4—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 2. 1961 FROM WHERE WE STAND - Time For A Reappraisal Fast growing metropolitan areas are creating tax problems for. farmers whose lands lie in the ever-widening path of these developments. , This is hardly a news item to those farmers in Lancaster County who have .felt the encroachment of the city into their back pastures and then into their back yards.- Although still used for farming, many of the farm lands in areas of in dustrial or residential developments are taxed at the same rate as the high ly concentrated areas of population Many acres used for the production of grass are assessed at the same rate per square foot as those used' for housing developments or shopping centers. In addition to higher assessed val ues higher tax rates have gone up on fringe farm lands as local governments seek to provide increased services and facilities for suburban communities. As a result of all this, many farm ers have been forced to sell off part of their acreages to help meet the rising costs, but this serves only to bring more population or industry into the jarm with more possibility of changing the farm into a completely urbanized area. Unfortunately too many farmers ‘teel the squeeze of mounting tax bills and are forced to sell to speculators years before the area is ready for com plete development and the land will not bring a price commensurate with its potential value With the expansion of suburbia into our farmlands, lack of public services such as schools, libraries, auditoriums, water and sewage systems, fire and po nce protection and others, may. very well be expected. Facilities provided by local governments for a fairly sta ble population may suddenly be total ly inadequate for the suddendy mush rooming population In past decades when agriculture was the main 'source of employment and income, there was a close rela tion ship between land ownership and ability to pay. Land taxes supported quite well the limited demand for pub lic services. Today many large personal incomes are associated with salaries, fees, and dividends rather than with direct in come from land. Furthermore, urban oriented people on the land today ex pect many more public services than did their forebares on the same land. While Lancaster County has some of the most productive farm land in the world and possibly some of the most valuable land in the nation, it is not practical to expect that land to both feed and supply all the services of a population dedicated to covering it over with houses and “blacktop”. Much revenue is needed to provide fa cilities and services and in many in stances the landbase simply can not be productive enough to bear the burden of additional taxes. We believe tax policies must be re examined in line with the expectations Crop Summary Weather Spurs Tobacco Harvest Silo filling occupied the some of the water from the ome of some farmers this high-moisture crop week, but many reported the Last week’s hot humid good corn crop only in the weather slowed curing ol milk stage and not ready to early-cut tobacco, but aided ne harvested Reports, from late planted fields, the Penn scattered areas where silo sylvania Crop Reporting Ser filhng has begun, indicate a vice said this week in its heavy crop with good ton- weekly crop and weather nage per acre. summary. The hot, humid weather The early cigar filler tobac early in the week combined co crop was heavy and clean, with the high moisture of the agency of the State Dept Jast week tended to push to- of Agriculture said, but some mato ripening Heavy pick- rust disease has been found jngs this week were evident m a few late maturing fields m most sections of the coun- The report adds, however, £y Some cracking and split- that the major portion of-the I<ng was noted, but this con- crop is free of insect or dis ci -tion was relatively light A ease damage. good crop of fairly high Corn still is in excellent quality is reported in most condition, aided by the ram sections and hot weather Good yields Tee tobacco harvest, slow- are anticipated in most cd by last week’s heavy rams areas of the state The corn was in full swing tlvs week gram has entered the dough Growers were hoping fer stage in mest areas, and lowered humidity and light some corn is denied in south breezes to aid in carrying off ern counties No major m- of the people. Some states - have considered. legis lation seeking a solution to the prob lem. A publication outlining some of these legislative auctions and samples of instructions to local lax assessors issued by several states to handle the problem without special legislation is available from the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington 25, D. C. This booklet “State Action Relating to Taxation of Farmland on the Rura'- Urban Fringe ERS 13” would be worthwhile reading for any fanner who sees suburbia creeping up on his farm. At least that’s how it looks from where we stand. For Dogs Only Despite the discouraging behavior of the human face in various quarters of the globe of late, Man-Bites Dog may still qualify as news. But more stratling, and certainly more gratify ing, is the "story: “Flea Bites Dog Drops Dead.” And that is just what is happening —thanks to what any dog-lover will agree is the most exciting development of science since the first canine recog nized a human as his master and lick ed a man’s "hand. Announced recently, a new oral in secticide, now available on veterinar ian’s prescription, finally emancipates man’s best friend from the age-old plaque of fleas, ticks and lice! And it should be noted that in addition to the infections, irritation and general dis traction these ectoparasites cause Rov er, they a 1 so carry disease organisms that infect his master typrus fever, tularemia, bubonic plague and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The new drug, called Ectoral, is an organic phosphorus compound and its dosage as well as purchase must be prescribed by a veterinarian. It is in sugar-coated tablet form so that the patient -takes his medicine as eagerly as candy. For continuous protection, the tablet must be given regularly on a schedule worked out by the vet for the individual dog. Despite the fact that Ectoral is powerful enough to bring sudden death to any flea, tick or louse that samples the pet’s blood it is harmless to the animal—as evidenced by two years of clinical testing on thousands of dogs by the Pitman- Moore Company, which