CONSERVATION
NOTES
By LEW E. HANKS
Planting time is rolling around
and our moisture situation is still
critical. I suggest packing your
fields within an hour or two after
uiscing or plowing. That RniK
wind can really suck moisture out
of loose, plowed ground. Incident
ally, can someone tell me why
it’s necessary to plow anyway?
All over the States farmers are
using disc harrows and chisel
type implements for tillage. They
cover more ground, they leave
the soil right side up and they
leave the surface trashy. That’s
the way the surface of the soil
should be. A mulch of old crop re
sidue on the surface protects
against soil blowing, conserves
moisture and looks like the devil
himself. .
Surface Protection
You know, about two-thirds of
the farmers in the States have
quit worrying about the looks of
their fields after tillage. They
; are a lot more interested in the
protection a surface mulch gives
their soil and, incidentally, the
production they get. This is con
siderably more under this new
type of tillage. Why bury a green
manure crop deep where it takes
years to rot?
Speaking of manure—the time
i is getting short. Let’s get to shov
eling. That gold dust is doing noj
good in the barn or yard. Get it'
\ on the land where it should be.
Dump a bucket of treble super
phosphate into each spreader
load of manure. You might as
{ well do two jobs at once.
Incidentally, to get back to til
lage, are you working your fields
crosswise to the winter wind? Are
you leaving a strip every few
hundred feet to start building
that windbreak. Quit worrying
about working small fields or
working at an angle, with the
roads. You might as well get used
to it. You have no choice. It’s
, either protect your fields from
the wind or leave the kids a grav
el pile. Good luck.
1 Dry Cleaning, Too
Has Gone Modern!
!
| It takes special training these
days to do a modern dry clean
ing job! One has to know about
natural and synthetic fabrics.
The effect of grease, stains,
dust, perspiration, on cloth.
Our people have this profes
sional training and experience
that pays off in your protection
BROWN'S SHOP
r
Dollar Value
Still Sliding;
"Time Lag" Blamed
The next few months will be
crucial in determining how much
your dollar is going to be worth
for duration of the present emer
gency, Fred G. Hanford, Territor
ial Director of the Office of Price
Stabilzation, said.
This will be the period during
which farm crops will reach par
ty level and final increases of all
types of commodities will be re
flected on invoices of goods to
reach Alaska.
Under present regulations, farm ;
products on invoices are allowed
to reach parity levels before their
prices are frozen. As to other
commodities, the lag caused by
transportation sometimes brings
a gap of 2 to 6 months before an
increase at the source reflects to
the consumer in Alaska.
“This lag is our biggest head
ache at the present time,” Han
ford said. “People are asking why
prices keep going up when they
are supposed to be frozen. The
reason is because an increase at
the manufacturer or producer’s
level is allowed to be passed on in
the actual dollar-and-cents
amount, through the wholesaler
and retailer. Some of these in
creases went into effect last fall
and are just now reflecting in
Alaska.”
"Leveling Off" Process
Hanford emphasized that these
increases will be the last of any
consequence since manufactur
ers and producers are also under
y •
control of the O. P. S. Once the t
leveling-off point has been reach
ed, he said, the consumer can be
asured his dollar will at least re
tain its value for the duration of
the freeze. Present estimates are
that this leveling off will be at a
point about 4 per cent above pre
sent levels, excluding possible
new taxes. ,
“The price control program has
shown more rapid results in the
states than anticipated,” Han- |
ford said. “The net result, from i
our standpoint, is a feeling of en- j
couragement that as soon as the j
time lag caused by transporta
tion has been caught up, we will
have our leveling-off and prices
will remain stable. This should
be within the next two to four
months.”
Retailers Squeezed
Hanford took cognizance of the
fact that under the dollar-and
cents markup method, retailers
will be squeezed on their custo
mary percentage of profit.
“The intent of the law,” he said,
“is to prevent a pyramiding, or
compounding or invoice costs.
This is a little rough on some mer
chants but the regulation re
quires some absorption of in
creases all the way along the
line”
He gave a word of encourage
ment to retailers, however, by
pointing out that once the level
ing point is reached, the base
from which markups are compu
ted will remain constant. Under
a new manufacturers regulation
expected soon, some prices will
even be rolled back, Hanford said
Atomic Test
Feared Menace
To Salmon Run
Before an atomic test is made
in the Aleutian Islands, careful
consideration should be given to
the possible effects on the valua
ble salmon runs.
This is the recommendation
made by the Alaska salmon insti- j
tute meeting in Seattle.
1 ne atomic test has been re
ported as under consideration for
Aleution chain waters although
no confirmation of the plan has
been announced. Loss in food sup
ply and to the fishing industry
were discussed at the Institute.
*************************
Mrs. Fred Stassel is the new
assistant girl scout leader for
troop 26, Mrs. Charles Wilson an
nounced.
It's Never Too Late
BEAUTIFUL
LARGE BLOSSOM
LILIES
now ready '
Mat. Valley Gardens
MAUD HOSLER
a-***********************
J. VIC BROWN & SONS
"The Alaskan Jewelers11
* 523 Fourth Ave., Anchorage
«<«* «««
WATCHES DIAMONDS
SILVER NUGGET AND JADE JEWELRY
««« «««;
Phone 22051
Prompt Attention to Mail Orders
x 2
* Serving Alaskans for 35 years—ask any old-timer 3
*H***********************************************H
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more than three per week through
out the year—providing the
dependable water transportation
necessary to the growth and
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Large p«rts and small ports alike f
find vessels of the Alaska Steam
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... because only The Alaska Line
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tation service takes experienced
people, complete facilities and a
willingness to do the whole job. In
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