Cerqgak 4. 1941

' - NEWSY NOTES--

l! AGIIOOLA

packer-sunrise 11v niuram

In the Old Country as ln every other, there are certain acqulsitive persons who are eager to take ad-

the countrys need of ma, A few kinds of golds-food- smrgs principally-are “price-con- mfired» by the British parliament. and y, gar the specula-ors have not been able to find any way of de- feating llle 15W-

Bnt there is an immense variety or foodstuffs, textiles, and other goods which are not price conzroli- ed- and these have been sold at exorbitant prices by one racketecra aforesaid. So many and so loud ill-ere the complaints against. these speculators that in January 1940 sevenwln Price Regulation Com- mmee; were set up to cover the sereniren Defence Regbnr of the 3.5.1.1, Isles; and these committees lrere given power to invesflgate colnlilhinls of over-charging and the likfi‘. It is instructive to glance over the l‘st of personnel of the Ncrh Midland Region. It com- prfres: Sr Douglas McCraith. Soli- cilor (the chairmanl; two house- \\‘l'£‘S, one of whom is a. County Qmlncillor; a Chartered Aw-lulnt» m; e, Trades Un’on official; a nwpnger of a boot store; a director or g, drapery company; a dost-or who is a‘so a County Councillor; a srcrelury of a Cooperative Society and five other persons. The point that interests me is that all the men business men themseflvcs are

out to see that the public is not im- .

posed upon.

There is evidence oi this inten- licu in the statement issued 0y the chairman, and in the way in wh‘ch abuses have already been dealt with. In April 1940, after maldng close investigation of the subject, sir Douglas stated: “Speculation ls rampant. Goods are changnlg ownership many times, like socks and shares without evl-n leaving ire warehouse; people who render no sci-vice in d‘stribution are en- null; themselves at the exiidflw of lhe consumer; prices to the pub- iic have in consequence risen out of all rrcsouabk: proportion and c‘!!- irzbzltezi conskicrably to the increase l ‘he ccst of living. w‘th inevPable

(is. . Czrlcroiizatlons of that. kind do not m"kc a direct anneal to .1110‘: salve

cf justice. so the committee uo will spclufi: instances. A . 1lClUl'Cl', it reports. sold cans of scrip at 6's. 6d. a dozen, or in our money, i3 cents apiece. They reached the retail shopkeeper at 12s a dozen, and he sold them to

the lblo at 14s. 6d a dozen, or 20c Bctlvccn the manufacturer he vorckccpcr came six (or

scvelli .:."e men who bought in succession and cacn sold at a slight advance. Middleman N0. 3 actually bouillt llzaln as middleman N0. b Another importer sold tinned mar-

mxllcdc at 8 l-2d ll7cl a tin. The _

retailer bought it at 2s.9d a tin, and sold to the public at 3s. 6d labaut Bicentsl. in between the importer and the consumer came three lnzer- meliiaries who hud forced the pure "l1 by 1115i 67 cents! As these items did not come under the price-con- trol acts there was nothing iilelzal about the transaction, for under the ex'stlng law there is nothing t0 stop one wholesaler from selling to another.

In vicw oi this Sir Doiglas out; gcstcd that the remedy was a sim- lile one. Mfllllllllfilflll"?! must sell to wholesalers, who mav only se.l to Yflflllers. If a whoesaie" sells lo an- other wlloesaler he must be put out 0f business. Moderate suggerzions llldwll. in the circumstances But Lord Woclton the Britisn Food c°nil°1lef did not congratulate Sil D0llglas on his report and the Under-Secretary for Food said, in the House of Commons thus Sir Dfllltzlrvs disclosures were "most lilllllolwr." The Ministry of Food llcfllsed Sir Douglas of Falsehood. Willis that the disclosures had been "i036 by the Ministry and had after- wards been claimed by his corn- nlltlee. One is reminded, at th‘s iiolnl, of the treatment handed out l0‘lll8 Hon. Mr. Stevens oi the PPM Spreads Commission fame; but from my latest readings Sir 3011810 is sticking tohls guns. The raison d'etre oi any government is 1° 010mb lls subjects; and it is no llPll! t0 democracy when the ruling body falls down on its lob in order to favor a special class.

