9. Whits- dressed. offered 2.423 pelts- 93% sold. Top price $57. Strong de- mand. White. miscellaneous. dress- ed, offered 1.292 pelts. Sold 00%. price $18; Royal Pastel. diessodvfofferéd 5,658 'pelts."99%' sold. Top price $53. Very strnns demand. Advanced 10% over re- cent market. Wild mink, offered 11,839 pelts. Sold 75%. Top price $47 for Lake Superior. good colors. Very iirm. Females advanced 10% to 15%. The Silverblu and Wild Mink were compared with our December 10th, 1948 au0Il01l- The balance of the collection was com- pared with the prevailing market.

At the Canadian Fur Auction Sales Company (Quebec) Limited. auction last week, muskrat was a very active fur. Over 00.000 skins were offered. Most oi the buying

m4. I Island Fur Breeders‘

meeting of the executive of the Canadian National Silver Fox Breeders‘ Association a resolution

asking for the removal oi these $889!. and a similar resolution was passed at the Prince Edward Association meeting.

The results of the Silver Fox Sale on Wednesday and Thursday as below will have an encouraging effect all over Canada. It is thought that similar upward ten- dencies may follow in the United States. It would be foolish how- ever "toyloolcftlrflpaying prices to the rancher (or at least another Iyear and even then It depends on how the large numbers of pelts are absorbed.

MONTREAL. Jan. 20—- (Special ito The Guardiam-The Canadian ‘Fur Auction Sales Co., Ltd.. Jan- uary auction of silver iox and mu- tation pelts was concluded here to- day with prices for silvers much improved over the December sale.

The following are the results" Platlnurns 65 per cent sold at an average of $15.03; inferior platin- uma 70 per cent sold at an average oi $11.79; pearl platinums 50 per cent sold at an average oi $13.41; ‘white marked silvers 80 per cent ,sold at an average of $12.42; one

W" 0011B b! 6011"!“ den"! half to three-quarter silvers 86 per

d manufacturers. Some Nova ggotian strings brought ' a top price oi $3.00. Quebecs reached a 12.65. A rather mixed catalogue oi 1.863 blue iox pelts met with sligh demand and finished 25% sold. Top price for Silverblu was $14.00, others ranged from $3.50 to $11.00. Red fox was 70% sold and showed a decline oi 25% from January, 1948. Top price was $5.50 $3.40 for Nova Scollan lots. Top price for Nacooon was $6.50. Top price for skunk was $1.50. -

Anning. Chadwick A: Kiever. Ltd.. cabling from lnndon states that a collection of Scandinavian silver fox was well received at prices showing I096 advance. Can- adian skins met with poor re- sponse; platinas and pearl plat- inums , were completely withdrawn as was a"sm'all mink offering. The official comment by the auction company states-Jthe collection in- cluded very few new-season goods Approximately 05% was sold at an advance of 20%. Canadian skins met the usual disadvantages oi ra- qulring hard currency quota were bard to sell and only Ii Vie sold. although at firm prices. ‘nae small mink collection was with- drawn because of lack of interest. Top prices for half-silvers were $10.50; three-quarter silvers, M40; full silvers $85.00.

A report of the Hudson's Bay Company's aalo which was held in Landon Jan. 10th, appears in

Women's Wear Daily. irorn which these extracts are taken .. Randi mink extra. extra dark no for ones atid_,tvvos; extra darks $1! for ones and twoa: mutation mink silverblu tldz- Kohlrlur $6: silver fox half-slivers $10.60; three-quas-

cent sold at an average of $15.43; iselected full silvers 42 per cent .sold at an average oi $15.29; regu- lar full silvers 65 per cent sold at an average of $13.72; inferior types 92 per cent sold at an average oi $10.96; low grades 100 per cent sold at an average of $4.87. The Itotal offering was 70 per cent sold at an average of $13.08 .

(The above information was sup- plied by Mr. George A. Callback, manager of the fur marketing de- partment, Canadian National Sil- ver Fox Breeders Association, Sum- merside.)

rourma o0 or m anon

LEWIS, Sussex, lksgland —(OP) - The 16-1 members of Lewes’ Halmenny Club looked after their ha/pennles, but the pounds fail- ed u; look after themselves. The club was t» share £204 ($816) In savings and the bills were on the table. with £100 for another club. But the tablecloth caught fire and the money went up i.i smoke.

IUNIOI ITAII

WINNIPEG - (OM-Every Sat- urday during the hockey season a community club here selects three stars from the 90 boys between six and l2 years who play in the tyro league's Saturday games.

COAL FAMINI

MELITIi. Man. — (CP) — A coal strike in Saskatchewan put Malita on short rations recently and several businesses were almost out of fuel when a shipment of coal arrived. Schools were on the point at closing when relief came.

Potatoes

Island.

. h. Telephone sic:

‘l

Prince Edward Island

I Wears Interested-In buying CMI Iota, cII varieties “Sap! and Tobie Potatoes, dt any veil s inc in Prince Edward

We pay top market pricps._'

‘LAVITT ronro co. tro. Charlottetown

\Vatnted

——--—---—3Il

_v__A’l‘_HE GUARDIAN.

