Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1901 — FARMING IN WESTERN CANADA. [ARTICLE]

FARMING IN WESTERN CANADA.

Tke Great Natural Fertility cf tbe Soil la Manitoba, Assiuiboia, Saskatchewan and Alberta. What Has Been Done by Premier Oreenway, Himself a Leading Farmer. Hon. Thomas Greenway, Premier of tbe Province of Manitoba, one of the foremost farmers of Western Canada, writes an excellent article to the press, from which the following extracts are made: The writer came to Manitoba from Ontario in the autumn of 1878, and has ever since been engaged In agricultural pursuits. From the day, nearly twenty-two years ago, when he selected his homestead, he has had unbounded faith in the country as a place where farming can be successfully carried on, If pursued upon proper lines. There Is a large number in this province who should rather be called “wheat growers" than farmers. On account of the facilities, natural advantages, an'd therefore cheapness with which wheat can be grown, no doubt many have done exceedingly well by raising wheat only; still, it la far from Ideal farming. Not only will such a course, If persisted In, have the effect of causing the land to run out, as has been the experience of those who pursued tbe aarne plan In the wheat-producing prairie states to the south of us, but It la far from being the most profitable course to adopt. This fact Is already being demonstrated In Manitoba. Let the farms In this Western country be managed upon the lines which were successful in the Eastern provinces, and much more can be done here in a given time than was ever done In the East. The probabilities of failure are practically nil. Upon the farm there should j>e found horses, cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry, according to the ability of the farmer—with respect to his means and the extent of his holding. The wanton waste which has hitherto been practiced by many farmers, that of burning vast quantities of excellent fodder after threshing Is done, should cease; It should all be used upon the farm and converted Into ttm old, sensible kind of fertilizer manure, and afterwards be returned to the soil, so that what has been taken from It by the crop may be restored. Although admitting that the great natural fertility of tbe soil In Manitoba and the success that has attended the growing of wheat after wheat for years upon the same land have a~tendency to make such a course as the one mentioned tempting, yet, If confined, wheat growing upon the 6ame land year after year is undoubtedly a mistake. The writer knows of no country that offers advantages 60 great to the agriculturist as does Manitoba. The various branches of farming can be carried on successfully, as twenty-two years of practical operations and observations of what others are doing have proven. To those desiring to make new homes for themselves, the low price of some of the best lands in tbe world (although rapidly advancing In price this year) offer still great opportunities. To all such the Invitation Is cordially given to “come and see.” There need be no poor people here. There Is land for all who choose to come, land upon which happy homes can be established, and from which ample resources can be gathered against old age. All that a man needs to achieve competence In this domain is common sense and Industry. With these qualifications ho is bound to succeed. Particulars of these lands, and how to obtain them, may be had on application to any agent of the Dominion Government, whose advertisement appears elsewhere.