GARDEN NOTES

Jlere has been no “blossom-end rot" amongst the tomatoes this year, but there has been trouble in another direct‘on. A k'nd of water- lilksed ‘condition has set in, in most oi the fruit, which is quite hflfd where attacked. Th‘: condi- “ml Spreads quickly and ruins the fruit market. Nevertheless the “m”? P00 has given more satis- faction lhan any other in the gar- dfn W: year. ‘they are however. Bbout three weeks late ‘n ripening. The wild "Riverbank Grapes," too. are ripening slowly. though there in l good crop. This is a cold bleak 1110i on the North Shore and being ernoserl to all northerly winds. Mills mttst be pretty hardy to wall up to it. ,

T“! soybeans were flattered by ti“ We or Sept. mil but are "ffrirg at leastw per cent of i "l- fro. This is the worst your rhcy rave experienced one so for.

True was a good artiew describing

iyflr value and uses in the Family ‘Pld of 580C. 14th.

T“ wet weathefof luring and "miller was favrgable to the in- "we of the um by which u.

lIllBB-ht a kind of shell-less gngll very destructive n; plants, The“ annuals feed on the green tissue of “ll/es which they min off. leaving only the network of "veins". The navy beam suffered most, though plants were attacked. Owners of rock gardens ought to examine ‘he underside oi low-growing matted Dlants and kill off any slugs found If one doesn't mind the look oi it, a few short pieces of old damp board ‘aid on the soil will attract the slugs to shelter underneath, Then examine each morning and eliminate the culprits!

3W1!!! l- ifihaiderable quantity of green tomatoes, but no pumpkin; I deeded to fill part oi the sealers with Green Tomato Marmalade. He" is the recipe and it is good. Green Tomatos 6 lbs; Appls 2 lbs; two oranges and one Lemon. Cut all up fine, plaoe in cooking pot, add G lb! white sugar and snow go stand overnight. In the morning '90]! Vi??? slowly for 4 hours or until thick and jelly-like. Bottle and seal. A dmnle recipe, but me Marmalade s voted excelent oy all who've sampled it.

The Broad Beans are out and "Hide into sheaves for ripening. The illlflllly 0f the seed is going to be 800d. ' had a note about those beans a few weeks ago, which 1 llflDe readers have preserved

A visitor who knows a great deal about gardening, seeing my line or Kohl Rabi said to me: "I wonder why the people oi this Province dont take to that vegetable." It is strange. for in Europe it is looked upon as one of the aristocoats oi the dinner table. It tastes like cauliflower, and is twice as easy. to grow. But if allowed to grow too large‘ it becomes woody and that may have led to its rejection. I use the "roots" when about two inches in diameter, and sometmes pare the woody bark off the basal part. The "roots." looking like little green apples are then boiled till tender.

Pi-lmDkins are scarce up here out vegetable Marrows are not. so I tried to find out ii they lent them- selves to making perserve to take the Place of “pumpkin jam." Tlley were diced, sugar was added. and the whole left all night in a warm place. Next morning essence of lemon, and ground ginger was added. "to taste". Then the mixture was cookedtill it th‘ckened. It came out just like pumpkin preserve. only rather paler in color. I used three lbs. white sugar to four lbs marrow. It would seem that the Marrow is hardler than the Pumpkin, and if illared I P1009 to grow marrows next year.

NOTES ON TIIE JUNIPERS

Our good Mlnister of Agriculture. Hon. W. H. Dennis. who is always on the look-out for something to benefit the farmer or his family. has lately drawn attention to what may prove a new industry in cer- tain localities. Mr. Dennis has been in correspondence with a manu- facturrlg firm in N. Y, who are offering 30 cents a pound for Juni- per berries. Tneir need must r-e great for last year's wholesale price was very lltle more than that; and stocks must be low s‘nce all Europ- ean supplies are cut off.