- NEWSY

The Merlin

This little hawk. often called the Pigeon Hawk from certain tudes ln its flight. can travel at high speeds with little apparent effort. Like the related falcons, it feeds extensively on birds and its speed is attested by its capture of swallows, and even of the chim- ney swlit! Its strength enable! It to capture and kill meadow larks. flickers, and small doves. Occas- ldnally it kills and eats mice, and large insects more frequently. When not hungry the active lit- tie merlin delights In chevying small birds, just for the fun of it! it loves to show its mastery, threat- ening, but not harming them. Jays. crows, and shore-birds may be its butts ln this game, but when It gets hungry its whole action changes and It kills mercilessly. The merlln frequents wooded areas, where it builds a nest oi twigs and bark, lined with softer materials, only a few feet above the ground. Sometimes it builds in hollow trees. Four or five eggs. creamy white, with splctches of deep brown, constitute the clutch. "Hawks are never abundant, but a fair number visit us every sea- sop," wrote Francis Baln in i891, and the situation is little changed today. The merlln must be count- ed among the rarer hawks.

Merlin or Yigeon Hawk. AOU. 357. Spring and fall migrant-Hobie W. Tufts. Rare, but nests in NB.- Wm. H. Moore. Adult Male: bluish- slate above, with black shafts to the feathers; crown of head dark- er than the cheeks, but chin white. Wings long, pointed. Lower back and rump black; tail long, gray with four black bars. Below buffy on the breast. sides, and lhighs, streaked on the breast, and bar- red on the flanks with black. Fo- males and young, brownish black above; below dusky, tall banded. Length of adults 10 to 13 inches. (NB. No reddish hues on tail in either sex).

Concerning American Colleges

Of late years the tourist season never opens Without one or two American visitors coming In to have a chat. I welcome them for I find them charming in manner and cul- tured in mind, both men and wo- men; and all are Interested in some hobby that makes us akin! I read many Americarfpapers and maga- zines, and many of them say hard things of the British, but my visiting friends are "the soul of courtesy!"

Many of them have sons and daughters at College, but I avoid discussing this, because I am not sure that these institutions are do- ing the best for their students. Those papers and magazines give one the impression that it is bet- ter for the student to be a hero in the baseball field; than to rshine, no matter how brilliantly, in the field of scholarship. A picture showed a retiring “Prexy" (Presi- dent) plcketted with banners in- scribed, "Don’t leave us, Bob"-—af- fectionate perhaps, but disrespect- ful. That same Bob, in a jestlng speech. thought it would be a good idea to give every Infant a Ph.D. diploma, at birth; which I suppose was either a crack at honorary

unearned passes. Another maga- zine. in perfect good faith, present- ed a picture,

people at a kind of picnic. with books lying neglected. (Was the title ironic? I decided it wasn't). Another odd circumstance comes to light. and Universities may not be select- ed from experienced members of any cultural association. If a fam- ous public personage is available. For example a well-known soldier heads an equally well-known Col- lege. I doubt whether military ex- perience fits a man for such a position.

Now a word about the,students. With all the distractions of ath- letics, sports. and other forms of entertainment provided, solid learn- ing ls likely to-nay. must suffer. The holder of a degree, however, has a passport to a Government or Research position, where his real education begins.

A number of young Britons, brought across under scholarships, has sampled preparatory schools or colleges in the U. S. A., and with the naivety of youth. has publish- ed their experlence to the world.

U. S., and returned to his "prep"

place to get an education."

striking difference:

ly Agricola

nttl- I

titles or else at the multitude of

"Studying on the Campus." showing a lot of young

Presidents of Colleges

Each student spent a year in the

college in England. No. 1 thought the schools were "great fun, but no No. 2, among other off-hand practices. learned to call his teachers Jack, Chuck, and Bill, which. he admits, was scandalous from the British viewpoint. l-le also pointed out a at his old

v

NOTES - ' $

school he used to tell the master what subject he proposed to write about; there was no deadline, but the quality of the essay had bet- ‘ter be hlghl In his American _school'he was told to have an es- ,aay. on an assigned subject, ready by‘ Monday morning. "Everybody just dashed off something with the Ileast possible effort." "Students at -——- were just ahoehorned along to graduating." He noted that the boys “talked sex for hours," but had no political Ideas. No. 3 found his schoolfellows could not express themselves on paper-an opinion I have noticed, shared by business- men and expressed in U. S. papers. His schooliellows were surprised, too, that he had studied Greek be- fore he was 12. No. 4, at a prep school for children of rich parents. found the teachers insisting on their own nationalistic opinions. In his home school. he said, the his- tory master told us to find out for ourselves who was right and who was wrong. At another school the boys were apt to regardculture as a sign of decadence, and devotion to learning the sign of a "sissy." There is as much again In the same strain, but space is required for other matters. When these out- spoken youths saw their strictures In cold print two (at least) were struck with remorse and wrote to imply that they didn't mean it that way!

| By the way I forgot to mention that one boy found that his school put on three dances a year ahd he ,"had dates" almost every week. I [cannot do better than conclude ‘these discursive notes with a quo- tation from Bookman, (The Guard- ian, January 8. 1949):

“If lads see nothing in life but

ing that somehow they will drift into a useful place in the world. look them up after twenty years. and you will see that they havc failed to take the long view."

