.m‘

NATTY PLOWING RUFF Is Lieutenant Governor W. J. MacDonal

pictured here while attending the mat chcs at Dundaa last melt with Major Earl MacLeod. his aide-decamp.

’ also did work 0

dan

much less glamorous employ- ment.

A few foxes still remain and most of the surviving foxmen gather in Charlottetown each autumn for a fox exhibition that still continues. though the fox itself has long since been a hunted animal in the province with a provincial bounty on its

ead.

The fox industry was still pro- fitable when e Island‘s seed potato industry was born.

Destructive potato diseases be- came so prevalent in the earlier years of this century that the Dominion Department of Agri~ ‘culture in 1915 named Paul Mur- phy as a plant pathologist to come to Prince Edward Island and c on investigational work leading to control or elimination of the potato dis— eases. The friendly Irishman

‘ came here directly from Cornell potato breeding 1

University. The work that Mr. Murphy began is carried on now on a greatly expanded

The next few paragraphs are almost direct quotes from SC.

e 'n a man who was closely associated with the potato - dustry here over more than a quarter of a century.

Murphy saw in this province tremendous possibilities for the production of disease-free seed potatoes for shipments to areas that are in the market for high class seed stoc .

Mr. Murphy ranged far in his efforts to help potato farmers and he used his pathologist's knowledge to study such other problems as clubroot in turnips. loose smut of wheat and barley. smut of oats. shot hole. disease of cherry which was destroying many- cherry trees on the island at that time. He n apple scab in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia

afield P.E.I

i Among the Island pioneers was :John B. MacFadyen of Angus .‘tine Cove who worked in the years 1917 to 19m urging lead- ing Charlottetown businesssmen

_ his . Mr. Peppin did not ex-

5 plain at the time why the pro-

vincial department of agricul~ ture did not give the necessary leadership.

The meeting was called March

Early Island agriculture was not well organized

By NEIL MATHESON

Prince Edward Island ship- ped 7.000.000 tons of oats an- nually some 80 years ago. It im- ports 30.000 tons of grain and mlll Iceds annually at the pre- scnt. time. It shipped oomm to “moon bushels of potatoes up- words of 100 years ago but this fisure has not changed so very: much. The potato shipments vary with acreage. production and market. But shipments of modern times run lose moouom bushels a year.

The farm husbandry of earlier times in this province was bad in that many acres of oats were grown year after year and ship— r‘cd out. most of It to the Old Country. But It was the main

5‘

sntly. and the . had little choice in their effort to pay for their land and purchase some of the necessities of life.

Horses were another phase of term produce that helped to pay off many a mortgage in earlier days. and Prince Edward Island early established a reputation for the quality of its horse flesh. This province was one of the first places in North America. old records Indicate. to from" high quality sires from Europe. and some of the names are still recalled by present day agriculv turists.

He probably wasn't the great- est sire ever brought here in‘ terms of conformation and show ring quality. but Darrister Infused qualities in Island draft horses that remained and Wore rraised through many gener-

ons. "My horse has Barrister blood in him" was one of th proudest boasts an Island horse-

more proficient at boasting than

a horseman. One John Stewart. writlns In an Island publication back In had a bit of the boastful

“ sentences: The horses here are small but Strong and hardy. and being S-l'lom subjected to any com-

plaints live to a great age. it il a common thing to take them Off the gran. and ride

spirit. the wg

the late w”. the

V were monly s l n (“a god for eight to 10

hard to grid]

severity of madam... "‘ one am of '

It! are allowed to

all win .m

gym. at? my “finin. .w

um I “ﬂy a,” of.

of Vince has been

lame dove] h (shitloa- put

any previous knowledge of agri- culture.

John Stewart noted In 1806 "It is much to be regretted that so few of the inhabitants came here from countries where agri- culture is understood . . . so much more could have been done If the land was cultivated intelligently”.

