Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1904 — AGRICULTURE IN WESTERN CANADA. [ARTICLE]

AGRICULTURE IN WESTERN CANADA.

It* Grain Field*-Handling Land*— Dairying Resources. The editor of the Wisconsin Agriculturist, who was one of a party of editors of agricultural papers, took a trip through * Canada during the past spring, writes to bis paper in the following strain: The reason of his visiting Canada was to satisfy himself that the reports corning to his paper regarding the wonderful resources of that country were accurate. In view of the wonderful settlement that was going on there, many from this country crossing the line in search of permanent homes and In view of what he had heard'ln regard to conditions of soil, -water, cllmate,- topography, fuel, grasses, rain fall, markets., etc., and also the influence which these have bad on the present and future of agriculture he deemed it necessary to make an extended trip through all of the above territory. In speaking of the Province of Manitoba,. he says: “The province of Manitoba comprises within its limits the far famed grain-growing valleys of the Assinibolne and Red Rivers. Although called the Prairie Province of Canada, Manitoba has large areas of forests, numerous rivers and vast water expansions. “The soil is a rich, deep mould, or loam, resting on a deep clay qub-soil. It is well adapted to wheat growing, giving a bountiful yield of the finest quality, known-the world over as No. 1 hard wheat. During the past ten years the growth of wheat and other grains has steadily increased, until now the production, by 85,000 farmers, reaches over 100,000,000 bushels. Of the 23,000,000 arable acres In Manitoba, probably not one-half of It lioccupied. Cultivated grasses yield about two tons per acre, and native grasses a ton and a half. “There can be no question but that dairying will become a great industry throughout the Northwest, and especially cheese making, as the climate is favorable and similar to that of Ontario.

“Crops grown are wheat, barley, oats, flax, rye, peas, corn for fodder, brome, potatoes roots etc. The soil is very fertile and moisture ample. The climate is good and The growing season. while not quite so long as‘in Wisconsin, matures crops as the sun shines much longer, rising about 4 o’clock and shines until about 9 at night. One can easily read a newspaper at 10 p. hi. The long days make growTh fast and push crops to maturity ahead, of frost.

“The ranching, the wl.eat growing and the mixed farming belts all cross over Assiniboin. The yield and the quality of wheat raised along the main lino of the Canadian Facitic Railway, at such places as Indian Head and its allied districts, have become famous. Its possibilities are shown by the averages of tests made at the experimental farm in 1905, when eleven varieties of the most suitablo wheat, sown on April 19, were cut In 130 days, and yielded 4,314 pounds of straw nnd 43 bushels nnd 2 pounds of grain per acre. Its mixed farming area is excellent, its range cattle, horses and sheep are the equals of any seen In the Northwest, and Its treeless portion is underlaid with coal. The town of Medicine Hat is heated and illuminated with natural gas. There are abundant deposits of brick, pottery and fire clays.” Agents of the Canadian Government will be pleased to mail an Atlas to any one interested and also all other Information regarding railway rates, etc!