Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993, 1956-11-15
a FAIR
EXCHANGE
by
Cedric Adams

ONCE AND FOR ALL, let's get this
business of leaves turning color in
autumn Strengthened out. Frost, in
the first place, has little or nothing
to do with it. In fact, the bright
cOlorS of autumn leaves have been
there all summer. Every leaf, no
matter how brilliantly green during
the growing season, has within it the
bright colorS that constitute our
bursts of autumnal beauty. What
happens first is the breakdown of
chlorophyl. With autumn's arrival a
chemical Transformation takes place
in the leaf of the tree when the tree
itself puts the liquid foodStuffs of its
foliage back into its limbs and trunk.
The all-impOrtant chlOrOphyI breaks
down and becomes cOlOrless. The
bright leaf cOlOrs that have been hid
den during the growing season then
become unmasked and shine forth.
And that's what's back of the fall
show that makes you gasp on your
Sunday afternoon drive into the
countryside. -.
Now, as long as we're in an in
Structive mood, let's clear up some
common misconceptions about your
Minneapolis Grain Exchange. Con-
trary to widespread belief, the Grain
Exchange does not buy or sell grain
mot a single buShel. To better I'M
derstand the purpose and the opera
ton of the Minneapolis Grain Ex-
change, Just think of it as a large
hall where anyone who has grain
for sale can display his merchandise.
That's what the sellers do. And be-
cause they do, it attracts buyers in
great numbers. It's actually an eff
flclent and economical place to dis
play and sell grain produced by the
farmers of our great Northwest: a
place where buyers can come and
find the particular type of grain they
are looking for.
SOME MORE ABOUT LEAVES
while they're still with us. I'm think
ing Of the remarkable way Mother
Nature has provided for the fall of
leaves. They don't just snap or break
off as a dead twig might. That
process would leave the tree covered
with thousands of tiny, open wounds
through which bacteria and fungus
spores might enter to cause decay
and disease.
At the point where the leaf stem
is later to detach itself from the
twig, double layer of specialized.
corky cell forms, finally cutting off
the sap flow to and from the leaf.
When it's complete, the union be-
tween the two layers becomes dried
out and weak and finally a gentle
autumn breeze completes the Job.
The dead leaf drifts down to earth.
Amt nature wonderful?
ANOTHER ADVANTAGE provided
by YOUR Minneapolis Grain Exchange
to BUYERS and sellers in addition to |
bringing them together under one
roof is the imp0rtant service of gath
ering and furnishing market infOr- |
nation. From all parts of the world,
the Exchange gathers facts regard
ing weather conditions, crop condi- |
tons, receiDts, shipments, supplies,
saies and price quotations on grain.
This infornation is made known to
the public through market letters,
tne trade press. the daily newspapers
and the radio. The country elevator
m your community makes use of
this information dailv in his business
noer-ation. and it's also information
mats available tn vo'I farmers every
time Won huv and soil grain.
HERES A FELLOW WHO wants
to know what he's doin0. When the
sergeant asked the rookie. ''What's
the first thinn Won RI when you're
rlaanin" rifle?" The rookie re-
n''ied. Look At the runber." When
the saro wanted tn know what for.
the rookie answered. ''To make srlrn
I'm cleaning nv own gum I'll
see you here next time.