But Stewart failed to under- stand. apparently. or did he. ihat many of the people came here of necessity to seek free- dom from oppression. that many of them were craftsmen who knew nothing of farming. Worse still many of the early settlers hewed farms and homes out of the wilderness. though they had 'no previous experience with an axe. or other necessary tools for the job. Certame those early

cirticlzed for their shortcomings. However. Stewart was correct when he observed "Agriculture lis and must long continue to be the chief pursuit of the ins habitants of this Island . . . . it is impossible to conceive what quantities may be produced of f. pork. mutton. butter. poul- try. wheat. barley. oats and peas. articles which. from our

of our neighbours will market".

commodities for which this pro- ttar known agriculturslly in this country. 0 oz boo what a boom it was. belongs to the earlier days of this century. any pla participated In the dove opment but the name of Charles Dalton. a Tlgnish man who was later knighted by the Vatican in isn't—he was Knight Commander St. Gregory the Great—stands out among the early pioneers. Robert Oulton was closely associated with him.

Pioneer commemoratin t bert T. On ‘ air" The province achieved World-

wide renown for its success with try. start was with

4.x. ‘ Centuries and the

y land" said u I I”? cant d the H silver tones the owned in w

world were gill Drovlnoa in 101s.

achieved towards the close

' h Md

“I II guests that led t: van-loo of no indu . "‘

Mug”?! up toknomo was re»

egg

3355.33 %

the wealth the fox industry generated is seen in one of the finest homes in Western Prince It cost about $14,000 when it was built back around 1914—— that would be $50,000 or more in Io-day‘s currency. But. it cost one and one-quarter to one and one-half foxes in those days. older neighbours explain. Strangely enough ‘ statistics indicate that the greatest num- ber of animals. 31.784 existed on island ranches in 1930. though that was long after the boom price years that injected the first uches of real glamour. Drop- ping prices contributed to the decline in the industry. When prices became so low that a ady‘s maid could wear a fox cape. for example. milady was no longer interested in this type

settlers are to be praised. not of fur

The Industry gradually lost Its galmour and a large rancher absorbed heavy finan-

the boom prices would return.

cial losses in the vain hope that iland, New

before he finally disposed of his bee

Rotary Club. and it was Peppin who gave the keynote speech. as Mr. Murphy had re~ turned to Ireland a f earlier. Mr. MacFadyen was the first man to become a paid up member of the RE]. Potato Grower‘s Association which was the recognized voice of potato growers for many years.

That sameyear a competition was organized among growers with prize money donated by leading businessmen. and a bank operating in the province also contributed to a com tion for top quality spuds. That‘s the story of the origin of seed potato business that is car- ried on to the present time.

Indeed a new high In quality is attempted now with the estab- lishment of an Elite Potato Seed farm at Fox Island. near Alber. too by the P.E.I. potato market- ing board.

The first cat-load of Irish Cob- bler seed potatoes in Canada. ‘Mr. Peppin said. was produced lin the Miscouche area In 1918 lunder the leadership of W.I-I.

...

‘MacGregor. They were shipped nt-

ito'growers in Leamington. 0

term. in 1918.

l Meanwhile. Mr. Peppin added.

l“we had been sending samples

Ito Southern tests In Long ersey. Maryland

‘and Virginia. These samples had

‘ Iy free of dis-

s-o 'J a

; n so remarks

animals and turned the ranch lease and so vigorous as compnr- economy so far as its cattle are ‘Developm'nt Ari) Drnll'lmv

adverts-moronme ad

1 via others that buyers {literally falling over each other lcompating for all of the seed we icould produceand at excellent lprices."

I The varieties of which Mr. :Peppin spoke were the Irish Cob- ’bler and reen ountain. in .ken demand igraduslly supplanted in popu- ilarity by newer varieties. The .biggest producer—it far evceeds 1all other varieties combined—is the Sebago. it was introduced

"‘"l

for some years hm .

VANCOUVER 'CP) —— Today it's razor blades.

A few years no it was non- smearing ballpoint pens. tran- SiSlOi‘ radios and lighter fluid.

Each in turn has helped put General Distributors Limited on the map among Canada's com—

Razor Blades Provide Boost I, For Distribution Company

I dian markets.

