Columns

By Jack Elliott
Correspondent

Men, thank goodness have wallets. Although they will swell to the proportions of a cane toad before exploding, they’ve nothing on the female purse.
The lady’s handbag or purse is a wonderful invention run-a-muck. Invented before pockets, the purse has a lineage and personality as unique as each owner.

By Melanie Mathieson
Gardening Guru

The summer growing season is approaching the midway point and our perennial beds may be looking a little rundown and in need of a summer spruce up. With just a bit of time and effort you will have your gardens looking fresh once again.

By Al Lowe
Contributor

I have been asked many times about both of these fungus diseases, so here goes.
Black Knot
This affects plum and cherry trees, both wild and domestic. The organism which causes it is a fungus. The spores are so small that humans can not see them.

By Gary Sliworsky
Ag. Rep

What is standing hay worth and what is a fair price? The price of standing hay is what the market determines it is, not necessarily what we think it should be. From the seller’s point of view, the price should cover the cost of production and provide a profit. However, there are limits to what buyers can and will pay that are related to the price of livestock, as well as the availability and price of other forages.

I watched early Sunday morning as 28 young people accompanied by their parents bounced in under the tent at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, With their fishing rods firmly in one hand, their tackle boxes in the other and either mom and dad carrying their packsacks filled with water, rain gear, sun screen , shyly they approached the table to find out who they were fishing with in the KidPro.

By Jack Elliott
Correspondent

Competitive gardening can reach pretty intense levels. Maybe it even should be an Olympic Sport. And as important as winning is, having an acceptable excuse for losing is just as important .Down here in Drizzle Creek, the all time champion of losing excuses is President of the Giant Pumpkin Festival, Eltjo ‘Hard Luck’ Wiersema.

By Melanie Mathieson
Gardening Guru

I don’t know of one person that isn’t mesmerised when they see a humming bird. Hummingbirds make their home in the forest and in urban settings. I am always utterly amazed when I see a hummingbird in the depths of the forest miles away from any roads or flowerbeds for that matter. Nonetheless, hummingbirds seem to be more prevalent in the urban setting where there are more sources of nectar available, from gardens and flowerbeds. You can increase your visits from the petite hummingbird by planting a few of their favourite sources of nectar in your yard.

By Mark Mast
RR Ministerial

What comes to mind when you hear the word unstoppable? To me it expresses that something coming and there is nothing I can do to stop it. Unstoppable… like a tornado, or a tsunami, or a stampede.

By Al Lowe
Contributor

We have about 25 species of Warblers here in Northwestern Ontario. While many of these little birds are mainly yellow or green, we so have some which, to say the least, are coloured differently. Here are some:

By Gary Sliworsky
Ag. Rep.

Canada’s New Government is enhancing measures to more quickly eliminate bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) from Canadian cattle and to protect producers from the potential consequences of receiving contaminated feed.