Alo—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 28,1982
Stray cats have never been unexpected
guests on the farm, and their dropping in
without warning has been accepted by far
mers from the time the first mouse was caught
stealing grain. Town people have always
journeyed out to the country with their un
wanted felines where their population ex
plosion of cats could live "happily ever after” if
they stayed out from under tractor tires or
farmers' feet.
But there may be some deeper ‘‘meows"
coming from the milk-begging prowlers
stalking Pennsylvania farmers’ granaries in
the near future. These overgrown ‘‘kitties,”
though, would more than likely scoff at the
milk pan you offer and walk off with the whole
cow.
What are the possibilities of your stumbling
out to do the milking one morning to face a
nervous herd of cows and a heavy-weight
"kitty" licking over-sized paws at the parlor
door? Most farmers only think of ‘‘lions and
tigers and bears oh my” when they see
reruns of Dorothy and friends scampering
down the yellow-brick road on their way to Oz.
But some people fear the day may be coming
when these wild creatures may be taking up
residence in Pennsylvania’s more populated
areas.
Imagine the surprise of farmers who are
picking corn by the light of the harvest moon,
and suddenly the tractor headlights reflect
burning, yellow eyes. Even those farmers who
only vaguely remember English literature
courses would suddenly recall William Blake’s
eerie poem "Tiger, tiger,” But instead of those
eyes “burning bright in the forests of the
night,” the poem would suddenly be modified
to corn fields of Pennsylvania.
Not only would Pennsylvania farmers be
serenaded by singing frogs on a warm sum
mer’s night, they would hear the spine-tingling
baying of wolves as they offer up nocturnal
canine concerts.
According to some folks, these scenarios
aren't as far-fetched as they might seem. And
they blame future possibilities of Penns Woods
being inhabited by wild denizons of the dark to
recent changes in the Pennsylvania Game
Laws.
Earlier this month we reported amendments
adopted July 1 which will further restrict the
exhibition, possession and dealing in wildlife
through tougher safety regulations for zoos
and wildlife menageries and additional permit
requirements.
A new permit has been established for
persons who sell or keep bears, wolves,
coyotes, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars,
cheetahs, and cougars, or any cross-breed
having similar characteristics. These folks now
will have to shell out money in order to keep
their unusual pets.
For those people who keep wolves, bears, or
any of the great cats as pets, a fee of $2OO per
Letters To
The Editor
ons
Off the
So mdmg
By Sheila Miller, Editor
Is there a puma
1 am glad to see someone one day tap just sold out. This
remembers us part-tune farmers ' fellow came flymg down the lane in
(••Help a young farmer, junk your a Cadillac with a pocketful of
baler,” Off the Sounding Board, cigars and half-full bottle ot
Aug. 14 issue). When 1 read the whiskey, and soon the "home
articles on how grand some big farm” was juste memory,
farm are, it almost makes me You are so right when you
ashamed of my little 47 acres. mentioned how hard we part
-1 grew up on a dairy farm, but (Turn to Page Al 2)
A AAA N COULD TAKE A DEEP
BREATH AND SUCK IN NOTHING
BUT FRESH C OUSTTRYAIR
in your parlor?
animal per year will be charged by the Game
Commission. Previously, there was no fee.
And, anyone who sells more than one of
these wild animals per year will have to obtain
a special dealers permit costing $5OO per year.
Heretofore, no fee was charged.
The state also has established housing
codes for any wild animals kept by private
individuals as well as zoos. According to Jerry
Wendt, assistant chief of the PGC’s Division of
Law Enforcement, these rules were
established for the comfort of the animals and
the safety of the general public.
“Before now we never had any control over
how dangerous animals were confined," said
Wendt. “If a person wanted to tie a lion out in
his front yard with a rope, he could and we
couldn't do anything with it.”
But, according to one concerned individual,
these new regulations will cause great
economic hardship on people who already own
animals of this type remodeling holding
facilities to comply with the new regulations
and paying the necessary permit fees. He fears
there may be an epidemic of turn-outs when
people who can’t afford to comply with the law
release their "wild” wolfdogs or over-sized
cats.
In the Aug. 14 issue of Lancaster Farming,
Dick Anglestein reported on a sighting and
eventual capture of a bobcat in rural Lan
caster County .This was a highly unusual event
since bobcats are considered an endangered
specie in Pennsylvania and are seldom seen,
except in the more isolated forestland of the
northern tier regions.
What made this 12-pound bobcat even more
unusual was the fact-that it was sighted during
the day, since these cats are generally noc
turnal by nature. Representatives of the Game
Commission agreed that it was far from the
norm for this year-old feline to have ranged so
far south of its natural habitat.
Was there a connection between the new
Game Law which went into effect July 1 and
the healthy, good-conditioned bobcat which
was found streaking across the fields near
Manheim just a few weeks later? Or was it
simply a freak coincidence?
For those of us who jump at our own
shadows, and shriek when face-licking Rover
rounds the corner of the barn after one of his
nocturnal jaunts, we certainly hope it’s the
latter.
PGC's Wendt offers his reasurance, saying
these wild animals are far too valuable to just
turn loose. Besides, the estimated 100 to 300
people who own these types of “pets” have a
year to make up their minds about keeping
them or selling them the first-year permit is
issued free of charge.
Nevertheless, you might want to lift the lid of
your bulk tank a little slower next time you’re
ready to dip out a pitcher of milk. There might
be a tiger in your tank.
