Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1918 — WESTERN CANSADA'S CEREAL CROP One of the Best Ever Harvested. [ARTICLE]

WESTERN CANSADA'S CEREAL CROP

One of the Best Ever Harvested.

The-cereal crop of Western Canada for 1917 was the most valuable one ever harvested; the returns from all classes of live stock have been equally satisfactory. The wool clip was not only greater than in any previous year, but the price obtained was double that of 1916, which in turn was almost double that of the year before. As was the case in 1915 and 1916, many farmers were able to pay for their land outright with the proceeds of their first year’s crop. Further evidence of the prosperity of Western Canada is shown by the fact that one in every twenty of the population Is now the owner of an automobile. If the farming community alone is taken, it will be found that the proportion of automobile owners is still greater. The bank clearings of the leading cities of Western Canada were consistently higher than they were in the corresponding periods of 1916, and then they were higher than the year preceding. In Winnipeg $500,000,000 more was cleared in the 11 months ending November 30 than in the same months a year ago. The entry of the United States into the war has strengthened the bonds between that country and Canada. We are now working together for the same ends. Those who are not fighting are promoting a greater production of foodstuffs. In this connection Western Canada offers a wonderful opportunity. Not only can larger quantities of staple foodstuffs be produced, but the cost of production is lower and the remuneration greater than where land is more expensive. Notwithstanding the fact that the price of farm products has doubled during the past three years, there are millions of acres of arable land in Western Canada which can still be bought at a low price.

Western Canada has an enormous acreage prepared for seeding to wheat in 1918. It is larger than in 1917, and will probably surpass the record area put into crop in the year 1915, when the largest crop ever known in the West was harvested. The year 1918 should also see a further increase in live stock activity. Farmers have been investing considerable sums in cattle; the high prices secured .for wool and mutton have opened the eyes of Western farmers to the possibilities of sheep, and such was the demand for breeding animals last fall that it was impossible to meet it adequately; the campaign for greater hog production is expected to yield an Increase of between 25 and 50 per cent In 1918. Those who are contemplating coming to Western Canada cannot do better than come early in the spring when they can put in a crop and harvest it in the fall. In this way they will be able to achieve something that will not only be of great benefit to themselves, but also to the great cause for which the Allies, including the United States, are now fighting.—Advertisement,