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HOME AND COUNTRY Poul-had Quarterly by no Mar-ted Women'l Initiium of Ontario and Tho Woman'- ln-tltnto Branch and Hum: Economic: Bantu Dopmut o! Africullun Ontario Enmml. Column In. H. Summon. 3.3. l. Foothill. In. J. is. Futchnr 3.x. 1 5:. Thnmll. )0:- Anna r. hum. 'i‘mma 2. [llamas or Pmflxw Bmo: 19494350 Honour)! Pruidcnlo nu. Ann. P. Levin. Toronto 2. Ira. Hugh Summon. 3.3.1. Foothill. PJ'le Mn. 1. B. higher. RJIJ. St. Thomas. 3: $0M! Yicl-Pvuidlnu Mn. Arthur udaon. Lyn. In. Arthur Hamilton. 11.3.4. Atwood. In. R. G. Purch 345 Em Km EMw l'on thLiam. Regional Exec-18v Director: Mr; J. R. Geddel. mui Ilv‘gi. Lin mima Weber 3.3.... an Monti-on. Mrs. A. E. Kennedy, Amman. Kins Ellis Lima, Simeon. M11 A. T. Cndun. Mathswn. Additional Director: . Hugh Warner. mils Rocha. Mn. .1. S. Sounder 3.3.1. Franco“. . Jame: Black, m balllord. Mm Carl L. Moynsl. . . J. F. Woodland, R.R.6, . R. .T. 31. Kerr, Heathcoto. . R. J. Dada, 3.3.6. Will-ton. LLrL James Bell. Goldwater. lbs. 0. S. Kickers. 156 Main St. Dnlhoulis. . George Ridley, 11.113, Caledonia. Hi1. W. P. Simpson, Byron. . D. A. Csmichad. lldsrwn. . Ward Banner, Bayhnm. . This. Myers. Zurich M11. A. E. Dodson. R. . Txlbury. R. E. Ross, in: mums. Mrs. Darrel Hazard. rerwater. . w. Smith. Dayton, . E. Alkins. Callanclar. Port Mrs. A. Woolloi'd, Fort Francis. Miss Gladys Hangman, Heston. His: Olirs Multby, RKJ, Woodbridge. Sanctum-Trcomrsr is". John H. moi-such. 1111.2. Brampton. flour-ciao" 0/ Standing Commute" Agricultqu and Canadian India-trienâ€" him. J. 0. Thompson, Benmmue. Wnshi‘v and Educationâ€" M1151. Cooper. cos n. Mark- sn. Fort William. Uommu-m’ty Actin'li'u and Public Relationâ€" Miss In: Hodgins, Carp. H'utafical Rewardiâ€" Mrs. Sanford Albina. R.R.2, Creamorc. Home Economic: and Healthâ€" Mra. Milton Weber, R.R.2, West Mommas Runluh'anoâ€" hm. Hugh summm. R.R.1. Foothill. Junior lmlilulc Activitico‘ Miss Gladys Houghton, Boston. Correspondence should bu mam-ea to “HOME AND UOUNTRY" no. Women's Institute Branch and some Econoqu Service Department of Agriculture Parliament Buildinza. Toronto 2. 1207 Bay Toronto 5. Thin pnpar is distributed through um "trauma of Women's Institute: to the Women's Institute Members. ED TORIAL COMMENT PRESIDENT’S CORNER A second splendid Provincial Con- ference is over and the Convencrs attending have “Food for Tliou ht” for many months to come. The Est programme possible to obtain. happy fellowship, splendid weather, good food all added u to make the Con- ference outstan ing. The number gescno justified the belief of the uvmcial Board that Provincial Con- ferences were needed and would be given loyal support. Our International President. Mrs. Raymond Sayre, has been semi and heard by hundreds of our members. Her few days with us was a triumph for our organization. Her warm, friendly personality, her simple dig- nity and charm and her brilliant mind will long be remembered by those privileged to hear her. A.C.W.W., through her, has become to us some- thing alive and vital and terribly im~ portant because of its possibility in promoting international understanding and good-will. Let us not forget her messages. 1. The world is now one neighbourâ€" hoodâ€"we must work to make it I brotherhood. 2. If freedom is repressed anywhere 3 HOME AND COUNTRY f Convener's Conference (Continued from Page .1, Cpl- 4-) “It is estimated that iii high pro» docing a cultural areas We peed on average increase of 10" of rainfall to produce enough green material to turn down to take the place. of comâ€" mercial fertilizers. Since this is im- possible, we must use these high priced commercial foods for our s_oil and in many heavy and hesVIly cropped soils that is not enough._ We need organic matter in_ the soil to keep it loose and retain moisture. Buying barnyard manure partly sn- sii‘ers the problem for the purchaser but robs the farm of the man who sells it. “Agriculturists today must be very 'Conservstion-minded‘. In theuvords of Louis Bromfield, U. S. novelist and agricultural expert as he addressed a crop improvement associationâ€"Too many farmers have said the plain truth is that what was good enough for grandpappy is good enough for us when it wasn't good enough even for grandpappy, let alone later gener- ations} No, we cannot go on taking and taking from Nature without putting back, cutting our forests where they should not be cut. tilling when and where we should not till, or we must surer face disaster. “Are farmers robber barons'.l The question brought me up with a start when I saw it printed on a programme as a subject for address and discus sion at a local Federation of Agricul< ture meeting. Are weâ€"robber barons? We must not be. Nature demands that we maintain the balance of things as God gave them to us even while producing the finest and largest crops from our acreage. This we are learning to do, somewhat slowly, but spurred on by costly though very beneficial scientific research carried on by our agricultural experts. "From this comes the problem of educating all our agricultural pro: ducers to these findings in the matter of soil analysis, seed treatment, fer- tilizer analysis, plant foods, proper methods of cultivation and crop rota- tion, conservation in all its forms. "Some of the older farmers may be on earth, then our freedom is in jeopardyâ€"Study the Universal Deâ€" claration of Human Rights. 