Going back almost to the beginn- ing of the “Notes orl Island Plants" I find the Junipers alluded to thus: "We have at least two species cf Juniper, the .last of our Plnaceae, and we must be careful to disting- uish them, since the popular iorc gives the name "Juniper" to what is really a very different plant. the Larch. TlieHIuniper, however. Ls a prostrate evergreen shrub, bearing. not cones, but bluish-black berries, with a bloom and a resinous taste. This berry in spite of its turpentine tasted was eaten by the Indians. perhaps for its diuretic properties. The Juniper berries used in the manufacture oi Hollands gin. are gathered and sent to that country from Germany and Italy."

The “New Flora of Prince Edward Island" tells us the names of the two species. The one is the Alpine Juniper (Juniperus cornmunis l... var montnna Alt.) The other Ls the Savln (J. llorisontalis Moenohi. There may be other species or vu- ioties, for no really systematic re- search has been carried out in this genus. I am told that these plants are to be found in abundance on Rustioo ("Robinson's") Island, now part of the National Park.

I should not class the Junijer as rare, but think it may be abundant only in certain favored localities. It seems to prefer dry exposed hill- sides.

WHY ‘I'll! BEST!

"Why is it," said one of the company. "that the English llWlY! want the best? Take the bacon now; they call for the best. when there must be thousands who can- not afford to pay the brim‘- "well," said I, to banter him. "00!’- haps they have heard 0i the Old theory "We are what we ear." (I must tell you of that some day l laid.‘ "But seriously. I think tlla‘ they an only wanting w set “D I certain ltcndard, fair to both lid”. and both unit's: to stick t0 il- m‘! you know that well on to a century ago there was a large export of oats to the Old Country? It might bu" lasted longer but some inaufllilll! persons helped the oats our by en- closing roan in the racke- ‘PM orders non ceased. But you are rlcht in supposing that there are many who cannot pay the price dr- manycd. wlrcn ior bacon. is said to

bceonwhenlwoslutintown-

by t; lb, 1 priced sliced ‘I! can per ‘M

IABSIIFIELD.

>- coalslclivalrlolu I

A WEEKLY OOLUIVHQ OF PRACTICAL OPINIONS 0F Till VITAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE USES AND ABUSES OI NATURAL RESOURCES BY MI?- LUDLOW JENKINS

Th!) buffs-sills 0F SKUNKS

(By Dorr D. Green and Ernest M. Mills, Biologists, DlVlSlCIl of pre- dator and Rodent. Control.)

The stripped skunk (genus Merl-tits), which is wdely dis- tributed c-ver the Urktcd States. and lhe smaller spotted skunk

. (genus Spilcgale), the range of wnich is r;str,c.ed largely to the more southern part of the country,

are members of the weasel famil and hence have habits that are s ilar

Skunks are mostly beneficial to man. They feed on insects and grubs to a large extent, and llr: excellent msusers. In the cooler parts of their range their economic value alone as producers of f;ne fur entitles them to a large meas- ure of protection. Occasionally. however, when they take up their abode to: mar human habilaLons or hen they develop a taste for p311 try, it beccrnes necessary to remove one or more of the-m, Such individuals can be dlopsed or with- out waging a general war on all skunks

HABITS OF SKUNKS

Skurlks are chiefly nocturnal. coming out at night to scck their focd. which consists of grubs, 1n- sects, small rodents, carr.on, and such plant matenal as soft fruits, berries, unripencd c r11, and mush- rooms. They may at tunes rakcl birds‘ eggs and fledgling, but since’ thcy can not cl‘mb well, their de- preciation; are restricted to nests situated on or c.o.e to the ground.

Despite their snort legs, skunks may travcl consderable dzslances in their nightly foray; after feud.‘ Their strong plantigrade feet are equipped with clslvs well adapt- ed for digging in soft so.1s in which their burrows are .cmellmes made. Generally, rather than dig an en- tirely new den, skunks choose a convenient hole and enlarge ll Frequellty a cavily in a rock pie serves as a urn. Often skunks tak: up their abxl: undtr thz- flucr of a summer cottage, falmhouse. or outbuilding, where their presence may be a matter of conczrn and unpleasantness to the owner

NUISANCE AND DAMAGE

Where skunkI are numerous, rural and suburban dwellers SDlllU- tinncs find llVm a nulsallcc. One of the chief causes of complaint against them is their rend ncy to den under the flco.s cf lYCUSES. out- houscs, garages. an: other bu lli- lng: and in other places rraz- hu man habitatlons. Flequcnily a dsn is occupied by a number of skunks. and the penetrating, nausicus orl :- omanatlng frcm such a place is then highly obnoxious.