20. 1920 bv the Charlottetown Mr. lltseif to the majority of agricul- Idalrr prodcers. The move was

eekg known for the

here in 1930 when only 15 pounds was brought from the plant breeding station at Presque Isle. Maine. but today the bqu of the Island‘s seed potato industry traces its origin back to that one-

modity distributors. T'ie com-1 .pany now is country-wide in scope. wrth 350 employees and offices in Vancouver, Calgary. Winnipeg. Toronto and Mont- real

. the armed

I'I'he Guardiano’l'he Evening Patriot Page 84

turned to espand the business tion. The company has mounted on the strength of distribution a national advertising campaign rights for Ronson lighter fluid. ifor no blades. which it ' Thev have handled a lot of: say. It can “n It 101“ mdcenu onto and Morley from \fontrnai.y.iapariese goods—fishing rods. graggfkage under 9‘ m. Their father, still active at 84. than,” roducts and lighteri— .‘ . - breaks any tie votes. and m“: the” 1956 entry mm “We re not interesteduin ge‘. DISTRIBUTED MOVIES the market thev have become “"3: 0“ the yaz,f}ea;ls The Comm bezan "Grim: to. the largest distributor of tran- if er $595“; Cohen “y! gene,- m 'd.5.,,h.,..,,,; of Sistor radios in the country. ‘Om no ‘ ’ movies out of Calgarv during "This association with Sony. the 1930s. They sold small items naturally. led us into contact to small merchants in small With a Japanese cosmetic com- towns for years and after the. panv that had been producing Second World War - during stainless steel blades for 10 to which all but Harry served in 12 rears." says Joe Cohen. forces — T’hev re- Now it‘s the newest preoccupao

MANY THEATRE! There are som 40 then- tres in Romania which perform throug‘iout the summer months. aid are capable of seating 80.- 000 persons.

quarter bushel brought 25 years ago.

It was an Island man. Dr. Fred Stevenson. who was born in Frdeericton and became the leading geneticist specializing In

n the United States. who developed many of the strains including the Sebago. Katahdln and Chippewa,

The principles are the same six Cohen brothers. Joe. Harry. Jack. Morley. Sam and Albert; ‘ who were peddling cigars, pipes Theadache tablets. and hobby pins across ‘Prairies 30 years ago.

Their company began to take llts modern shape in 1951. w Mr. 1 Papermate brought out a revo-' Peppin stated. ‘lulionary new pen whose in

Island potato growers have ; dried as soon as it touched the been consistent winners at Mart i Paper- time and national fairs and sev- ‘ SHOWED UP IN pERSON "‘1 “m” the gran?! Ch’ml’lon" Salesman in Canada clamored IMP “the Royal Winter Fan" 1“.for distribution rights. but Al- Toronto has been brought here ; be” Cohen was he only one 1” “Rd and tablesm'k- Iwho thought to show up in per-

Proof of potato quality is in l son at Papermate's Culver City. ‘the reception by the housewife. Calif. head office. and Islan spuds consistently, An organization run by six. demand and receive sizeable;brothers sounded intriguing to premiums on the larger Cana- ; Papermate President Patrick .I.. :Frawley and after some check-

jimz he grantcd Canadian distrI-t

the

'I :1

Frozen food plants h a v e , . brought on . new variety Of 1 bution rights to the Cohens. crops in the past few years and! I The brothers soon were sell- this trend is stil developing. I “’3 WOO-mo 139’“ a y?“ “d 5’ ‘ One of the most noteworthy fea~ ‘ man-V 5’ 3900.000 rem” It "wk tum of this production of €019 ' General Distributors out of‘rou- crops and others suitable to the} t1"? “Ind”? ""0 3 Pmmmenl .processing industry is that most . national P0501011- of the trend toward h e a v yl The group confers about four mechanizaion of agriculture is'limeF’ 8 Year 1“ wmmpeg- J09 reversed. and much of the work Cnmmg {mm vanc‘mverv Harry is done by hand_ lfrom Calgary. Jack from Tor-

Tobacco production is the new- i ' est addition to Island agricul- concerned. and this means that ture. Hailed at the outset. as a imany of the cattle shipped are probable major development in dairy . . the g cross- crop is still largely in the ex- breeding with beef bulls has be- the agricultural economy. the come prevalent. particularly perimental stage here. though since the artificial breeding cen- several of the growers have Ire at Fredericton. NB. has be-

en doing really goodjobs. and come available to Island cattle—- the industry is still regarded as .men. 1 promising. i The Department of Agriculture ‘

To date. howveer. the acreage 1started a progarm several years. has not exceeded the 5m mark, ;ago to concentrate on beef cat-1 and tobacco still has to prove ltie. amide at small or inefficient ‘

turists , aimed generally at improving

This province has long been Ioverall beef quality as well. . quality 5f 1”; This year the Departrnent‘ bacon hogs. and it has topped imoved to strengthen the dairy‘ allother Canadian provincesiDtOduction with the importation now for some so years, in the lot some nine carloads of pure percentage of top grade “mg. i bred dairy heifers from Ontario.