3. Women can change the course of history if they will. There are more women voters in every country in the world except Australia. Study exist- ing problems from all angles and form your own opinion and then use your franchise. Let’s make that a slogan in 0ntario,â€"“Every Institute Member Cost Her Vote". 4. There must be a return to spiritual values. A weighing of spiritual values must be present at every conference table and at every settlement. Eco- nomic problems can never be settled satisfactorily on the basis of econo- mics alone. We are shocked and grieved over the sudden death of a dear and sincere friend, Mr. W. D. Tolton, Director of the Department of Public Relations, Q.A.C. Guelph. H'is ready wit, his kindness and understanding and his sincere interest in Women's Institutes, always working on our behalf to pro- mote'further an already overwhelming hospitality at 0.A.C. leaves us deeply hurt at his death. Our sincere sym- pathy goes to his wife and family. Financial returns are rolling in to me in support of the Fund Ontario Institutes have opened up for Flood Relief in Manitoba. After the close of the campaign, August lst, a state- ment of donations will be mailed to every Institute. This will be the re- ceipt for your givings. With every Institute doing its best, the Ontario Women’s Institute Fund for Manitoba {loud Relief will go way over the op. Our Holiday Week has again been ii real success. We thank both the College and the W. I. Branch for their willing assistance. With all best wishes Dorothy Futcher curious that the 'aummer llzllrgwt'omiiy soon be out of date; that instead of leaving a field bare to the efiects of the weather, it may h better to let it rest a year. ploug down a full cover crop of rye perhaps h ed. anElli; {dubbing brought to our attenâ€" ' n that there is a close relation blgtween the soil, the vegetables. fruit and fodder grown thereon and the animals and humans feeding on these- uIn Waterloo county, I understand there is a great best Programme 20!“ on in soil research. toward finding out that relationship between health of soil and health of animals and humans. “Farmers have not yet learned .to avail themselves of the opportunities and information sigmlpJge t: t2? throu h governmen anal n - vicenge feel that our Anguilltuxal Representatives and our Junior Far- niers and other farm groups are doing a fine job in correcting this situation. “Each year seems to add a new weed, pest or disease to the army that already preys on our agricultural crops and livestock. Scientific re search is indeed needed in agriculture today as never before. ’l‘ha days of the cracked stick for tilling and the pound of salts in veterinary medicine are gone. Many men in laboratories throughout our country are‘sxperi- menting and working uncessingly to help solve these new problems and it is costing us a great deal to get these new methods of diagnosis, new medi- cines, new treatments, new sprays for insect and disease. Yet have them we must. _ “That thief, the noxious weed, is quietly slipping his green hand into the pocket of our industry a little more boldly each year. Good farmers are always on the watch for this in- truder to put him to rout, but their efficiency is often hampered by a. care- less neighbour, a tract of public or company road through or near his land or a vacant farm where weeds are allowed to grow and ripen and seed surrounding acres. Uncleaned harvesting or threshing machines spread weed seeds and we have seen refuse from mills or seed cleaning plants dumped where they might be distributed by bird, wind or water. "When Mr. A. H. Martin, Director of the Crops, Weeds, Seeds Branch of the Ontario Department of Agri- culture was interviewed recently by Jack McPherson of the C.B.C.. he told us of amendments to the Ontario Weed Act. Where noxious weeds are found, the weed inspector must first try to come to an agreement with the owner of that property as to their destruction. If this is impossible or not carried out, then the inspector can enter private property to dispose of those weeds in a manner that will prevent their spread. The bill for the costof this can then