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
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Lancaster Farming, Lancaster, Pa
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Members Pa Xen “paper Publish
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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