Part-timers sold short
Board
f AND A A
/ MOUTH \
( FULL OF )
K FLIES /
WHEN PERSON
ALITIES CLASH
August 29,1982
Background Scripture: Acts
15:22, 30-41; 17:1-15; 2 Corinthians
7:2-16; 8:1-6,16-24; Titus
Devotional Beading: Titus 2:1-
10.
' One of life’s greatest lessons for
me—and, I’m sure, many others—
have been the realization that not
everyone has to like me. Ad
mittedly, it seems life would be
more enjoyable if they did, but it is
ndt a prerequisite for.living a
happy life under God. In -fact, as
Jesus demonstrated so clearly, if
one is faithful to God, the
possibilities of being despised by
some people are greatly enhanced.
A Sharp Contention
1 have discovered a corrallary to
that principle: it is not absolutely
necessary that all of us have to be
able to work side by side. Don’t get
me wrong, Christian love demands
that we go to great lengths to love
one another and taul repeatedly
admonishes us to give visible
expression to our oneness in
Christ. Many people don’t really
work at those objectives nearly
enough. v
At the same tune, it must be
admitted that there are some
people with whom we work beler
than others and there are even
some with whom we are par
ticularly ineffective. Sometimes
we have to acknowledge that
reality and make the most of it.
Recently, 1 was at a religious
meeting where another gentleman
felt compelled to win me overto his
particular 'doctrinal concepts.
After trvinK for the better part of -
NOW IS THE TIME
By Jay Irwin
Lancaster County Africulture Agent
Phone 717-394^851
To Be Alert For Silo Gas
We are fash approaching silo
filling tune, in fact many farmers
are getting their equipment ready
now. This is one of the best
methods of harvesting the corn
crop to get maximum feed
nutrients. With our large tower
silos, the danger of poisonous gas
es becomes more important. We
urge our farmers to discuss this
hazard with their employees and
all family members. These gases
can develop from one day to 14
days after the silo is filled. Most of
these gases have a chlorine
laundry bleach odor and irritate
the eyes and respiratory system.
Some are yellow and some are
colorless. Don’t take any chances
warn all your people of this
danger.
To Fertilize Alfafa
The fall of the year, after the
removal ot the last cutting, is a
good tune to topdress existing
alfalfa stands. The application of a
phosphorus-potash fertilizer
(ac-orduig tc soil testj in the fall
will strengthen the alfalfa roots
and result in higher yields next
summer. Nitrogen should not be
needed on established alfalfa
stands. Some growers will top
dress with fertilizer in the fall and
again after the removal of the first
cutting in the spring.
This should result in maximum
yields with a healthy stand. When
alfalfa plants are well fed and
teated for insect injury, they
an hour-, he finally said, "1 guess
we have to agree to disagree.”
And for the first time since I had
met him earlier in the day, I
agreed with him.
So, we parted that day, obviously
tar apart in our understanding of
what it means to be a Christian.
Yet, because we acknowledged
that distance between us, I behev*
we also were able to regard each
other in a spirit of Christian love.
We accepted our differences and
knew that those differences would
probably keep us from working
side by side in a compatible
manner. At the same time we both
knew that bridging our differences
is the love of Jesus Christ.
They Separated From
Each Other
This is, I believe, essentially,
what happened between I aul and
Barnabas in Acts lb. The writer of
Acts tells us that There arose a
sharp contention” between these
two apostles over the inclusion of
John Mark in their next
missionary journey. Barnabas
wanted to take the young
Christian, but 1 aul, remembering
that John Mark had failed them
previously, was adamant in his
refusal. So, “they separated from
each other.” We imght wish that
they had been able to compromise
or for t aul to have have given
Mark yet another chance, but thast?
was not what happened-: "Bar
nabas took Mark with hun and
sailed away to Cyprus, but 1 aul'
■chose Silas and departed” in
another direction.
According to the New
Testament, that was the end of the
dispute k aul and Barnabas did nut
become bitter enemies, nor was
more time spent on their
disagreement. Instead, agreeing
they could not agree, they went
their separate ways, each of them
continuing to do a mighty work for
Uod. Apparently, their unity in'
Christ was not unpaired by the
differences. Reconciliation does no
always mean continued
collaboration.
should be able to stand weather
adversities. Alfalfa plants are
heavy feeders on both phosphorus
and potash. Unless these elements
are replaced each year, the plants
and yield will suffer.
To Enjoy It While It Lasts
Considering the general state of
the economy and the sad state of
the gram business, the hog
business has been excellent in
recent months. Much of the prrfflt
has resulted from the tremendous
imbalance between gram prices
and hog prices.
Gram markets continue in
turmoil and the price of corn in
Chicago has dropped below $2.40.
This puts the country price at near
$2.00 in many major production
areas. The imbalance between
corn and hog prices is not likely to
be corrected by increased gram
prices. The carryover of all grains
is at near record levels. Despite
the rumors about too much rain,
too cool, too hot it appears that the
corn crop in 1982 will be a near
record one. This means that corn
prices are going to stay fairly low.
Low gram prices and high hog
prices have encouraged fairly
heavy slaughter but it must also be
encouraging the holding of mace
breeding stock. The prospects
reduced slaughter will bring good
returns for hdig producers through
the rest of 1982. In fact, pork output
may stay below 1982 levels until
the second quarter of 1983. By then ‘
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