developed the drug. At present, Ectoral is for dogs only. But who knows when the cat-fancier's day may come? Certainly the day will come when patients will stop quoting to small boys that previously unanswerable ax iom set forth by John Florio in 1578 - “Who sleepeth with dogs shall rise with fleas.” —Cleveland Times,, N. C, sects or diseast damage af fects the corn crop. The late sweet corn crop has been held back because of adverse weather condi tions However, last week’s rams should aid in more rap id growth and maturity. Peaches are ripening slowly and causing delay in harvest (Turn to page 6) Lancaster County’s Own Farm P O Box 1524 Lancaster, Penna, Offices -53 Xorth Duke St Lancaster Penna Phone - Lancaster Express 4-3047 Jack Otven, Editor Robert G Campbell, Ad\ ertismg Director A Business Manager Established Xo\ ember 4 ISJS Publshed eierj Satuiday by Lancaster Farming, Lancaster, Pa Entered as 2nd class matter at Lancaster Pa under Act of Mar S, 1579 additional entry at Mount Jov Pa Subscription Bates $2 per aeir three \cars Single copy Puce 5 cents Members Pa Xen “paper Publish ers Assoc anon Xational Editorial Association Lancaster Farming Weekly Is often'necessary to truth, while lies get on by themselves. One any truth is that it ci tated and rivaled by ■which sound very nm t Truth can be distorted ai till it has all the effort Hence, guarding truth keep it free from dist , 1-s iu l7 ,' I f‘ mixed and unconfused 15, Phlllpplans 2 18-23, I Timothy 11- , , , .. 5, ii Timothy i i-s, 2 1-5 22 truths and untruths thi Beading; 2 Timothy 2 15- to poison. Th« Danger of Truth »■ v ■■ Truth is not dangeroi Guarding Truth thm* that is good But, pear as a danger to ■ Lesson for September 3, 1961 profit by lies. It often __ people’s prejudices, EVERY once in a while you the P° of hear some one talking about * be American Civil War, “guarding the truth,’’-generaUy the South w f ot f a a “sacred” truth, that is to say economica of s avery tiuth which the speaker regards as n ° ta , mas j er P :eC4 with a kind of reverence. In writ- ture ’ bat dld sbow mg to a younger friend and as- very ctearly; Slavery ' sistant of years’ P rofitabl f- ln n the standing, Paul the tha boc * I W f COmed ’ Apostle urges him ® uth ° r , haded f to guard what has think f J Not at all. In . been-entrusted to fe state that book was him; and when to be s ° ld or + read ’ one reads the argue a long time wheth, whole letter, both was sinful or not But letters, of Paul to and dgUl !* 111 tha * book Timothy, we see a ™ ple t r thmg i, slavel >’ what is the mam dld not pay- There was Dr. Foreman thing that has answer the argument, been entrusted to him: namely. was sim Ply shut up In -the Truth. This he is to pass on to a pro ™ iaent Am encan others when he dies (and before). Pushed a long article men who can in turn pass it to madlc T f e “ future generations. Tiuth is a It showed treasure; but when truth van- doubt that Bnt I lsb ishes, there is no treasure to pass 5? e , dl ?? ne costs a ot 01 on But there were two f: were kept out of that aif The Weakness of Truth the British people ses There is an old story about a system; and two, king who wanted to find the wisest healthier than they usi man in his kingdom So at a ban- without it. Those two quet he asked this question - What challenging; but to sor one thing is strongest in the * be y seem to be dan.L woild? One wise man said they were not mentioned “Wine ” Another said “The How fo Guard Truth King.” The third said, “Women YoU might think that -but truth is stronger still ” And truth> surelyi needs no when each had given the reasons Yet Christian truth alst for his choice, all the people dlstorfed _ and needs to shouted for the third man - "Great + Pf .t Pd haiftn is truth, and mighty above all U ke ciis“ } things ” To this day people speak not- Christian truth at of the power of truth Thomas ,n +h P for PP « nf, Jefferson’s line is famous: apd other Chui' “Truth’s like a toich, the more stand for truth need n( it’s shook it shines.” prised to be called s' Yet there are other proverbs idealists at best, or pointing to the weakness of truth, at worst. Yet there is ft has been said that truth walks modem Tunothys who on leaden feet, while eveiy he what truth they have has wings Considering the many Know the truth! Stand successful lies now abioad in the Teach it! aie the thiee world, people may be pardoned of guarding truth, now tor thinking that truth is weak It Now Is The Time . . . BY MAX SMITH TO CONTROL WEEDS IN Aj SEEDlNGS—Seedings of alfalfa n tween the 10th and 20th of Ai now making good growth and if are a problem, the field should be when the alfalfa plants are small of the DnNitro sprays such as D< merge or Sinox PE at the rate of per acre in 20 to 40 gallons of wal take out most of the annual weeds spraying should be done when the is in the 2 to 4 leaf stage and vihf peratures are from 60 to 85 degrees MAX SMITH TO SEED LAWNS—AII home owners are reminded early September is the best time to establish a new re-seed an old lawn m southeastern Pennsylvania that are seeded by September 20th will have time started before freezing weather arrives Also, the weather and moisture Will reduce the danger of ' out the new seedlings that often happens in a spm mg. Lime and fertilizer needs by way of a comp' l test should be applied before the grass is seeded good bulletin is available TO MAKE CORN SILAGE—Many fields of corn «■ be in the early dent stage which is one of the best make the crop into silage. Research work contu show this stage of maturity as the one with the total feed nutrients At this stage the milk in the ■ has disappeared and the kednels are beginning to & also, in most cases the stalk and the leaves aie sh and contain added feed value. Finely chopped =ha§ e cut) will pack better and result in more tons quality silage. TO CHECK ALFALFA MANAGEMENT Ha”' will be undecided as to whether or not to reino'C or fourth cutting of alfalfa in September A sa ' e to go by is that if the crop is not m the blossom stag middle of September, do not cut it, if the m?3° n plants are in blossom, then it may be cut for hay 11 , and have time to grow four to six inches befoi® ( frost If the crop is not m blossom by the m tember and additional forage is needed, then it u that the grower wat until aftef a killing h'ost harvest the crop. The food supply in the roots year will be better if these practices are follov.e
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