Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1901 — FARMING IN WESTERN CANADA. [ARTICLE]

FARMING IN WESTERN CANADA.

The Great Natural Fertility of the Soil in Manitoba, Aaainibola, Saskatchewan and Alberta. What Has Been Done by Premie* Greenway, Himself a Leading Farmer. Hon. Thomas Greenway, Premier of the 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, and therefore cheapness with which wheat can be grown, no doubt many have done exceedingly well by raising wheat only; still, it is 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 the same plan in the wheat-producing prairie States to the south of us, but it is 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, awl 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 be 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 alter threshing is done, should cease; It should all be used upon the farm and converted into the 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 the 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 continued, wheat growing upon the same land year after year is undoubtedly a mistake. The writer knows of no country that offers advantages so 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 the world (although rapidly advancing in price this year) offers 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 he is bound to succeed. For information regarding free homestead lands, apply to any agent of the government whose advertisement appears elsewhere in these columns Dr. Joseph Parker says: “Some men’s fate is always sitting in a draught and catching cold. Doubt is the theological name of that influenza.” Wise men keep out of draughts if they are feeble, and strong men are not injured by them. Piso’s Cure cannot be toe highly spoken of as a cough cure.—J. W. O Brien, 322 Third Ave., N., Minneapolis, Minn.. Jan. 3. 1900. Fortune often knocks at the door, but the fool does not invite her In.