The charge is often made that skunk; kill poultry anti do. eggs, As already mentioned, n e-vzr, skunks are not go d ciimbcks and therefore am limited to pclli- try that roost on or near the ground and toeggs in nests sill-nit- ed near tllc ground. A skllllk ual- ly lakss but a singe bil'd at a time but once it l'l‘lllS the habit. it ma‘: return to the poultry y-ard time after time. Such a gu'lt_v lndlv ll- ual should be dkspcscd of. Upon

it was 41 cents per 1b. (I didn't. ruy 1113K)

But in the happy days when bacon ran one shilling to one and fourpence per lb (25-32 cents), S‘r Thomas Lipton ran several stores in Newcastle on Tyne. I-Ie was the Tea Man, you will remembenbut he added butter and bacon to his stock-in-trade. His stores had u custom which was of great interest to the poorer folk. Suppose you went in for a couple of 00111111.: of bacon, the shopman took a bijz knife and sliced away till llc thought he had enough. Tllcn he, put it on the scale and if he had cut a couple of ounces too much he cut that off and threw it into the "Bacon-end Box." As Upton did an immense trade, these snip- pets amounted to ‘a considersnlc quantity by Saturday night when they were retailed. late on, to the poorer people, at the low price of 8 1-2d (or 13 cents) per lb.

There were no expensive sliv g machines then, and the sides of bacon were rolled into cylinders and tied with thick twine. I mull: this fashion has died out: at any rate I've not seen any bacon like that lately. The Bacon-end Box. they tell me, is still to be found in some towns in the U. S., and mav- be in Britain too.It is a good instit- ution and answers one of your questions about the people who cannot pay the price for the bin."

A FRAGIIANT PAEONIA

Some time ago Mr. L. H. Brehaut. of Murray River P. E. !., sent me some blooms of a fragrant. n-lony which he had originated, and which, in accordance with custom. he had named after one of the family "Beth Brehaut." The Llooin was intense deep crimson, of good shape. and highly perfumed. Many plants. though fragrant. require one to be close at hand to enjoy it: verv few plants" waste their sweetness" to any distance. The Beth Brenaut Peony is one of these. few; and I have a very distinct ljl-collerion of the delicious rose like scent passing: from one room to who other when the door was opened. I also recolie -r telling Mr. Brehaut that he ought. f0 multiply his plant and put it nn the market. I-Ie has attended to lhe first advice l.‘ know. s‘nce he has sent me a root-cutting alone with hi5 good wishes: for which I tender ‘ill-n my best thanks. I hope Mr Brehaut ls now able to put the peony on the market: it is a late: gong than the crimson peony so often seen. and so extends the peony season-a. feature which will 5e npprvcilhd by all gardeners.

l

‘mals can min en '

Meagan-tn, Ill/WEVGI‘, 1t. will fre- qllel 1y be fcu.:d that the real culprits ilre wsrszl. or nllllks, or cvcn rats, all of which are adept climbers and kill tar mzre ruth- lcssly,

Their fondness for insects causes skunks to make depredations upon beahivcs and bee-keepers complain that llie ju‘cy larvae as, wed as the adults are devoured.

Skunks occascnally dig notes in lawns and grassy merdwws to which. they are attracted by heavy infestations of cut-worms and oth- er grubs. As such areas are thus

THE (‘NARI ()'|"|'F'l'fi\\"\l

made rough and unsightly the properly cwnezs object, but it is plflbflblg that the skunks are really rendering them a valuable service in ridriing the ground of rue in- jurious insests.

Dogs seldom can resist the temptation to inve=tigate the tra‘l c1 a skunk. but all encounter usual- ly ends disastrcusly fcr the dog, it beccmm: well scmited.