be sent to the municipal clerk to he paid by the owner of that property or charged against it as taxes. Strict regulations now govern the cleaning, before moving, of all machinery which might carry and spread weed seeds and the proper disposal of any refuse from machine, mill or seed cleaning plant. ".Now let us look at two problems which are in the opinion of agricul- turists the minor ones confronting us today. Firstâ€"the cost of production and secondâ€"markets and market prices for. our products. There are several things we must consider as to the cost of producing whether it be of meat, milk, eggs, poultry or fruit. “There is the initial outlay for the farm_ and the equipment. Farm machinery prices make us shudderâ€" a binder for instance, used for aproxi. Inster one month of the year costs in the neighbourhood of $300. and the depreciation rate on it is startling. The mower. the grain drill, the sprayerâ€"whatever machinery the W119 of farming calls for are all very expensive. The tractor, almost a must in modern agriculture. calls for a large initial outlay but is more reasonable when we take into con- Sprinc. 1950 nldoi-atlou it. val-led uni thruughml the can. ‘ hn form must then be Itocked according to the branch of forming decided on. A diary cow costs on a very conservative average 5150, pure bred stock twice that much. If young cattle are bought to grow into a hard they must reach the age of 2 or 2y, years before any returns for but keep are obtained. With poultry farming the returns come more quickly, Fruit growers are even longer in getting returns. Meantime there is the cost of seed, fertilizer, labour, etc, and repairs. There .is nutI as in many manufacturing industries. B sinking fund to take care of loss of stock from death or failure to Eli-aducc. “Manufactured feedsâ€"c ‘cken, hug and dairy rations are out of prulmr. tion to the bushel price a farmer receives for his aid and these pllces rise before a price rise in pork, bed, milk, eggs, etc., and remain on the high level for periods of varying length after the prices of farm pro» ducts have declined. “When the market price of one farm product goes up and the price of another falls. the farmer canth quickly switch from the production of one to the production of another. He has on overall long time produriion job. Good years and bad, high prlces and low, must be taken as they I'nlne to a great degree and he must M an efficient farmer who can today met these problems at a profit. "Farm help adds a great (led to the cost of production. Proc- capable farm help has been a \ i _- for some time. Higher cash \‘ ~ in manufacturing plants in City take many of our young men the farm as well as urban Windsor, in s great agricultural is top in Ontario cities for wages to industrial labour; St. Cathni in the heart of my own fruit 21': area. is next. You can see the on this presents. We have tried i along with the help of men eye for industrial work, transient l and Europeans coming to our Many of these are willing but u stand neither our methods or 1~ uage. By the time they are usiil to our ways some are off to the cw: fll‘ to buy a farm of their own. l? illy eflicient fsrm help when it is 01 ‘4 able is beyond the means of .. farmers. “There is no farm help like the nun who grows up with his work. It R a challenge to our generation to imlze conditions on the farm such i at through parent-son agreement, ‘ cient paying methods, inadenu working and living conditions. sons will not just be kept on the mm but want to be there from chow» “The market and market 1"{9 problem is such a "hot potato’ s it were, that we hardly know when to start in speaking of it. As-wa nup- tioned before, overall conditions meme production and production costs v i', so prices must vary. The farmer does not ask for a boom price. Every one is better of? when priCes of ever?- thing- are at a medium level. “As I see it, the demand of the IlHV is for steady, overall, 10m! Fen“ market agreements that do not pm '15 down to the exact pound of bacon. dozen of eggs, bushel of wheat or basket of fruit to be sold or exchanged for other products, but are ficxfllle enough to take up some at least, of the slack between years of high and low production and guarantee the fav- mer a price which will cover cost of production and leave a reasonable working balance. Long term agree- ments are most necessary for 327ml" final production is a term ll'ldllStl'Y- "Our organizations have place many Seals of approval on the Inter- national Wheat Agreement. Long term agreements give stability 8" security to agriculture whether that contract be at home, as some DYEferv or abroad. "We hope through such contracts w enable prices of our products to Skull] on their own feet Without the so 4 (Continued on Page 3, Col. 1.)