Notes on Sunspot Years

My first contribution to The Guardian was in 1928. on the sub- lect of "Sunspots". it was maxi- mum sunspot period in 1927-8, and I recorded that there was an epi- demlc of milder Influenza. I had In mind. I suppose, the virulent epi- demic of 1918-9. close after sunspot period 1917. Next came the maxi- mum of 1938-9, during which chol- era raged In India and China. In- fluenza was severe in Europe and America: the most notable death. that of Pope Plus XI. It is thought that May 1947 was the climax of the present maximum period, but there was great activity on the sun's surface in 1948, and it is likely to continue this year. To- wards the end of 1948 Influenza be- came rife in Italy and has now spread to France as "Italian Flu." It does not appear to be as deadly as the “Spanish -Flu"--of~1~918.—~-

play and having a good time, deem- |

I have a list of "Sunspot Years" back to 1706, and have traced the Flu epidemics back to 1762. Nearly all the dates are coincidental! One is forced to conclude that sunspots somehow favor the propagation oi the disease. .

(There is an oral vaccine pre- pared by an English laboratory. which is said to be 92 per cent ef- fective against common cold and ilu. I (and some of my friends) have availed ourselves of its help for several years and found that it performed all that is claimed).

The Astronomer Royal says tho frequency - - - of the spots fluctu-

but "this period is not. however. absolutely constant." That is cor- rect: it has varied from 7 to 14 years at times, and it will be seen that the last rnaxima are about 10 years apart.

ed about these phenomena. A Rus- sian scientist, many years ago, ‘dis-

man conduct. Sunspots pour forth an enormous quantity of electrons that cause strong magnetic disturb- ances. These in turn cause notable alterations in man's emotional and volitional centres, rendering him in a sense irresponsible for- his act- ions!

a y:

Look at the Dlotlo

I was listening to a "commercial" the other day. when I was startled by a voice saylng—"Take your cou- pon to the store"-l-le pronounced It "coo-pon" which is as nearly cor- rect as may be. but not what I ex- pected!

I hear speakers use the words “various", "vary", and derivatives and pronounce them VAR-yus. VAR-ie, and so on. I was taught to call them VAIR-yus, VAll-‘l-le. using long a. There has been. in late years. a tendency to shorten the “a", with lamentable results as far as euphony is concerned. l’ have a few more comments to make but my time is upl

la sure and piece your baby chicks at once. Orders preference on shipping dates

Prices hove advanced a

follows:

Pullets Ccckerala

|I 5.

tones-e...-

viien required.

sunrrs

Phone I027

BABY CHICKS y

Unsaxed (Mixed) Chicks

Cockaral chick ‘crdsh token subject to being In stock

orders for your supply of Swift's ore coming in fast and to get we urqe youIto act fost.

lightly and are new quoted as

,.._........,...I7c each each l: each

ease...

.1

usrcnsnv

Charlottetown, P. E. I.

ates in a period of about 11 years. I

There la still much to be learn-i

covered‘ that they Influenced hu-‘

CHARLOTTETOWN

Mix Sand, Soil and Peat for Winter Seed Starter

MIX TIIMQJGIN AND Si".

USE FINEII PARTICLES FOR OP OF LAT IN WI-IIC TO 60W SEED. '

Y1 INCH or FINELY SIFIED MIXTURE.

SPNAGNUM MOSS

MAY BE D B A SUBSTI TE. MUST SE WELL

SIFTED, FINER PARTICLES USED FOR TOP

MIXTURE OF MOSS. SOIL AND SAND.

When garden seeds are sown in-

doors, long before it is safe to be-

gin outdoor operations, much will depend upon the soil used to fill the seed box. If this was not brought inside before the gmund froze in

the fall,

it should be dug. and

placed under shelter where 1t will thaw out gradually.

with considerable heat,

if you try to dry soil quickly, you will

make it very muddy at first. and

lumpy thereafter. This will be dif-

ficult when what you ivant is a

crumbly soil. Slow thawing will d: the work, so do not try to rusn

thing's.

Even though you have taken the best top soil from your garden -~ as you should — it will still need

mixing with sand to make it looser

and humus to increase its water holding capacity. Peat moss or leaf mould will supply satisfactow humus, but do not use manure, even when well rotted, in soil to be used to start seeds. Nor should plant food be used. lest loo much nitrogen be supplied for the health

of the seed sprouts.

l

A third top soil. a. third peat moss or leaf mould, and a third sharp sand, such as masons use in concrete will make a satisfactory mixture. After it. is well mixed pass it through a sieve, about l’. in-fii mesh; and keep the coarser partic- les in a pile, to be used 1n the bot- tom of the seed boxes. The finer soil is then filled in to the lcvel of the box; it will settle quickly.