3. [The animals were selected by

hair curlers 1 ~

WISHING ALL PLOUGHMEN

lOTS OF lUCK

During CANADIAN PLOWING CHAMPIONSHIPS AT BRUDENELL

TUE. - WED. . SEPT. 15 - 16th

We are pleased to be. able . IMPERIAL

Essa

AGENT

to participate in a small Way, helping to make this “Canadian Plowing Championship” the best ex er.

BEST WISHES TO ALL and GOOD PLOWING . . . .

A. A. JOEY FRASER

"IMPERIAL ESSO AGENT" Montague Phone 838-4236 “Imperial Oil Limited Serving Agriculture for 84 Years

Some 5,! per cent of the bac.iMr. Roper and made available on hogs sold through registered to dairymen here at cost. The packing plants last year were of the toI'J dude. and figures for the first five months of 1964 dairy plants and the banksl show that 57.6 per cent. of hogs lwhmbv the farmer can pay for marketed have, hit the top grade_ itha animals over a period of1

Volume is also increasing and .time by authorized deductions the 36.000 hogs marketed Jan. from the cream or milk chequesi uary through May an, you. in certain periods of the year. 1 represents an increage a: 4mm net of the animals brought animals over the “me period a tin were Holsteins. though there ‘ year. ago. according o Lw‘ were in or more Guernseys‘. Roper. provincial livestock pm. among them. f moter. Combined shipments from A concenl’al‘d 9mm '0 “5'; Nova Scotia and New Brunswick prove the range of beef prices In the same period were 43mm 't Is province. started several;

Cattle shipped through puking years ago, is still underway. plants this year totalled 7.246“! lpﬂrkt‘d by thP PEI. 3091‘ for the first. five months of the )Producers Association which ini year. which was roughiiy 400 195‘ Eturn was sparke by Daniel 1 than the total shipped from New lGass. Cornwall. who unfor-1 Brunswick and Nova Scotia ltunateiy has been forced to re-' farms combined during the same lSiEn 85 Prl'ﬁldenf wing to Ill ‘

riod. ihealth. The goal of the associa-.

Neither this province 3 a ,- ition, in livestock marketing yard either of the other two Maritime 170' "I! Charlnl'Plnwn "93» “v .‘Provinces have been excelling ‘still under consideration by those = in the grading quality of cattle. Who are responsible for this. {Prince Edward Island agricul-iprovince's share in ; jture is based largely on a dairy “Agriculhn‘al thabilillﬂm‘ “‘1

purchase was made easier by‘ E “$323. an arrangement between larger.

Welcome Canadian Plowmen

ELECTRICITY POWERS

maritime situation and the wants always find a ready and profitable .

Foxes and potatoes are the twa ‘

And he ca

il Moore & McLeod Ltd.

A Farmer Can feel the quality of

the soil. . .

n also

feel the quality

O Overalls

0 hooks

. Work Gloves 0 Underwear 0 Mat

built right in our

WORK CLOTHES

Work domes. like fonners. must be study enough to stand unto tough usage. We keep that In mind when we diooao work clothes from the manufact- users. And. like our customers. we find that the better the material. the better the value. Our men’s wear buyers is over mindful that the fam- . wants the beat quality at the best price. M

0 Work Shirts 0 Work Socks

0 Denim Jeans 0 Combination Overalls

Stop In today for your Farm Work Clothes

be run lean-lo In

MOORE 8. filial) LID. ’

' nmulomlacmm

PROGRESS

On The Farm and In The Home

:1: =3

Best of luck all competitors in the Canadian Plowing Match to be held Sept. 15th and 16th.

ELECTRICITY bringing the best of the future to to- days farms.

MARITIME ELECTRIC

,»:I‘.""".' .