SIGNS 0F TIIE PRESENCE 0F SKUNKS

Shallow pits l or 2 inches deep and 3 or 4 inches across lflfllCillP the presence of skunks, T‘..e'c pits are partclllarly SDJSILCUOLIS late in fall when frosts have laid tire vegetation kw. Droppings of skunks, rvhich are usually distin- guishable from those of mo"t other llitfltnals of simular size because tllcy cinaist largely of cliitlnous insrct coverings and the undigested seeds c-f berries, are found alcng trails and near donning places. Inhobitsd burrows are readily d's- cernible: they are free c-i spider webs and often mit the distinctive skunk odor. A laurrow that. is in u=e shows evidence of the rubbng

the animal's bidy against time cntrance as it pass9= in and out. skunk hairs left clinging to small roots or other projections and tracks of the animal along trails and in the soft soil around burrows may also frequently be seen.

PREVENTIV E CONTROL

Because --f their value. rather than to destroy skunks needlessly, they should b2 prevented frcm es- frlblishfilg themselves in places win. c they w’ll lrccmo a nuisance. If tllry are numerous. it is well to seal all cpsuinz: in the founda-

ticns cf garatzcs. porches and nut-l

buildings through which any small mammal might enter. Skunks are not efflccnt burrowers; hence they can nftsn be (Psccuragcd frcm den- uing and dryer‘. awry bv making den stag (lfPl-ult to f‘ud.

vliwcn skunks are found under buildings. they can usufly be driv- cn avray with the use of repellents. Naphthaltrle flakm or moth balls are scmetfmes safsfacloiw for thii purpose. About a pound cf the fiakfs or of the nloifi bolls shculi be vlarczi in m.“ d'n and scattered about ii_ I-lcusclicld ammonia also ‘s sugzcslcd as a repellent, but the quantity rmlvrcd €s too arr-at and it the: not last lcng. After time skunks have departed, all fattening; t-hrcllgll which the ani-

'3

a m B‘ o E. n. U‘ (J

table mater- arrs, or wire net-

ricscd with scm ial. as cement». b:

l tlr: y.

Sskunks damaging lawrjs can be indirectly controlled by rrdd ng the lawns of grubs and other insects.

PROTECTIVE LAWS

Mcsi: States nr-lv nroirct skunks by law during the greater part of tine year but usually permit an open season in fall. If. however. skunks nrcve in be dctrW-vlentrll or injurizus to property, ‘he owner or occupant can u ually obtain a permit from the state to control them. Persons wshng to take skunks should familiarize selves with local and state ordlances infomnation cvnccrning which may be e-bftfned from garre wardens or from official- of the Slut" some dirrnrtmcnt. the office of which is usually in the State capflai.

Prairies enjoy Bigger cash income

OTTAWA. 2-40?) -—Cash incolne of prairie farmers during rile 1940.41 crop voar ended last July 31 lvas the best in more than a. decade. the Dominion Bureau

of Statistics said toda

y. The report said receipts during.

the present crop year will be in- fluenced by sharp reduction in marketings of the 1941 wheat crop. but this would be “partially offset" by further expansion in livestock production. coupled with hzrzher prices,

Cosh income from sale of farm products on the prairies for the 1940-41 crop year was 5410222000 the ‘argest since 1929-30 and 10.9 per cent above that of 1939-40.

Compared with the average of the five years 1935.36 to 1939-40. when drought oft-an affected cron nrodtlction. the 1940-41 cash in- come figure was 43.3 oer cent higher. the bureau said.

Use Milzrd’: for sprains.

IIRINGING UP FATHER

l as well as stockers and zeeders. con-

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wliilllll.l.ilili_§lsfi_liss_

Market Report

S UMMARY

With the third quarterly quota on heavy Canadian cattle Ell4lbl€ to enter the Unncd States at the reduced rate of duty 9£_.)]Jl‘(lflCl‘.Il‘|'; fuifllllnent, expou. bug-n- were ex- ceedingly cautpls during the post week. The effect was immediately noticeable on weight-l steers, cows and bulls, the Jasse, ordlnaiily in demand for shipment 5011.11. From iniormat on available it would .111- pear that aprnximalt-‘v 47.l/u0 cattle crossed the bord-l from July 1st to September 18th out of an eligible quota of 51.720 head. But- cher cattle for the domestic trade,